When We Ride

“The expertly paced plot twist at the end makes Benny and Lawson’s story heartbreakingly unforgettable… . Achingly, beautifully written.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“In this riveting, at times heartbreaking verse novel, Ogle delivers an affecting portrait of two “ride or die” friends in dire circumstances for whom the phrase becomes scarily literal.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Ogle is exceptionally skillful at inviting readers into the emotional intensity of each decision Benny makes, with addiction and poverty laid raw using spare, carefully selected free verse. This pairs well with similarly themed verse novels where decision-making is paramount, like Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down and Ellen Hopkins’s classic “Crank” series. A gritty and nuanced glimpse into the underbelly of poverty, addiction, and gun violence.” – School Library Journal (starred review)“Dynamic and affecting… Written in spare, emotive verse that features realistic dialogue and approachable poetic forms. Ogle develops characters and relationships that are so sincere, their growths and losses will likely be both celebrated and mourned by readers. Fans of Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down or Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X will likely savor this moving novel… Magnetic.” – Shelf Awareness“Ogle’s excellent, hard-edged novel in verse is a cautionary tale bound to invite thought and serious discussion. An important book.” – Booklist

Rex Ogle is the award-winning author of:

• Free Lunch
• Punching Bag
• Abuela, Don’t Forget Me
• Road Home
• When We Ride

He lives in Los Angeles, California.