Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel | eBook

Lucy knows that kissing Tom Lemmings behind the ball shed will make her a legend. But she doesn’t count on that quick clap of lips propelling her from coolest to lamest fourth grader overnight. Suddenly Lucy finds herself trapped in Dorkdom, where a diamond ring turns your finger green, where the boy you kiss hates you three days later, where your best friend laughs as you cry, where parents seem to stop liking you, and where baby sisters are born different.

Now Lucy has a choice: she can be like her former best friend Becky, who would do anything to claim her seat at the cool table in the cafeteria, or Lucy can pull up a chair among the solo eaters—also known as the dorks. Still unsure, Lucy partners with super quiet Sam Righter on a research project about wolves. Lucy connects her own school hierarchy with what she learns about animal pack life—where some wolves pin down weaker ones just because they can, and others risk everything to fight their given place in the pack. Soon Lucy finds her third option: creating a pack of her own, even if it is simply a pack of dorks.

Weaving tough issues, including bullying, loyalty, and disability, with a thread of snarky humor, family bonds, and fresh perspective, Pack of Dorks paints characters coming-of-age and coming-to-terms. Beth Vrabel’s stellar debut contemporary middle grade novel is sure to please fans of Jack Gantos, Elizabeth Atkinson, and Judy Blume.

Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Publishers Weekly

08/11/2014
Fourth-grader Lucy’s life is unraveling before her eyes, and it all started with a kiss. One day she is given a plastic dollar-store ring by classmate Tom Lemming after kissing him on the playground. The next, she misplaces the ring, and Tom turns on her. Lucy’s best friend Becky, terrified of losing her social status, won’t stand up for Lucy, even though outside of school she assures Lucy she’s still her friend. Then, Lucy’s sister, Molly, is born with Down syndrome, and her parents’ behavior changes too (“I wasn’t sure she and Dad had room to worry about my problems any more now that they had a whole syndrome to manage”). A class project with a quiet boy named Sam and the company of exuberant, nose-picking classmate April place Lucy in the dangerous territory of “Dorkdom,” but these new friends are loyal and make Lucy smile. Lucy’s growth and smart, funny observations entertain and empower in Vrabel’s debut, a story about the benefits of embracing one’s true self and treating others with respect. Ages 8–12. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (Oct.)

From the Publisher

"Debut author Vrabel takes three knotty, seemingly disparate problems—bullying, the plight of wolves and coping with disability—and 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. Lucy's perfectly feisty narration, emotionally resonant situations and the importance of the topic all elevate this effort well above the pack." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Lucy’s growth and smart, funny observations entertain and empower in Vrabel’s debut, a story about the benefits of embracing one’s true self and treating others with respect." —Publishers Weekly

"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 won't 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. Lucy and her pack of dorks are hilarious and lovable.” —Kristen Chandler, author of Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me and Girls Don’t Fly

"Beth Vrabel's humorous debut, Pack of Dorks, takes a fresh look at what it means to embrace what makes you and the ones you love different. While Lucy navigated the social hierarchy of intermediate school, I found myself alternating between laughing with her and cringing on her behalf. The novel is a must read for anyone trying to survive fourth grade or anyone who remembers what it was like. Pack of Dorks is the pack I want to join." —Amanda Flower, author of Agatha Award nominee Andi Unexpected

“Beth Vrabel’s stellar writing captivates readers from the start as she weaves a powerful story of friendship and hardship. Vrabel’s 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

"This realistic story draws readers into Lucy’s struggle to untangle the messy social-hierarchy of school, all while adjusting to a new home front that includes a special needs, baby sister. The first person narration delicately illustrates Lucy’s innocence, strength, and uncertainty in a tale that encourages hope, as well as acceptance. Beth Vrabel weaves an authentic, emotional journey that makes her a standout among debut authors." —Kerry O'Malley Cerra, author of Just a Drop of Water

VOYA, December 2014 (Vol. 37, No. 5) - Cynthia Winfield

Lucy, fourth-grade student at Autumn Grove Intermediate School, is excited because today when she kisses Tom—and her best friend kisses his best friend—behind the ball shed during recess, it will secure their social position. According to Becky, “You sometimes have to do things you don’t want to do” for the sake of popularity, and when you are a dork, “you would do anything” to overcome ostracism. Lucy knows her new ring, delivered moments later, is a real diamond. Over the weekend, Lucy’s mom goes into labor, and when Lucy visits at the hospital, she loses track of her ring, noticing only after the family is home. Her parents’ distress over the baby’s unexpected Down syndrome precludes hunting for the ring and Lucy’s dad points out that diamond rings do not turn fingers green. When Lucy returns to school, having missed one day, it takes time for her to realize she is now a social dork. Lucy’s confident first-person narration keeps pages turning as she transitions from totally popular to complete dorkdom in the space of one quick kiss. Issues of bullying, friendship, fitting in, and self-assertion are addressed as Lucy and her peers experience them, and as Lucy watches her parents—with her new sister—experience them. She comes to understand why Becky would “do anything” to be popular but decides against this path; she ultimately forms her own quirkily likeable pack of dorks. Humorous and honest, this should appeal to both female and male readers. Reviewer: Cynthia Winfield; Ages 11 to 14.

School Library Journal

10/01/2014
Gr 4–6—Lucy is the second most popular girl in fourth grade. She maintains her social standing by obsequiously following her "best friend," queen bee Becky—even when that means succumbing to peer pressure and giving Tom Lemmings a quick kiss during recess. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself being made the butt of jokes and is no longer in her exalted position as a popular kid. When groveling doesn't work, Lucy opens up to spending time with other kids she had previously overlooked and finds herself making some real friends in the process. This book doesn't soft-peddle the strange cruelty that kids inflict on one another, nor does it underestimate the impact. At the same time, it does not wallow unnecessarily. Instead, Lucy finds joy in her new little sister and helps her family gain perspective as they struggle to come to terms with the baby's special needs. The challenging subject matter is handled in a gentle, age-appropriate way with humor and genuine affection. Lucy is likable even when she's not behaving well; just like a real kid. When things work out in the end, it feels as natural as two like-minded kids learning to trust one another.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2014-07-16
Debut author Vrabel takes three knotty, seemingly disparate problems—bullying, the plight of wolves and coping with disability—and with tact and grace knits them into an engrossing whole of despair and redemption. Popular fourth-grader Lucy and her best friend, Becky, kiss Tom and Henry behind the shed during recess as their class looks on, Lucy's brief, reluctant peck paling against Becky's smoldering "suction cup" smooch. When Lucy gets home, her mother's in labor; Molly is born later that day with Down syndrome. Back at school on Tuesday, everything has changed. Now disingenuous Becky is with Tom, and Lucy's being shunned by most of the class. Only then does she begin to understand life as an outsider and take a closer look at other bullying victims, each nicely depicted, both negative and positive characteristics colorfully drawn. Assigned to do a project about wolves with fellow victim Sam, Lucy gradually becomes friends with him, and they discover fascinating truths about wolf packs that give them insight into the behavior of their classmates. Simultaneously, Lucy and her parents slowly, believably come to grips with Molly's uncertain future. Useful tips for dealing with bullying are neatly incorporated into the tale but with a refreshing lack of didacticism. Lucy's perfectly feisty narration, the emotionally resonant situations and the importance of the topic all elevate this effort well above the pack. (Fiction. 8-12)

Pack of Dorks

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