5 Questions With...Rex Ogle!

Photo provided courtesy of Rex Ogle

Written by Ava M.
Grade 8

Welcome back to a new round of 5 Questions With, where members of the Teen Book Guild have the chance to ask five questions of a favorite author. Recently, I had one amazing opportunity to connect with Rex Ogle, author of Road Home, a memoir, When We Ride, a YA novel written in verse and many more! He writes many different types of books such as graphic novels, memoirs, books in verse and of course YA! 

1. When you first decided to pursue a writing career, what was the most difficult thing to overcome?  

REX:  The amount of people saying "NO" that I wasn't prepared for.  And actually, there were a lot less "NO's" than just agents and editors never replying.  Or even replying and then ghosting me.  But now I believe that is par for the course when choosing artistic endeavors.  It's so hard to break in, but once you have one, it's easier to get another and another and so on.  But that first one?  That's the hardest.  Though it took me a long time to realize I shouldn't think of a "NO" as defeat but instead as a badge of honor because I put myself out there.  And if you never take a swing, you're never gonna hit the ball.   

2. When creating the characters of Diego and Lawson, were any of the character elements based on people or events from your own life? 

 REX:  I'd say the book is about 70% based on true life events. My senior year, my best friend was in fact a drug dealer, and there were times when i drove him to drug deals and did my homework in the car.  They say "write what you know".  I always found that difficult when i wrote fantasy and sci-fi and horror, but for this book it came quite naturally.  

3. If someone reads your novel When We Ride, what message would you want them to take away after reading it?  

REX:   My main focus is that they realize kids who do bad things aren't bad people.  Teen drug dealers aren't failing society.  Society is failing them.  If they hadn't been put in a situation where they have to help their parents pay bills or provide food, then they wouldn't be doing something dangerous to earn money.  Sometimes good kids do bad things for good reasons.  We shouldn't look down on them. 

4. Are there any details in the novel that a reader might overlook but that play a crucial role in the plot's development? 

REX:  I can't think of any.  Writing in verse, there's so little to read, which means the story itself is delivered in a very concentrated format.  There are fewer words, so each one means so much more.  

5. This book is told mostly from Diego’s perspective, with Lawson’s perspective appearing at the very end. If you could write from another character’s perspective, whose would it be? 

REX:  Every character in everyone of my books has a larger story.  But I always choose who I think would be best to tell the story.  In this situation, it has to be Diego.  If it was told from anyone else's perspective the story would be completely different.  If I had to choose one though, it would be Lawson.  It would be intersting to see his perspective.  But I always think it's wonderful to see circumstances through different eyes.  It helps all of us develop empathy that is much-needed in our world, especially now.  

A huge thank you is in order to Rex Ogle! We highly appreciate all of your considerate responses. 

You can check out When We Ride and more of Rex's work at the Winter Park Library! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 favorite fantasy-themed books that I recommend to those wanting to get into the genre

by Abby A.

I haven't been in a reading mood recently, but I always find myself listening to audiobooks when in doubt. Here's ten romantasy books I recommend to those wanting to get into the genre.

1. The Wicked King - I rate this 10/10 because it introduced me to the Cruel Prince series and the author, Holly Black, who is now one of my favorites.

2. Fortune's Kiss - 10/10 once again because it gives us different points of view with the two main characters, plus the minute I picked up the book, I couldn't put it down.

3. Sing Me to Sleep - 9/10. It not only has a black and brown cast of characters, but also pictures the hardship of doing anything to protect family, even if that means keeping the biggest secret to do so.

4. A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic - 9.7/10. As a human in a fae world, just because you don't have what they have doesn't mean you can't do what they can do.

5. A Dawn of Onyx - 9.5/10. I feel like this book reminds me of when darkness meets the light, plus yet another protagonist does.

6. One Dark Window - 8.6/10. What could a few Providence Cards do, especially when you have someone, a monster trapped inside your mind?

7.Faeries Never Lie:Tales to Revel In - 8/10. I really like this book because it has not just different stories, but different authors.

8. The Otherwhere Post - 7/10. Trying to hide and eventually uncovering her father's past might just bring trouble, but what if he was innocent all this time?

9. Little Thieves - 7.5/10. How does one live a double life as a jewel thief and the stolen identity of the princess while trying their best to break a curse?

