Fruitcake: A Graphic Novel

Four Eyes #3

by Rex Ogle, Dave Valeza (Illustrator)

A pitch-perfect middle-grade graphic memoir about crushes, coming out, and finding the courage to be yourself.

Eighth grade isn't off to a great start. Everyone but Rex seems to be coupling up, and he's starting to feel like an outsider... until he meets Charlotte. She's fearless, smart, pretty, and she likes him back. But as great as Charlotte is, there's someone Rex can't stop thinking about.

Drew is Rex's childhood best friend, so when he kisses Rex, all kinds of new feelings begin to stir. Though at school, Drew acts like he doesn't even know Rex, making those feelings turn really confusing really fast. And with all the strong opinions Rex hears at home and at church, he questions his own worth and what his affections actually mean. Rex wants to be more like his new friend, Nina, and not care what others think, but being himself seems impossible. When did middle school get so confusing?!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, LGBT, Memoir, Queer, Friendship, Realistic Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2026

About the author

Holy moly! I am so humbled and honored for y'all to read my books. Big hugs to all of ya.

Also, check out graphic novels under my pen name REY TERCIERO.

Bio:
REX OGLE is an award-winning author and the writer of nearly a hundred children’s books, comics, graphic novels, and memoirs—most notably Free Lunch, which won the ALA/YALSA award for Excellence in Non-Fiction.

Born and raised (mostly) in Texas, he moved to New York City after college to intern at Marvel Comics before moving over to DC Comics, Scholastic, and Little Brown Young Readers. As an editor, he championed over a dozen NY Times Bestsellers and worked on (and often wrote) major brands such as X-Men, Justice League, Star Wars, LEGO, Power Rangers, Transformers, Minecraft, Assassin’s Creed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Neil Patrick Harris’s Magic Misfits.

Rex has written under a lot of pen names, including Trey King, Honest Lee, and Rey Terciero (a nickname given by his Abuela, being Español for “third king”, which is apt since Rex is Latin for “king”, and he is the third “Rex” in his family).

Now, Rex lives in Los Angeles where he writes in his spare time—that is, when he’s not outdoors hiking with his dog Toby, playing MarioKart with friends, or reading.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm]

Another fantastic installment in the series!

[Rod Brown]

Rex Ogle is in the eighth grade and grappling with his identity and sexuality while navigating the maze of middle school friendship and bullying.

Ogle's middle school graphic novels are solid work, but they feel sanitized and idealized -- the sharp edges sanded down -- from his more moving prose autobiographies.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Part One. Just Friends -- Part Two. Crush -- Part Three. Feelings -- Author's Note -- Artist's Note -- Resources

[Ghost]

This will always mean so much to me, especially because I can see myself in Rex. It’s nice to know that you do have people on your side.

[Deborah Zeman]

Everyone around Rex seems to be pairing off, and he's starting to feel left behind—until he meets Charlotte. She's bold, funny, smart, and—amazingly—she likes him too. Things should feel perfect... but they don’t.

Because Rex can't stop thinking about someone else: his childhood best friend, Drew. And when Drew suddenly kisses him, Rex is thrown into a whirlwind of feelings he doesn’t know how to name. At school, Drew acts like nothing happened. At home and church, Rex hears voices that make him doubt everything—his worth, his feelings, even who he's allowed to be.

Caught between expectations and a growing desire to just be himself, Rex finds an unlikely ally in Nina, a new friend who doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks. But with so many questions and no easy answers, Rex wonders: when did everything get so complicated?

Another smash on his hands! Rex does not disappoint. This was the perfect edition to the series, nailing all the uncomfortable parts of middle school angst: girls v. guys, who do I date? Why do I feel so left out? Should I tell my parents/friends? Is something wrong with me?

I admire the fact that all three of the books are based upon Rex's life experiences...this one nailed it! I am going to add this one to my HS collection because I know there are students who will recognize themselves in Rex. Thanks friend!!

[Jennie]

This book is a good reminder for kids in middle school about how hard middle school can be. Not academically, but socially is often the problem. This is a story about Rex, who does not feel that he fits in with his classmates. Everyone seems to be pairing off, but he does not feel the same way. He thinks he likes girls, but he might like boys and then he’s afraid to tell anyone. It just goes to show no matter who you like there are going to be some people who do not approve of your choices . I think this book teaches kids a good lesson.

