My starred review in School Library Journal:
Gr 9 Up
Diego “Benny” Benevides and his best friend, Lawson, have considered each other brothers ever since a bullying incident as elementary students. Now seniors in high school, both boys are struggling to help their single mothers by following vastly different paths. Benny’s alcoholic mom tells him “Don’t be like me. Be better.” He is very studious, working for low wages at a diner, striving to go to college and make her proud. She takes the bus to work so she can give her son “Maria Carmen,” her 1980 Cadillac DeVille, to help him meet those goals. Meanwhile, Lawson is not interested in school and makes his money selling weed. When he first asks Benny for rides, it seems more benign but selling spirals quickly into heavier drugs. Lawson cannot say no to his controlling and violent dealer, Trent. Benny’s gripping introspective conflict between his own future and loyalty to Lawson is palpable. The novel in verse format is perfect for this character-driven, issue-oriented storyline mash-up, as readers delve deep into the battle playing out in the protagonist’s mind. Ogle is exceptionally skillful at inviting readers into the emotional intensity of each decision Benny makes, with addiction and poverty laid raw using spare, carefully selected free verse. This pairs well with similarly themed verse novels where decision-making is paramount, like Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down and Ellen Hopkins’s classic “Crank” series. VERDICT: A gritty and nuanced glimpse into the underbelly of poverty, addiction, and gun violence.
Reviewed by Lisa Krok , Mar 07, 2025

When We Ride by Rex Ogle is a young adult novel in verse that tells the story of best friends Diego and Lawson. Diego and Lawson are neighbors who found each other at a young age. They have very different futures but are deeply connected through the unfortunate circumstances of poverty, fatherlessness, and addiction. Diego is quiet, studious, and hard-working. He has plans to go to college and doesn't want anything to stand in his way. Lawson lives across the street from Diego and is a drug dealer with no real future ahead of him. Lawson relies on Diego for rides - to school but also on drug runs. Diego struggles to balance his sense of responsibility to his best friend, whom he considers a brother, and his future. Not only is Lawson putting Diego's college plans in jeopardy, but he's also putting his life in danger.

I was already a big Rex Ogle fan before reading this book, but now he's an auto-buy author for me. Although I didn't like the ending of this book, the other 99% was fantastic.

Huge thanks to Norton Young Readers and NetGalley for a review copy of When We Ride.

I'd like to start my review with a big thank you to the author, Rex Ogle, Norton Young Readers, and NetGalley for the privilege of being able to read an advance copy of When We Ride. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. When We Ride is a read-in-a-sitting kind of novel, where you're pulled quickly into the lives of the characters and exposed to some of their deepest secrets, fears, and dreams. The novel is told in verse, with a very visual kind of creativity that feels like it fits very well with the story being told.

The complexities of friendship, loyalty, and the harsh realities of growing up in a challenging environment are told through the story of Diego “Benny” Benevides, a high school senior determined to escape his crumbling neighborhood through his own hard work and education. He has expectations of himself that go far beyond what he can find in his hometown, and his single mother supports his dreams, even giving him her car to help him stay on track. But like most teenagers, Benny's decision-making abilities are strained when it comes to resisting social pressures. Lawson, Benny's best friend, threatens to derail everything when he turns to dealing to bring in money. Benny balances his difficult life as a teenager with a busboy job, doing his best to get through school and support his family in some way. Through a confluence of external pressures, and particularly, because of Lawson's pleadings, Benny is pulled closer into the dangerous world of crime and is forced to reckon with his own future and who he wants to be; Lawson's wingman in violence or prison, or someone who is able to drag themselves out of the mud into the sunlight. When the pressures on Benny mount, he makes a decision that will change their friendship forever, and put both of their lives on a trajectory for an emotional ending.

