Free Lunch is so honest, raw, and alive. Any child who has had to suffer the indignities and shame of poverty on any level, in any form, will connect with this story. I thought the free lunch program would be the main topic but actually it's just the top layer. There're a whole lot of deeper issues underneath. Still, hope is never far away. Every kid should read this, either to feel less alone or to be aware of others who are. Recommended. 4 stars.