[Lisa Pineo]

This is another series I dove into without reading the ones that came before. It didn't detract too much from the story but I did have a hard time with one character, Sam, who's place I couldn't figure out in the family for most of the story. They seemed drawn younger than the mom so I was thinking maybe older brother of Rex but finally settled on step-dad/boyfriend of mom. Aside from that I quite liked the graphic novel. It really covered that area well where kids are coupling up, hormones are raging, kids are falling in and out of "love," and they don't know where they stand with their friends or crushes. Add in questioning their sexuality and it's a lot to deal with. While I'm not religious in the slightest I appreciated the church angle and Rex wondering how faith and being gay could go together. I also liked how, even though Rex and Drew's relationship turned physical, the author didn't have them continue into a public relationship. A lot of kids, back a few decades ago and now, aren't comfortable outing themselves and will only explore those feelings in secret. I assume the author's relationship didn't progress either and I'm glad he didn't change that to suit the normal "tied up in a neat bow, happily ever after" that middle grade books have. Great artwork, a good pace and lots of interesting side characters make this a book, and I'm sure series, that a lot of kids will enjoy.

[Michelle]

Rex Ogle's graphic novels are always perfect for middle school and upper elementary readers! He is writing about his experiences that readers will be able to connect and relate to similar situation regardless if they are part of the LGBTQAI+ community or not. Middle school experiences are pretty much the same anywhere you go (fortunately and UNfortunately).

Rex is feeling like an outsider with his friends. Friend dynamics typically change as people grow and mature (and for those who don't grow and mature). Finding oneself takes time and honesty with your friends and family (when you're ready) and most importantly with yourself.

A must-have addition to all library graphic novels collections, and especially if you already have rex Ogle books.

#RexOgle #FruitcakeGraphicNovel #FourEyes3 #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #Edelweiss #Goodreads​

[Rachel]

I wish I had this book when I was younger and dealing with a lot of the same feelings Rex has in this book.

[Simon Suarez]

super cute and gei

[TheNextGenLibrarian]

Book 3️⃣ in the Four Eyes MG graphic novel series by @thirdrex @dave.valeza
🍰
Rex is headed into eighth grade and all his friends seem to have paired off, leaving him feeling like the odd man out. When a new girl, Charlotte, starts school Rex is immediately drawn to how fearless, outspoken and pretty she is. The two begin dating and Rex feels “normal” until while spending time with his childhood friend, Drew, the two kiss. Rex wants to live his truth, but is unsure quite what is. With help from a new friend, Nina, his abuela and others in his life, Rex is able to finally come out at the end of middle school.
🍥
Sheer perfection. It’s hard to rate a graphic memoir because so much of this was Rex’s actual experiences, but having grown up around the same time as him in a small Texas town I can confirm that so much of what he went through, our kids are still experiencing now. This book is going to change so many lives—make sure you read the Author’s Note at the end. The way the series + artwork has evolved from elementary to lower middle school then almost high school was unlike any other series I’ve read before. Shout out to @graphixbooks for publishing these titles and it’s the perfect way to kick off #bannedbooksweek This one releases April 7!

CW: homophobia, bullying, violence, religious bigotry, classism/poverty

[Lost in Book Land]

Today’s post is going to be super short. I believe I read the first graphic novel in this series maybe like a year or so ago, and I did not realize at the time it was going to be a series. So I read it, enjoyed it, and reviewed it. Recently, I received an ARC copy of the third one in the series. Thank you so much to the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNF’ing this very early on, and it’s my fault. Not having read book two (because I had no idea this was a series), I felt lost and confused. I could only remember portions of the first book, and I could not find my copy (I am in the middle of doing kind of a big summer clean-up). So I decided that for now this is a DNF for me, and I am going to try to find my copy of book 1 and maybe borrow a copy of book 2. Now I am going to pick up an audiobook and get some more cleaning done.

Goodreads Rating: 1 Star (DNF’d)

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Helen]

This middle grade memoir will resonate will kids and should be on the shelves of classroom libraries. I appreciated that Rex and his classmates weren't cookie cutter stereotypes that had perfect lives but instead had struggles. Rex was endearing and honestly he was surrounded by some real jerks and some of them were even the adults in his life. The illustrations are bright and the kind that I prefer. I have not read the previous two in the series but plan to.