Ogle’s use of verse is lovely, and allowed me as a reader to connect more deeply with Benny’s vulnerable internal struggles and the emotional weight of his choices without anything else obscuring that vision. In the beginning, the language used captures the repetitive grind of Benny’s life—balancing school, work, and the ever-present pull of Lawson’s chaos. As the novel continues, and his stress mounts, he tends to focus on sensory details that really remind us of how jarring it is for him to reconcile the self he wants to be with the self he is becoming. The novel doesn’t shy away from tough topics, including drug use, gang violence, and the consequences of enabling the bad behavior of those we love. But instead of moralizing and presenting Lawson or Benny as bad people with bad motivations, Ogle is able to give us nuanced characters caught in impossible situations, much like real life.

The relationship between Benny and Lawson is the heart of the story. Their friendship was forged in childhood and tested by the pressures of their tough environment, making their story feel authentic and heartbreaking. Lawson’s consistent descent into further criminal activity and Benny’s desperate attempts to pull him out of it highlight the tragic reality of how systemic poverty and the limited opportunities provided by the American system can trap even the most well-intentioned individuals. Throughout the story, we are constantly reminded of the ability to break free from the vicious cycle by Benny’s mother, who serves as a powerful counterpoint and embodies the strength and determination needed. The ending proves that despite every best effort by the individual, the system itself will still have its victims.

When We Ride is a book that will stay with me. t’s a story about the price of loyalty and friendship, the weight of responsibility, and the difficult choices that define us when we live in a world of external pressures we cannot control. This book is a must-read for fans of contemporary YA that tackles real-world issues with honesty. If you liked The Hate U Give, Long Way Down, The Poet X, or Ellen Hopkins' books, I think you'd enjoy this one! It's a quick read and packs a powerful punch. I'd recommend for anyone above age 14 or so, considering the tougher topics/drug use

Major Tropes & Themes:
- friendship/loyalty
- coming-of-age/identity
- poverty, systemic inequality, instability
- gang activity/drug dealing
- family
- resilience and hope

4/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy.

When We Ride by Rex Ogle presents a gripping and thought-provoking narrative centered around Diego Benevides, a teenager struggling to break free from the constraints of his troubled environment. Raised by his single mother, who encourages him to focus on school and escape their crumbling neighborhood, Diego's future hinges on his academic success. His mother even gives him her car to ensure he has the means to stay on track. However, despite his good intentions, Diego finds himself drawn into the dangerous world around him when his best friend, Lawson, asks for help. At first, Diego agrees to give Lawson rides without fully understanding the risks involved, believing it's harmless as long as he isn’t directly involved in dealing.

As the story progresses, the stakes heighten when Lawson's involvement in drug dealing escalates, leading to a powerful conflict between the two friends. Diego is forced to confront the reality of the dangerous choices Lawson is making and the way those choices begin to affect his own future. Ogle masterfully explores the tension between loyalty to a friend and the desire to protect one's future, with Diego caught in the middle. As Lawson’s actions spiral further into risk, Diego finds his life at stake, struggling to balance his dreams with the dangerous new reality they both inhabit.

When We Ride is a tense, emotional, and ultimately poignant exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the high cost of ambition. The novel captures the way our relationships and the environments we grow up in can shape, challenge, and sometimes derail our futures. Ogle’s portrayal of Diego’s internal struggle and his battle to hold onto his dreams in the face of increasing danger offers a powerful commentary on the pressures facing young people in difficult circumstances. This book is a gripping reminder of the precariousness of choices and the way even the best intentions can lead to unforeseen consequences.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

This made me want to scream at every turn-in frustration, in excitement, and in heartbreak. I think we all have had that friend or family member that couldn’t get it together but we felt responsible for them, making Lawson a deeply relatable character. Benny had the whole world on his shoulders no matter which direction he went in and I couldn’t have been more frustrated for him.

When We Ride is a novel in verse that explores the depths of friendship and the different paths people take in life. It's a powerful story that should be required reading in schools. It would be great for sparking conversations.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I will never be too old to read great YA, and Rex Ogle is one of the reasons why you should read YA too! When We Ride, a novel-in-verse, chronicles the friendship of two teens in their senior year on the verge of manhood.

