Absent by Rex Ogle. Illustrated by L-J Baptiste. 304 p. Norton Young Readers, September 1, 2026. 9781324124894. (Review of arc courtesy of author giveaway.)
Three boys are given three weeks detention for skipping class, and they couldn't be more different. Manny lives with grandparents since his father was incarcerated and doesn't see the point of attending class when his teachers don't care. Calvin is given a lot of responsibility at home, which includes getting his unruly brothers to school before getting to his, a prospect made worse when his bike is stolen. To make matters even worse, art, his favorite class is first period. Liam is a straight A student, but his encounters with his bully are escalating, and he prefers to spend his school days studying in the library storage closet.
When the three eye each other on the first afternoon of detention, they assume that they have nothing in common, so Manny writes his rap lyrics, Calvin draws and Liam studies under the jaundiced eye of Coach, who is strict and no-nonsense, and whom the boys soon learn, farts. A lot.
Hybrid novels are not new, but this one grabbed me from the start. It has heart, authenticity and humor. The three voices and format weave together seamlessly and readers will grow to care about each boy.
I am a huge fan of the author's Free Lunch, Punching Bag, and Abuela Don't Forget Me. They were quite popular with my students. So were his graphic novels, which I, unfortunately never got around to reading. I loved Absent, and am slightly sorry that I'm retired and won't be at school to press this gem into students' hands. I left the library in good hands though, and she also won an arc because giveaway entrants were required to tag someone. We are two luck school librarians.
Absent will have broad appeal to a variety of readers. Make sure to put it on your shelf.
