Vrabel - A Blind Guide to Normal

Praise for Beth Vrabels Pack of Dorks and A Blind Guide to Stinkville

Debut author Vrabel takes three knotty, seemingly disparate problemsbullying, the plight of wolves, and coping with disabilityand with tact and grace knits them into an engrossing whole of despair and redemption. Useful tips for dealing with bullying are neatly incorporated into the tale but with a refreshing lack of didacticism. Lucys perfectly feisty narration, emotionally resonant situations, and the importance of the topic all elevate this effort well above the pack.

Kirkus Reviews , starred review

Lucys growth and smart, funny observations entertain and empower in Vrabels debut, a story about the benefits of embracing ones true self and treating others with respect.

Publishers Weekly

Vrabel displays a canny understanding of middle-school vulnerability.

Booklist

Lucys confident first-person narration keeps pages turning as she transitions from totally popular to complete dorkdom in the space of one quick kiss. Humorous and honest.

VOYA

This book doesnt soft-pedal the strange cruelty that kids inflict on one another, nor does it underestimate the impact. At the same time, it does not wallow unnecessarily. The challenging subject matter is handled in a gentle, age-appropriate way with humor and genuine affection.

School Library Journal

Pack of Dorks nails the pitfalls of popularity and celebrates the quirks in all of us! An empowering tale of true friendships, family ties, and social challenges, you wont want to stop reading about Lucy and her pack a heartwarming story to which everyone can relate.

Elizabeth Atkinson, author of I, Emma Freke

A book about all kinds of differences, with all kinds of heart.

Kristen Chandler, author of Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me and Girls Dont Fly

Beth Vrabels stellar writing captivates readers from the start as she weaves a powerful story of friendship and hardship. Vrabels debut novel speaks to those struggling for acceptance and inspires them to look within themselves for the strength and courage to battle real-life issues.

Buffy Andrews, author of The Lion Awakens and Freaky Frank

Beth Vrabel weaves an authentic, emotional journey that makes her a standout among debut authors.

Kerry OMalley Cerra, author of Just a Drop of Water

Most commendable is Vrabels 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. Alices insistence that shes not that blind rings true with both stubbornness and confusion as she avails herself of some tools while not needing others, in contrast to typically unambiguous portrayals. Readers who worry about fitting inwherever that may bewill relate to Alices journey toward compromise and independence.

Kirkus Reviews

Brimming with wit and heart, A Blind Guide to Stinkville examines the myriad ways we define difference between ourselves and others and asks us to reexamine how we see belonging.

Tara Sullivan, award-winning author of Golden Boy

A Blind Guide to Stinkville is a delightfully unexpected story with humor and heart. Vrabel tackles some tough issues, including albinism, depression, and loneliness, with a compassionate perspective and a charming voice.

Amanda Flower, author of the Agatha Awardnominated Andi Boggs series

Also by Beth Vrabel

Pack of Dorks

A Blind Guide to Stinkville

Camp Dork

Copyright 2016 by Beth Vrabel

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Sky Pony Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously.

Sky Pony is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at www.skyponypress.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Laura Klynstra

Cover illustration by Chris Piascik

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-0228-8

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-0229-5

Printed in the United States of America

To Goldie, my papaws long-passed devil cat, for inspiring the General. It almost makes up for the lifelong fear of exposed ankles while walking down stairs.

Chapter One

E ven I could see that the cake was one twisted joke.

As my friend Alice pushed a cart to the front of the classroom, everyone else backed off, distancing themselves. And since this was a room full of kids attending Addison School for the Blind, it also clued me in that they all had seen the cake before Alice wheeled it in.

Brad (all of our teachers at Addison insisted on being called by their first names) moved the projector so it blew up an image of the cake onto the wall. He read aloud the words set in red icing: Good luck, Ryder! Ill miss you.

Alice broke in, But its really Eyell miss you. E-y-e! She snorted at her own joke.

Quiet fell across the room like a blanket.

Eye, Alice added in a whisper, her usually white-as-paper cheeks pinking as the silence thickened. She stepped closer to me. When I knew she could see, I slowly shook my head, like I was so disappointed. Um, she continued, face flaming, sort of like how you only have one eye

Thats just sick.

Alice squirmed and I couldnt hold it in another second, laughter ripping out of me. The worst torture in the world is forcing some poor fool to explain a joke. I took off my glasses and pretended to wipe the lens with one hand. After a second, I popped out my fake eye with my other hand. If youre going to miss it, Porcelain, I could just leave it behind.

Alice slapped away my hand. But she couldnt stay mad at me. No one can. Its a gift. Soon she was laughing even harder than I, making everyone join in. No one can resist Alices laughter. I guess thats sort of her gift.

Hes holding his eye, isnt he? asked Lucas, who had started at Addison School in sixth grade like me. But where I was about to head back to public school for eighth gradehence the going-away partyLucas would probably graduate from Addison. I, at least, have mild to low vision out of one eye. Lucas was born totally blind.

Yup, he sure is, Alice said. Although she is technically blind due to albinism, Alice usually just had to get close to something to make out what was going on around her. I smiled, a little pumped that she and Lucas had each other. Thanks to me. I kind of took Alice under my wing when she arrived at Addison a year ago. At first, I just liked making her blushcalling her Porcelain because of her pale skin and stuff like thatbut we quickly became friends. Best friends, actually.

Alice and Lucas, however well, Lucas slipped his hand into hers like he could hear my thoughts.