Diego and Lawson are "ride or die" friends. They’ve known each other since the 3rd grade and have had each others backs through the toughest of times. When Lawson begins to sell drugs to help support his family, their lives begin to pull in different directions. Diego’s mother breaks her back working to provide him with a way out, all he has to do is focus on school and keep his measly job as a bus boy at a neighborhood diner. Worried about Lawson’s dealing, Diego agrees to give Lawson rides in his car in the hopes of reeling him back in.

In this short but emotionally impactful novel, reminiscent of Jason Reynold’s All the Way Down, Ogle illuminates the impossible situations and decisions teens face in our current world. It is a story about responsibility to family, the power of friendship and the price of loyalty. Many teen readers will be able to find themselves on these pages and relate to some of the challenges these boys face in their friendship and lives.

Fair warning, Ogle doesn’t shy away from tough topics ⚠️ multiple references to drinking, drugs, gang life, and violence.

Many thanks to the author @ThirdRex, @NortonYoungReaders, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

A heart-wrenching novel-in-verse 💔😢

“Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are” is the perfect quote to sum up this story.

MY GOODNESS!!! 💔 I knew what was coming, but I couldn’t look away. 😢

His mom only wanted the best for him, to be better than her, to have the things she could never afford or even dream of. He had a good head on his shoulders, but he got mixed up with the wrong company.

Thinking back to my high school and college days… for the most part, I was shy and reserved. But there were definitely moments when I found myself in places and situations I had no business being in, only to realize later how reckless my choices were and where they could have landed me. BUT GOD! 🙏🏾

This is a MUST-READ! 🌟♾️

In this novel-in-verse, Ogle gives the reader a peek inside the mind of both a young person with the promise of a better future than he has lived in, and one who is unlikely to rise above his circumstances. Perfect for readers of Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down, and will likely become recommended reading for teens in the juvenile justice system as a "scared straight" tactic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 25, 2025.

This book is powerful! It’s the story of high school seniors Benny and Lawson: neighbors who become friends who become brothers.

Benny lives with his alcoholic mom. He’s a good student who has his eyes set on college. Lawson sells drugs. First pot then cocaine then other drugs. Benny always gives him a ride to school but also to his drug drops.

Over the course of their senior year Benny tries to push back: he doesn’t want any part of Lawson’s drug deals. But they are brothers so it’s hard to say no.

This should be a must read for high school students as it offers a very realistic look into drugs, peer pressure and how far you will go for a friend. It’s written in verse which makes it more powerful.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
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Rex Ogle has done it again with this compelling novel-in-verse. Benny and Lawson have grown up together and consider themselves brothers. As seniors in high school, their roads begin to diverge. Benny tries to protect his future from Lawson’s destructive choices all the while trying to still be there for his “brother.” Hand this one to reluctant high schoolers. It is a quick read with all the depth and complexity of a much longer novel.

This novel in verse will drive you to finish it in one sitting, as you follow Diego's struggle to make good grades and be a loyal friend to Lawson, who is becoming increasingly more involved with drugs. Amazingly beautiful, lyrical, and moving, I recommend this to reluctant and avid readers alike. Drug abuse, dealing, and violence make this story for older readers, but it's a must-have for your collection.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this, but I’m so glad that I did read it.
The use of free verse was so useful to the narrative and made me feel so connected to Benny because we’re essentially reading his internal monologue.
I very quickly got attached to Benny and the people he had in his life, especially his mom. The author covered tough topics with so much thought and intention and told the story in a way that didn’t paint anyone as the villain, regardless of what happens because everyone makes mistakes and gets caught up in bad lifestyles sometimes. Lawson’s story was so sad to me because he clearly felt like he had no other choice and had to make do with the cards he was dealt, when in reality there was so much more potential to his future if he’d listened to Benny. I would recommend this to anyone regardless of genre preferences because I think it sheds a lot of light onto the lifestyles that people get stuck in, especially in drug dealing and more impoverished places, and how your decisions can make or break your future, and the futures of the people you surround yourself with, no matter the promises you make to keep them safe. This one will stick with me for a while.

This is a great book for high school students. The format, novel in verse, is highly appealing to students. The story of the friendship of 2 boys growing up in less than ideal situations is also appealing and will give readers much to think about.