10.Our Vengeful Souls - 8/10. A brave female protagonist exiled from her home soon gets a place in the army for her abilities to wield a weapon, yet she hides a secret.

Page to Post: No Accident by Laura Bates

In the Page to Post series, the Teen Book Guild spotlights the books that caught our attention after scoping out an entire shelf of titles in the Winter Park Library. From that first spark of interest to how we really felt after reading, you’ll get our honest take—no sugarcoating, just real talk from teens who love books (or sometimes don’t!).
If you’re looking for your next great read or just want to see if our choice was worth it, stick around. Let’s dive into the world of stories, one shelf and one book at a time.

Title: No Accident
Author: Laura Bates
Chosen by: Andres J.

Page to Post: The Finisher by David Baldacci

In the Page to Post series, the Teen Book Guild spotlights the books that caught our attention after scoping out an entire shelf of titles in the Winter Park Library. From that first spark of interest to how we really felt after reading, you’ll get our honest take—no sugarcoating, just real talk from teens who love books (or sometimes don’t!).
If you’re looking for your next great read or just want to see if our choice was worth it, stick around. Let’s dive into the world of stories, one shelf and one book at a time.

Title: The Finisher
Author: David Baldacci
Chosen by: Andres J.

Page to Post: The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold

In the Page to Post series, the Teen Book Guild spotlights the books that caught our attention after scoping out an entire shelf of titles in the Winter Park Library. From that first spark of interest to how we really felt after reading, you’ll get our honest take—no sugarcoating, just real talk from teens who love books (or sometimes don’t!).

If you’re looking for your next great read or just want to see if our choice was worth it, stick around. Let’s dive into the world of stories, one shelf and one book at a time.

Title: The Blood Years
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Chosen by: Andres J.

Page to Plate: The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook

In our Page to Plate series, the Teen Book Guild brings the library to their kitchen. Each post features teens checking out a cookbook from the library, trying out recipes that catch their eye (or appetite!), and sharing their culinary adventures—successes, surprises, and even the occasional kitchen mishap. Whether they’re flipping pages or flipping pancakes, these foodies are exploring how cookbooks can inspire creativity, confidence, and connection. 

Grab a fork—and a library card—and dig in!

Title: The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook

Chosen by: Holly K.

Page to Post: The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia

In the Page to Post series, the Teen Book Guild spotlights the books that caught our attention after scoping out an entire shelf of titles in the Winter Park Library. From that first spark of interest to how we really felt after reading, you’ll get our honest take—no sugarcoating, just real talk from teens who love books (or sometimes don’t!).

If you’re looking for your next great read or just want to see if our choice was worth it, stick around. Let’s dive into the world of stories, one shelf and one book at a time.

Title: The Words in My Hands
Author: Asphyxia
Chosen by: Jaclyn M.

Page to Plate: Where Books Feed the Soul and the Stomach

In our Page to Plate series, the Teen Book Guild brings the library to their kitchen. Each post features teens checking out a cookbook from the library, trying out recipes that catch their eye (or appetite!), and sharing their culinary adventures—successes, surprises, and even the occasional kitchen mishap. Whether they’re flipping pages or flipping pancakes, these foodies are exploring how cookbooks can inspire creativity, confidence, and connection. 

Grab a fork—and a library card—and dig in!

Title: The Quick and Easy College Cookbook: 300 Healthy, Low-Cost Meals that Fit Your Budget and Schedule

Chosen by: Brooke K.

The Florida Teens Read Challenge

Florida Teen’s Read is "a list of fifteen titles that have been chosen by a committee of fourteen school librarians specifically to engage high school students in reading and reflect their interests as well as represent a variety of genres, formats, reading levels, viewpoints, and ethnic and cultural perspectives." Teens spend the year exploring the titles and voting on their favorites. Before it is announced who wins for the 2024-25 school year, here's our take on some of the books from the list. What was YOUR favorite?

