• Free and open to the public
• Free copies of one of Rex Ogle’s newest books for the first 100 families
• Presentation and Q&A by the author
• Meet the author followed by a book sale and signing
• Bus scholarships available for student groups – full scholarships for public schools, partial scholarships for private schools upon availability. For information, email info@inprint.org
• Discounted books available through Brazos Bookstore
• Come early for DIY comic strip and poetry writing activities!

The 2026/2027 Inprint Cool Brains! Series proudly presents award-winning author Rex Ogle, sharing his new books Fruitcake, a graphic novel about surviving middle school and finding the courage to be yourself, and Absent, a middle grade novel about three boys who skip school, told in verse, prose, and comics.

Rex Ogle is the author of more than 100 books for kids, including comics, graphic novels, and memoirs—most notably Free Lunch (winner of the ALA/YALSA award for Excellence in Nonfiction), Abuela, Don’t Forget Me (ALA/YALSA award for Excellence in Nonfiction finalist), Road Home (a Micheal Printz Honor and Stonewall Honor book), and middle grade graphic novels Four Eyes and Pizza Face. Under his pseudonym Rey Terciero, he has also reimagined classics as modern and diverse graphic novels, including Meg, Jo, Beth, & Amy, Northranger (nominated for both Harvey and GLAAD Media Awards), and Dan in Green Gables (nominated for a GLAAD Media Award). Born and raised in Texas, Rex now lives in Los Angeles where he writes every day—when he’s not reading X-Men, gaming with friends, or chasing his dog, Toby, trying to score a hug.

Described as “funny, sad, goofy and poignant; a winner” (Kirkus starred review), Fruitcake is the third and final installment of Ogle’s highly popular Four Eyes graphic novel series, which tackles relatable middle school themes like bullying, puberty, building self-confidence, and navigating friendships. Eighth grade isn’t off to a great start for Rex. Everyone seems to be coupling up, and he’s starting to feel like an outsider—until he meets Charlotte. She’s fearless, smart, pretty, and, best of all, she likes him back. But as wonderful as Charlotte is, Rex can’t stop thinking about someone else: Drew, Rex’s childhood best friend. Suddenly, Rex is navigating feelings he never expected. With strong opinions swirling at home and church, Rex begins to question his own worth and what his feelings truly mean. Featuring Dave Valeza’s vibrant, colorful, and engaging illustrations, Fruitcake is a heartfelt story of laughter and fear, crushes and coming out, and the courage it takes to embrace who you are.

With illustrations by LJ-Baptiste, Absent explores school absenteeism in a compelling, entertaining, and utterly distinct middle grade novel. 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.

***Please note that the book signing will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon entering the theater, people wishing to have books signed will be given a number, and the book signing will take place in numerical order after the on-stage presentation.***