"dreaming of tomorrows better than today."

When We Ride is a powerful, quick story in verse of Benny and Lawson. The two became friends in grade school, when Lawson defended Benny from a bully. Across the street neighbors, the two became inseparable, considering each other brothers.

It's senior year of high school and Benny and Lawson have taken separate paths. Benny's mother has pushed him, relentlessly, to study and be the first person in their family to go to college. Benny studies hard, works at a restaurant after school (and hates it), and helps care for his mother who is a mostly sober (but not always) alcoholic. Lawson, on the other hand, has gotten into dealing drugs. As the drugs get harder, so do the people he hangs around with. Benny is terrified, wanting to be the support system he know Lawson desperately needs and simultaneously fearful of being dragged down with him.

The story is deep, but moves fast, as most books in verse do. It brought to mind my adolescent years, where myself and friends veered down different paths - some easier, some harder, and some of us trying to save each other. This book is a punch to the gut. Not easy. Overall, I have deep appreciation for it, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

Recommended. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"my fortune says, 'Salt and sugar look the same'"

Rex Ogle never fails to deliver deeply emotional and powerful stories, and When We Ride is no exception. As his first novel-in-verse for teens, this book maintains the raw honesty and heartbreak that makes all of his work unforgettable. I knew going in that I would cry—because that’s just what happens with a Rex Ogle book—but I wasn’t prepared for how much this story would wreck me.

This is a gripping exploration of friendship, addiction, and the difficult choices that come with growing up in tough circumstances. Diego (Benny) is determined to stay clean, get good grades, and graduate at the top of his class. But his best friend, Lawson, is caught in a downward spiral of drug dealing and addiction, pulling Diego into the chaos with him. The push and pull of their friendship—the love, the loyalty, and the inevitable divide—felt so real and painful. Ogle’s use of classic literature, from Candide to A Clockwork Orange, as a mirror to Diego and Lawson’s story added another heartbreaking layer to the narrative.

The consequences of Lawson’s choices don’t just impact him; they spill over into Diego’s life, their families, and even Lawson’s girlfriend. The tension builds relentlessly, culminating in a tragedy that left me reeling. Ogle’s poetic, allegorical writing style makes this an unforgettable read, one that lingers long after the final page. When We Ride is an important, well-crafted novel that belongs in the hands of teenage readers—especially those navigating loyalty, loss, and the harsh realities of addiction.

Diego Benevides and Lawson have been best friends since childhood. Now high schoolers, they are still close, but their futures look very different. Diego (called “Benny” by Lawson) puts a lot of time and effort into his schoolwork, hoping to be the first to go to college; he’s thrilled and surprised to find out that he’s ranked 12th in his class. He goes to parties with Lawson but doesn’t drink, because he wants to support his mom, a recovering alcoholic. Lawson, on the other hand, does not care for school and has begun selling weed to help his mom pay their rent. He soon graduates to selling coke and harder drugs. He always bums rides from Diego, who has a car, when he needs to pick up from his supplier or sell. Diego constantly tells Lawson that he needs to stop selling, that he will ruin his future, and he often threatens to stop giving him rides, but soon they make a deal: If Lawson puts effort into passing his classes, Diego will keep giving him rides. Eventually, of course, Lawson gets mixed up with some dangerous people and ends up putting not only himself but Diego in danger as well.
This is a novel in verse that feels like sort of a hi/lo book that might appeal to reluctant readers. The verse is not remarkable but fine; as usual, prose would've allowed the author to flesh out the characters more. But he does a nice job showing the motives behind both Lawson's and Diego's behaviors, their differing situations in life, and the way they feel obligated to show up for one another.

Read this one courtesy of Net Galley. I enjoyed it quite a bit and will purchase for my school library. However, I couldn’t stop wondering why Lawson didn’t just use all that money to buy himself a car.

Alphas
Novel in verse format makes this a very accessible text
High-interest and content for young adult readers
Young readers may be impacted by the climax

Deltas
The climax was too obvious, leading to too quick of an ending
Started to get a bit repetitive with constantly needing a ride