Review: The Reckless Club

The Reckless Club by Beth Vrabel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beth Vrabel has done it again, offering up another middle grade book about transformative friendships and experiences between teens and adults. In The Reckless Club (which if you're thinking it sounds a bit like the Breakfast Club you wouldn't be wrong) the story begins on August 23, at the end of summer vacation, a just before the start of high school. We meet Jason (the Nobody), Lillith (the Drama Queen and do not call her Lily), Wes (the Flirt), Ally (the Athlete, aka Sports Barbie) and Rex (the Rebel, or hey, Just Rex) they are going to spend time doing community service hours at a nursing home. Each youth has their own history that informed some behavior that earned them detention at the end of middle school. Spending the day helping out at the old folks home managed by their principal's sister is a way to serve their detention instead of starting their school year with one.

One of the things that Vrabel excels at is developing tween and teen characters who are unique and who have unique family challenges and vulnerabilities. Each of these children has an interesting story and the alliances formed on their community service day is a pretty timeless trope that works well in Vrabel's hands. These are kids that middle graders and young teens will relate to and who may encourage them to look deeper at peers and adults. I especially love the aspect of interacting with the elderly, something that can be so valuable for young people and which sometimes they resist.

Another positive Vrabel book about not being as alone or invisible as you think you are.

I received a Digital Review Copy from Running Press Kids via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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