Four Eyes is a 2023 graphic memoir written by Rex Ogle, illustrated by Dave Valeza, and colored by Ash Szymanik. Rex Ogle has written several other works for young readers, as well as fiction series and comic books. Four Eyes focuses on Rex’s first year of middle school, in which he discovers that he needs glasses. The novel follows Rex through the year as he adjusts to this change, navigates the bullying that results, and copes with financial issues at home. As Rex matures and his attitude transforms, the book explores themes relating to Accepting One’s Family, Rising Above Negative Judgement, and Learning to Be Grateful. Four Eyes was an Amazon Best Book of 2023 and a Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Kids’ Book Release.

This guide uses the 2023 Graphix edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of bullying.

Summary

Rex Ogle is starting sixth grade, his first year of middle school. He and his best friend, Drew, think about what lies ahead and plan to stick together. Before the new school year begins, they rush home on their bikes to enjoy a sleepover together. When Rex enters middle school, he finds out that many of the students from his old school went somewhere else and is relieved to find Drew is attending the same school as he is.

In class, Rex can’t see the dates on the board, and he wonders why. Over lunch, Rex meets Drew’s new group of friends, which includes Victor, a boy who enjoys antagonizing others. Victor makes fun of Rex for eating cafeteria food and throws food at a kid wearing glasses. Drew laughs, but Rex doesn’t. The next day, Rex approaches the group again. Victor sees the boy wearing glasses (Scott) sitting nearby, reading comics, and starts to mock him for it. Rex stands up for him, but Drew backs down. At the end of the week, Rex is exhausted and has a bad headache. He gets a call from his abuela (grandmother) and his dad, who both promise him money if he does well in school.

During the following week, Rex tries to watch TV and finds it blurry. His mother realizes he needs glasses and takes him to the optometrist. Rex enjoys the eye exam but goes home disappointed because his mother could afford only cheap brown frames instead of the fancy silver ones he wanted. At home, Rex complains about never having anything. His mother apologizes for not being able to do more, and they cry together. While waiting for his glasses, Rex can’t see anything at school, and Victor bullies him. Drew doesn’t do anything to stop it, nor does he stop Victor when Rex comes to school wearing glasses for the first time. Other students tease Rex in all his classes, and Scott watches as Rex ends up alone at lunch.

At first, Rex doesn’t want to tell his mother he’s being bullied. He tries to go without his glasses but fails tests and is almost hit by a bus. When his family goes out for tacos, Rex finally admits to being bullied, and Rex’s stepfather, Sam, suggests that he join the football team. Rex’s mother instantly vetoes this idea, frustrating Rex. At school, Scott approaches Rex at lunch and introduces himself. The boys bond over a shared love of comics and science fiction, and Scott thanks Rex for standing up for him weeks before. Later, Rex and his family go to visit his abuela, who gives Rex and his younger brother, Ford, new clothes and food. Rex’s mother dislikes being helped in this way, since it makes her feel inadequate as a mother.

The next day, Scott stands up to Victor at lunch, which Rex finds awe-inspiring. At home, Rex gets stung by a wasp near his eyes and must go to school with a swollen face, which invites more teasing, but Rex finally starts standing up for himself. In gym class, a girl named Kennedy throws a ball at Rex’s face by accident, breaking his glasses. His mother panics and demands that Rex call his father to ask for money to buy another pair. Rex calls his father but is essentially told that he isn’t worth the cost. However, Rex’s mother pressures his father into paying. For the next week, Rex must wear his broken glasses to school. He and Kennedy become friends, and she even calls him cute. When Victor throws food at Rex, Scott wonders why Rex didn’t stand up for himself, which leads to Rex yelling at his new friend. After seeing Victor at his mother’s restaurant, Rex avoids lunch for the rest of the week. When he does appear, Victor takes the opportunity to tell everyone how Rex’s mother waits tables and doesn’t want anyone to bully Rex about his glasses.

When Rex’s abuela comes to visit, the family goes out for dinner. She asks about his glasses, which upsets his mother. Rex talks to his abuela and admits he’s having problems with bullying and friendships at school. His abuela helps him see that his problems are minor in comparison to what she and many others endured as children, and Rex realizes that he should be grateful for everything his family does for him. He returns to school and apologizes to Scott. His mother agrees to get him the silver frames, which makes Rex happy. Once he has them, he feels confident and more like himself, which allows him to stand up to Victor. Even Ford wants a pair of glasses like Rex, so Rex makes him some out of an old coat hanger. Later, Rex goes to a movie with Scott and runs into Drew. They decide that their friendship has reached its end and part ways amicably.

After Ford’s karate test, Rex tells his brother how much he appreciates him. When his mother surprises him by giving him money for the school trip to Washington, DC, Rex tells his mother that he’s grateful for her and everything she does for him. Rex finishes sixth grade, his first year of middle school. When he sees his photo in the yearbook without his glasses, he feels like the person inside of him has changed a lot since it was taken, and he doesn’t mind having glasses anymore.