[Dawn]

Rex is back! After surviving glasses in sixth grade and puberty (and its accompanying zits) in seventh grade, Rex begins eighth grade. He is surprised that everyone is suddenly paired off and he feels like a fifth wheel with his friends. He begins questioning his sexuality when hanging out with a longtime friend suddenly gets him warm and flustered.
If this is the end of the series, it definitely goes out on a high note. If it continues, I’m happy to read more.

[Julie]

My favorite of these so far

[Orel Smith]

Amazing, inspiring.

Book teache kids that it is, in fact, 100% okay to be gay. Some churches allow who you are, some do not. A small suggestion.... Don't listen to those churches. Listento the ones that feel right.

[Geordie]

Rex has a crush on a cool girl at school, but when he develops a crush on a boy, he starts to have questions about his own sexuality. As if that weren't enough, he feels on the outskirts of his friend group, where everyone is pairing up; he panics about revealing his feelings to anyone; and frets about whether he might be doomed to go to hell!

It took me a while to read this book, I really wasn't in the mood for a depressing story of how awful people treat young LGBT people. Well, that feeling had some analogy with Rex's story; ultimately trusting the people he respects and loves (and peacefully walking away from others) is the solution, and he comes to find that, though this isn't a perfect world (some a******s will always make life hard for different people), he was really overthinking things.

This was a charming story of grappling with sexuality and trusting the people you can trust. Rex is, as in the prior 2 books, a layered character, and it's always fun to see him grow and find contentment.

[Kaci May-Cannon]

the colors are so pretty!!! i would protect rex with my life

[Joanne]

3.5 stars. This is the third installment in Rex Ogle’s autobiographical series about growing up, and, like the previous books, its title comes from one of the insults hurled at him by bullies.

As in his earlier memoirs, Ogle draws from his own life, transforming deeply personal experiences into stories that can help young readers navigating similar challenges. This time he revisits eighth grade in late-1980/early90s Texas, when he was beginning to understand his sexual identity in an environment where acceptance was far from guaranteed. His difficult home life—particularly his mother’s behavior—will be familiar to readers of the earlier books and remains one of the story’s most heartbreaking elements.

Rather than suggesting there’s one right path, Ogle reminds readers that discovering who you are is a deeply personal journey. His message is simple but powerful: when you’re ready, when you feel safe and supported, don’t be afraid to be yourself.

Fruitcake is an empathetic, affirming graphic memoir and an excellent addition to any middle school library, especially for students who may be looking for understanding, reassurance, and a book just like this one—one that Rex was not able to find at his school.

And just want to add: the artwork in Fruitcake reflects a style I’ve been noticing in many middle grade graphic novels lately. It’s bright, rounded, and expressive—reminiscent of classic Archie comics or Hanna-Barbera cartoons. It’s undeniably approachable and appealing for younger readers, though I admit I sometimes miss a more unique hand illustrated feel.

[Carol Youssif]

Rex Ogle and Dave Valenza are a powerhouse, and Fruitcake does not disappoint.
A phenomenal story of understanding who you are in middle school among all the changes in life that happen at this stage.
An emotional journey, well worth reading.

[Ellon]

3 stars (I liked it)

I didn't realize until now that I had skipped book two in this series... oops. I think it still worked. This was an engaging story about a boy who is trying to figure out where he belongs and who he is. I think the end got wrapped up a bit too quickly/nicely (even the author note mentions how he fast forwarded some of the events at the end).

[Sunil Saha]

good book

Rlly good, very different than the last books but still really entertaining. Hope there’s another book. Try it out it’s a good read!

