A Blind Guide to Stinkville

Before Stinkville, Alice didn't think albinism - or the blindness that goes with it - was a big deal. Sure, she uses a magnifier to read books. And a cane keeps her from bruising her hips on tables. Putting on sunscreen and always wearing a hat are just part of life. But life has always been like this for Alice. Until Stinkville.

For the first time in her life, Alice feels different - like she's at a disadvantage. Back in her old neighborhood in Seattle, everyone knew Alice, and Alice knew her way around. In Stinkville, Alice finds herself floundering - she can't even get to the library on her own. But when her parents start looking into schools for the blind, Alice takes a stand. She's going to show them - and herself - that blindness is just a part of who she is, not all that she can be.

To prove it, Alice enters the Stinkville Success Stories essay contest. No one, not even her new friend, Kerica, believes she can scout out her new town's stories and write the essay by herself. The funny thing is, as Alice confronts her own blindness, everyone else seems to see her for the first time.

This is a stirring small-town story that explores many different issues - albinism, blindness, depression, dyslexia, growing old, and more - with a light touch and lots of heart. Beth Vrabel's characters are complicated and messy, but they come together in a story about the strength of community and friendship.