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Absent
- Author
- Rex Ogle
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Publish Date
- 1 September 2026
- Run Time
- 4 hours 36 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, American / British style comic books and graphic novels, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Stories in verse
What to expect
From award-winning author Rex Ogle, a mixed-format middle grade novel about three boys who skip school, told in verse and prose, and comics.
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.
"Brilliantly executed; a tender yet unflinching look at students who often, tragically, slip between the cracks."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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Details
- Author
- Rex Ogle
- Narrator
- Ramón de Ocampo, Kevin R. Free, Mark Sanderlin
- Duration
- 4 hours 36 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 September 2026
- ISBN
- 9798898857059
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, American / British style comic books and graphic novels, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Stories in verse
Synopsis
From award-winning author Rex Ogle, a mixed-format middle grade novel about three boys who skip school, told in verse and prose, and comics.  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.  "Brilliantly executed; a tender yet unflinching look at students who often, tragically, slip between the cracks."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 
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