[Ms. Yingling]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

As the new year of middle school starts, Rex is dismayed that all of his classmates seem to be forming romantic pairs. He's still hanging out with his friend Drew, but things are very complicated with him. Chase and Ramon are still giving people a hard time, even accosting Kyle just because he is wearing a pink shirt. Rex finds himself wanting to have a girlfriend, and connects with Charlotte, whom he asks to a dance. She accepts, and he feels like he is part of the larger group who have romantic entanglements. He can't afford to get his hair cut, as his family struggles with their finances, so takes a job babysitting to earn some money. His stepfather cautions him against letting people at school know about his employment, since babysitting is a girl's job. The stepfather also doesn't want to travel to California, because it's full of "fruits and nuts". Rex spends some time hanging out in the art room with other students who find the cafeteria daunting, and he talks to Nina as well as Kyle, who says openly that he is gay. When Rex's abuela visits, she always makes sure that the family has food and clothing. She also wants to take the family to church. Rex's mother won't attend, and Rex is shocked with the minister decries "the sin of homosexuality" from the pulpit. Even though Rex has leanings towards liking boys, he tells himself that if it is a sin, he will make the choice to like girls. Drew continues to deliver conflicting messages to Rex; they can hang out and kiss, but if Rex talks in public to Kyle, he can't talk in public to Drew. When Rex feels that kissing Drew is cheating on Charlotte, he breaks up with her with little explanation. There is a lot of drama at the school dance, but Rex eventually makes peace with Charlotte, his grandmother and her religion, and his own sexuality.
Strengths: This is an interesting look at how middle school life was back in the 1980s or 90s- going by the author's own age, this should be 1993, but the presence of overalls wants me to set in a few years earlier! This has all of the tween drama. Charlotte is a great character, and the way that Rex breaks up with her seems completely realistic. Drew is quite the eye opening character, and I always love reading about Abuela. The illustrations really make this one.
Weaknesses: The trend in LGBTQIA+ literature has been away from coming out stories, but since Ogle frequently draws on his own middle school experiences, this must have been the story he wanted to tell. I don't know how many 13 year olds now will understand the term "fruitcake".
What I really think: Readers who have followed Ogle's story in Four Eyes and Pizza Face wil be interested to see how his life in middle school continues. I know that marginalized communities often take derogatory terms and regain power by using them, but I haven't been a fan of any of Ogle's titles. I never would have referred to myself as "four eyes" in middle school, but times do change.

[Ronald McCutchan]

I still need to read and , but I specifically wanted to read this as I am adding it to the Youth Services graphic novels collection and I wanted to make sure it was appropriate for our department, as opposed to Young Adult. It does a good job about hitting most of the feels of a first crush as well as navigating a social circle that seems to be further along in the relationship game than one is oneself ("everyone is pairing off"). Though Rex does tick more boxes (and more drama) in that his first same-sex crush DOES end up being interested in him physically, but doesn't identify as gay and keeps Rex at arms length during school so as not to be labeled as gay himself (and of course, he's a jock)—is that the default meme? Somehow I think having a crush on a straight boy is the more universal first-crush experience. And Rex gets kudos in the end for standing up against a bully on behalf of a gay classmate (which rallies his other friends, confirming their support), which is a bit of deus ex machina, but provides the obligatory happy ending.
(Digression--I think the movie Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss is actually one of the best depictions in how it navigates between having an attraction to someone you first think is straight, then discover is gay, but also not interested in you, while at the same time being totally unaware of someone else having an interest in you--kind of heart-wrenching but we've all been there in some way or another).

[Melissa Rochelle]

OH! Here's the reason Four Eyes made it to a list of books to be banned from Texas schools. This third and final book in the series is about Rex's experiences exploring and discovering who he is while also trying to survive 8th grade. When the school year starts, everyone is coupled up (boy-girl) and he's like...wait a minute, when did everyone get together? Meanwhile, he's got confusing feelings for a friend who is not a girl. However, the messaging he's hearing from school bullies, from church pulpits, and even from his friends & family, make him second-guess his feelings.

G and I talked about this book a lot and about SO MANY different aspects of it. It was good for her to see the two different church messages (stepdad's church vs Abuela's). It's hard for me to understand the hate preached by pastors because that's not what I was taught. My church takeaway was always that Jesus is love and I stopped attending church when that was no longer what I was hearing.

It's easy to internalize the messages we hear from others and override what we know to be true. I think this is a great book about trusting yourself to discover who you are. And hopefully a kid can take away that navigating the middle school years is hard FOR EVERYONE. Talking about it is absolutely necessary. No one is ever alone, we've just got to find the right people.

I'm interested in reading more about Rex Ogle's experiences. When G and I were learning more about him, we realized that in these comics he's simplified a lot. He's glossed over some more difficult experiences to keep the narrative straightforward which makes sense given format and target audience.

[Dan Allbery]

All this time, the world made me feel like I only had two choices and that one of them is wrong. But...I can't help who I love. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Rex is about to start eighth grade and middle school continues to be just that, middle school. His year is full of ups, downs, confusion, self-doubt, and terror that the "real him" will be discovered. His attempts at conformity and fitting in with weigh on him heavily, but with the support of true friends, he tries to find his way.

