Thank you Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book.
This book is devastating and goes deep into the effects of cyclical violence. Marisa, in particular, is just heartbreaking. I'm amazed by the author's resilience. I appreciate that he includes such a crucial afterword to others who are coping with trauma. There aren't many books written with teens in mind that speak so directly to these issues. This is a tough read, but well worth the time. Punching Bag is a masterwork on the subject of generational violence, self-loathing, poverty, and resilience. I am so happy Rex made it out of there and that he is now strong enough to share his story.

Wow. What a heavy but necessary story that needs to be shared. Obvious trigger warning for domestic abuse, mental abuse, child abuse. Rex Ogle is great at sharing his personal moments. This book is beautifully written, showing the arc of understanding abuse and how it’s never the victim’s fault. The complexities of how hurt people hurt people. And how it’s still okay to be angry and pissed off about all of it.
It breaks my heart that this happened to the author, it breaks my heart that it still happens to kids and this story needs to be shared because kids will be able to relate. But without heartbreak can we ever appreciate the joy? This book is going to help a lot of human beings.

What a mesmerizing, heart wrenching, sad but hopeful book this was about domestic violence based on the author’s life. Rex has a very angry mom and step dad who are always mad at him, it seems, all the time. His stepdad ridicules Tex for being Mexican which makes Rex wonder why is he with his mom. His mom blames Rex, who was away, for his baby sister dying before she was born. Rex carries this guilt for a long time but thinks about her a lot, and it gives him hope at times when he needs it. As his mom constantly berates and beats Rex over nothing, he realizes this cycle of pain is a bond between he and his mom. At the end, Rex does survive it all with hope and tells us life can be dark but it will get better,