Accountable: the True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives it Changed by Dashka Slater

Accountable is a true story about how someone's actions can affect the rest of their life. She focuses on the emotions of the individuals affected from the offensive posts on a private Instagram account. I enjoyed reading this book since it reminded me that everything posted on the online can be shared. The theme of justice and regret are prominent in the book. I would recommend to someone looking to read a true story that showcases important lessons about technology.  -read by Brooke

Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester

Breathe and Count Back From Ten had potential written on its tombstone. I truly wanted to enjoy this novel, as I believe it brought multiple relevant topics to the table; however, the topics it engages with are never fully fleshed out and unfortunately did reach a true resolution. In this story, we encounter Verónica, a Peruvian-American girl who has both a disability (hip dysplasia) and big dreams. The summer before her senior year, she obtains a job at the Mermaid Cove, an attraction in her Florida hometown. The novel touched on cultural differences, familial strife, and life with a disability. All of these subjects have so much value, especially in our current society. With that being said, I honestly found Verónica to be very unlikable and ungrateful to her parents. Obviously, there is a cultural difference and age factor at play in that relationship, but still, I would’ve enjoyed it more if there had been more empathy for her parents. Overall, even though it touched on interesting topics, I definitely think it could’ve been better executed.  -read by Anna

The Do-Over by Lynne Painter

The Do-Over focuses on main character, Emilie, when Valentine’s Day starts to repeat over and over again. Through her experiences, she starts to see the world from a new perspective. I absolutely loved reading this book. It was an adorable story that was very entertaining. - read by Brooke

Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson

Midnight at the Houdini is about Anna, the daughter of a rich Las Vegas hotel owner. She goes to one of her father’s hotels after a tornado makes driving home unsafe. She becomes stuck in the hotel and must figure out how to escape before it is too late. I liked the unique plot of this book and would definitely recommend it to readers who like magic. -read by Brooke

Queen Bee by Amalie Howard

Queen Bee is a book with a very interesting concept. The story follows Ela Dalvi on her quest for revenge. Ela wants to get revenge on her childhood best friend Poppy, who killed their relationship over a boy. Ela wants to infiltrate the elite society of London and get even with Poppy. But when a familiar face from her past appears, she questions whether revenge is the answer. I really liked this book. The characters were interesting, and I liked reading about Ela’s plans. It really felt like I was part of the story. The only problem that I had with this book was that the constant back-and-forth time switching made it difficult to keep track of the characters and the current timeline. -ready by Holly

Remember Me Gone by Stacy Stokes

Remember Me Gone is centered on the life of Lucy who lives in a small Texan town. Her family has a business that allows people to erase their bad memories and once she starts to learn more about it, she decides to figure out what memories she is missing. I enjoyed reading this book but at some points, it was hard to understand. -read by Brooke

Seven Percent of Ro Devereaux by Ellen O'Clover

I was massively excited to read Ellen O’Clover’s Seven Percent of Ro Devereux. It sat perfectly on the gray shelf, playing the part of my next good read excellently. I genuinely loved the premise of this YA novel. It was original and believable. Ro Devereux is a fun, intelligent STEM girlie whose life explodes with the creation of her app MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House), which can predict its users’ futures to a 93% accuracy. Ultimately, I badly wanted to like this book and was greatly disappointed. Ro (and other characters in the novel) took the app’s predictions way too seriously, and Ro’s best friend ended up being the only main character who truly had common sense. Ultimately, I badly wanted to like this book and was greatly disappointed. -read by Anna

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight is an all right book. This book is set at a summer camp where guests pay to experience living in a slasher film. Charity, the main character, plays the role of “Final Girl”. Her life is going great at the camp: business is rolling in and she’s found a group of friends. But it all changes when the danger suddenly becomes more real than she could imagine. I liked the concept and writing of the story (and the queer rep!), but there was one part I couldn’t get over. I didn’t like how there was a cult featured in the book. I felt that the story should’ve had a warning that there was a prominent focus on a cult. -read by Holly

Page to Post: The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

In the Page to Post series, the Teen Book Guild spotlights the books that caught our attention after scoping out an entire shelf of titles in the Winter Park Library. From that first spark of interest to how we really felt after reading, you’ll get our honest take—no sugarcoating, just real talk from teens who love books (or sometimes don’t!).

If you’re looking for your next great read or just want to see if our choice was worth it, stick around. Let’s dive into the world of stories, one shelf and one book at a time.

Title: The Leaving
Author: Tara Altebrando
Chosen by: Andres J.