I have read several Rex Ogle titles, including Four Eyes and Pizza Face. This has evolved into a lovely middle school trio, each covering awkward milestones that many 11-14 year olds face. Fruitcake has been my favorite and the one I can connect to the most. As a closeted and questioning middle schooler myself (though decades ago), I found Rex's storytelling to be true and real. There will be the forever allies, the homophobic idiots, but also the pressures and uncertainty. I liked the inclusion of the church scenes and the complexity of how religion and sexuality interact. I also appreciated the realism that is brought by his friends' and stepdad's comments; those comments that are so carelessly thrown around that can be so hurtful even if no one says so. Thank you, Rex, for writing this book. Recommended for GR 6-8.

[Kelly]

I didn't realize this was the third in a series, so I guess I will have to read the first two. I bet they will provide more context for this story. I am not a big graphic novel reader, but I read a few each year to challenge myself. Some of them are amazing; some I find underwhelming, and I appreciate that some are retelings of classic or popular novels that allow struggling readers to enjoy the stories. As a librarian, I read the first 3 or so books of new manga series I purchased for the library, and I also read the most popular standalone (or short series) of graphic novels. Since retiring, I just don't read them all that much anymore. I appreciate a great graphic story like Magic Fish that incorporates so many creative elements to the text.

This book told a good story, but the mother feels one dimensional, harried, and angry all the time. It felt like a caricature rather than a real person. I understand the book is a memoir, and maybe if I read the first two, I would understand this one better. I like how the author offers many points of view about a middle schooler questioning his sexuality - friends, bullies, religion, and family all weigh in so that a complete picture is created. I think this is a great book for middle schoolers with its tone, dialogue, and themes.

[Shanna]

This is my favorite of the “Four Eyes” series! Rex has done a lot of growing up and all of his friends seem to be pairing off with people. He’s not sure he’s ready for that at first. And also, there’s this weird thing he has with his old friend, Drew. He’s not sure what it means and is kind of afraid of what it might mean.

At school, he meets Charlotte, a new girl who is kind to him and he starts hanging out with her. This gives him all kinds of confusing feelings because he thinks he likes her, but also likes Drew. Luckily, he’s got some good friends who are able to help him out, if only he could figure out a way to tell them too!

I just liked how Rex Ogle really explored how people are all going through different things in junior high and how sometimes feelings are complicated. I liked how the character Nina is used to help Rex embrace who he is…and I’m glad this book is here to help kids who are figuring things out!

There are some nice notes from the author and illustrator at the end of the book, too.

#LGBTQ+

[KATIE MEYERS]

Fruitcake is a heartfelt and emotionally honest graphic memoir that captures the confusion, vulnerability, and intensity of growing up. Rex Ogle tells a story that feels deeply personal while also being incredibly relatable, especially for readers navigating identity and belonging.
What stands out most is the way the book handles complex emotions crushes, friendship, and self-discovery with authenticity and care. The relationships in the story, particularly between Rex, Drew, and Charlotte, feel real and layered, making the emotional journey all the more impactful.
The story also does an excellent job of portraying the external pressures that shape how young people see themselves, whether from family, school, or community expectations. That tension adds depth and makes the moments of self-realization even more meaningful.
A thoughtful, engaging, and important read that speaks to the challenges of being yourself in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.

[Alicia]

Ogle continues to bring middle grade graphic novels into their best selves by sharing pieces of his own self and this one is one of the best yet-- the third book in his "Four Eyes" series that was about getting glasses, to Pizza Face about acne and puberty, and now Fruitcake about realizing he was gay and sharing with friends and family.

The story moves through middle school with a cinematic flair that brings everyone back to those days from lunch time to morphing friendships, family life, and school including rites of passage like a school dance. Coupled with Valeza's fantastic artwork for this graphic novel, the winning combination is unmatched and all librarians who read them feel a sense of kinship with Ogle for sharing these pieces of his life so that other kids can understand their own journey.

[Carlee]

Queer literature is so important for children // teens. Imagine struggling with feeling like you don't belong in the hardest years of your life (middle school) and not having any community or literature to relate to. This book shows acceptance of the self and others. There are a lot of diverse characters in the friend group as well who were all so respectful towards each other.

I appreciate Nina as a character because I truly see myself within her. She encourages Rex to live authentically as himself and to not internalize what other people say about him. Books like these help children to understand the world is diverse and we are just a small piece of a large community.

Sidenote - my daughter (9) instantly recognized Rex on the front cover from 'Four Eyes' and 'Pizza Face'. She is about halfway through reading Fruitcake and is loving it.