Absent by Ogle, Rex

With a dad in jail and a lack of teachers interested in helping him learn, Manny doesn't see the point in anything besides skateboarding and writing lyrics. Calvin has so many responsibilities to his father and little brothers that when his bike is stolen, he can't make it to school on time. And while Liam is studious and wants to become a doctor, he is tormented by bullies and hides out in an unused janitor's closet instead of going to class. When the boys are thrown together in detention, they realize that they might still have a lot to learn--not just from their teachers, but from each other.

Absent tells the boys' stories in three distinct voices: Manny's in verse, Calvin's as a comic, and Liam's as a prose journal. Printz Award Honoree and YALSA Nonfiction Award winner Rex Ogle explores school absenteeism in a compelling, entertaining, and utterly distinct novel.

Author: Rex Ogle
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Published: 09/01/2026
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.70w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781324124894
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/29/2026
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2026