"A boy, desperate and broken, and a young bear with its head caught in a bucket: Vrabel sensitively interweaves these two disparate plotlines. . . . Noah's first-person narration is spot-on, age appropriate and full of anger with brief flashes of insight. The trope is well-worked; this effort rises above the pack, believable and ultimately uplifting. Engrossing, satisfying, and compassionate." —Kirkus Reviews
"Strong themes of family, forgiveness, and personal growth make this a poignant and highly discussable read. VERDICT: A solid realistic fiction story of triumph over adversity that will resonate with a wide range of middle school readers." —School Library Journal
"Masterfully written. Vrabel explores tough topics with compassion and grace." —Lynn Rush, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
"Beth Vrabel doesn't disappoint in this touching tale of a boy and a bear. She creates a lovable but flawed character—a raw portrayal of someone who has been dealt some bad cards and made poor decisions, who readers are left rooting for. Bringing Me Back speaks to a wide audience." —Natalie Rompella, author of Cookie Cutters and Sled Runners
"What price do we pay for our parents' mistakes? Beth Vrabel brings deep compassion and unexpected humor to the story of a boy and a bear trapped by poor choices and circumstances beyond their control—and shows how courage and resilience can heal even the most injured among us." —Melissa Hart, author of Avenging the Owl
Praise for A Blind Guide to Normal:
"Vrabel has an eye for sympathetic, offbeat characters — and a knack for feel-good resolutions." - Kirkus Reviews
"Once in a great while I read a book and want to immediately email the author to thank them for writing it. A Blind Guide to Normal is one of those books. It's filled with kindness, friendship, and hope. Lots of hope. Just beautiful." - Kerry O’Malley Cerra, author of Just a Drop of Water
Praise for A Blind Guide to Stinkville:
"Most commendable is Vrabel's focus on compromise and culture shock. Disorientation encompasses not only place and attitude, but also the rarely explored ambivalence of being disabled on a spectrum. ... Readers who worry about fitting in—wherever that may be—will relate to Alice's journey toward compromise and independence." - Kirkus Review
Praise for Pack of Dorks:
"Vrabel displays a canny understanding of middle-school vulnerability." - Booklist
"The challenging subject matter is handled in a gentle, age-appropriate way with humor and genuine affection." - School Library Journal
"A boy, desperate and broken, and a young bear with its head caught in a bucket: Vrabel sensitively interweaves these two disparate plotlines. . . . Noah's first-person narration is spot-on, age appropriate and full of anger with brief flashes of insight. The trope is well-worked; this effort rises above the pack, believable and ultimately uplifting. Engrossing, satisfying, and compassionate." —Kirkus Reviews
"Strong themes of family, forgiveness, and personal growth make this a poignant and highly discussable read. VERDICT: A solid realistic fiction story of triumph over adversity that will resonate with a wide range of middle school readers." —School Library Journal
"Masterfully written. Vrabel explores tough topics with compassion and grace." —Lynn Rush, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
"Beth Vrabel doesn't disappoint in this touching tale of a boy and a bear. She creates a lovable but flawed character—a raw portrayal of someone who has been dealt some bad cards and made poor decisions, who readers are left rooting for. Bringing Me Back speaks to a wide audience." —Natalie Rompella, author of Cookie Cutters and Sled Runners
"What price do we pay for our parents' mistakes? Beth Vrabel brings deep compassion and unexpected humor to the story of a boy and a bear trapped by poor choices and circumstances beyond their control—and shows how courage and resilience can heal even the most injured among us." —Melissa Hart, author of Avenging the Owl
Praise for A Blind Guide to Normal:
"Vrabel has an eye for sympathetic, offbeat characters — and a knack for feel-good resolutions." - Kirkus Reviews
"Once in a great while I read a book and want to immediately email the author to thank them for writing it. A Blind Guide to Normal is one of those books. It's filled with kindness, friendship, and hope. Lots of hope. Just beautiful." - Kerry O’Malley Cerra, author of Just a Drop of Water
Praise for A Blind Guide to Stinkville:
"Most commendable is Vrabel's focus on compromise and culture shock. Disorientation encompasses not only place and attitude, but also the rarely explored ambivalence of being disabled on a spectrum. ... Readers who worry about fitting in—wherever that may be—will relate to Alice's journey toward compromise and independence." - Kirkus Review
Praise for Pack of Dorks:
"Vrabel displays a canny understanding of middle-school vulnerability." - Booklist
"The challenging subject matter is handled in a gentle, age-appropriate way with humor and genuine affection." - School Library Journal
2017-12-06
A boy, desperate and broken, and a young bear with its head caught in a bucket: Vrabel (Pack of Dorks, 2016, etc.) sensitively interweaves these two disparate plotlines.Noah only gradually reveals the depth and breadth of his issues. His mom's in jail for a third drunken driving offense. He's living with her most recent boyfriend but lacks faith that any adult, even steadfast Jeff, can be relied upon. A year ago, right after his mom's arrest, Noah tackled a mentally disabled kid on his own football team, his brutality leading to the league's revoking their championship and barring the team altogether. And then there was the shoplifting incident that followed. Now it seems like everyone hates Noah—even teachers and school administrators, who disparage him and view him as a hopeless case. The only exception is Rina, a smart, unpopular classmate who remembers who Noah once was and understands both his journey to despair and a possible path to redemption. Together they launch a campaign to save the bear, and along the way, they save Noah, too. The characters' races aren't revealed and therefore imply the white default. Noah's first-person narration is spot-on, age appropriate and full of anger with brief flashes of insight. The trope is well-worked; this effort rises above the pack, believable and ultimately uplifting.Engrossing, satisfying, and compassionate. (Fiction. 11-14)
