Grape!

Overview

A heartwarming story of a young boy who learns about truth and respect after being suspended from school

Grape is in trouble again! He punched Miss Roof in the arm! Now he's suspended for two weeks, and Principal Clarkson has threatened to send him to Riverwash, a school for problem kids. But he has one last chance. Grape must spend an hour a day writing about his history of trouble, and there's a lot of trouble to choose from... Grape's best friend Lou is by his side, and even though Grape drives his parents crazy, they're pulling for him all the way. But will Grape make sense of it all? Will it be enough to keep him out of Riverwash?

Reviews

"Grape's misadventures, born from the 'spiders' in his brain, are hilarious and heart-wrenching. Whether he's stuck in a storm drain, singing songs to his crush, or (gulp) streaking, you will find yourself cheering and quite possibly shedding a tear for this dear boy. Grape! is a book of uncommon empathy, a perfect story for every child who wants to be heard and loved for who they are, and for every grown up who wants to understand them." — J. Cynthia McDermott EdD. Founder, Horace Mann Upstanders Children's Book Award; Professor and Regional Director at Antioch University, Los Angeles

"Gabriel Arquilevich has created something very special here. Hilarious, moving, and full of life, Grape is an unforgettable character, an unforgettable book." — Gayle Brandeis, award-winning author of My Life with the Lincolns

"Quirky kids (and adults who remember being quirky kids) will cheer for Gabriel Arquilevich's Grape!—a lovable mess of a tween who moves from one laugh-out-loud disaster to another while struggling to navigate school and friendships and musical theater camp in this rollicking homage to 1970s pop culture." — Melissa Hart, author of Avenging the Owl and Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens.

"Bitter-sweetness and a touch of humor make this a tale which touches the heart and proves there's more to trouble than just being mean. Grape is in trouble again, but this time, he's suspended from school for two weeks. The principal hasn't decided whether to let Grape return or send him of to a school for problem children. Grape's one chance is to write down his memories of the times he's gotten in trouble over the years. And there are some big ones to chose from. But as he writes, he might discover more than the unfairness in all of it. While starting and ending with the usual story scenes, the rest of these pages constitute Grape's journal. It takes place in the 1970's with a boy who tries his best to work with people, but they never seem to work with him back. In the end, the spiders talk in his head and things go wacky or simply wrong. Each episode is a mixture of humor and heart-aching consequences. Grape's mistakes are clear. Still, he never has ill intentions...not mean, anyway. He, like many kids, ends up finding himself in situations which blur the lines of rules, necessities or desire. Readers will understand Grape's problems and feel for him, while clearly seeing what exactly went wrong and why. Grape isn't a normal kid. This is never directly said but becomes clear as the tale goes on. It's never said what exactly his problem is (outside of an accident which leaves a cracked skull when he's very young), only that he has spiders which wiggle and talk in his head when they shouldn't. It's a gentle way to help readers understand those who might be a bit different. It makes a great read for especially for the classroom environment and is sure to bring new awareness and insights into understanding those around us." — T. Drecker, Reviewer at Bookworm for Kids

"In 1970s California, Argentinean Jewish middle schooler Gabriel, or Grape, struggles with school and fitting in. Grape blames his problems on the "spiders" in his brain, a result of falling backward from his high chair as a baby and cracking his skull open. Most recently, he punched Miss Roof in the arm and was suspended for two weeks. Principal Clarkson wants to send him to Riverwash, a school for "problem" kids, but gives him one more chance. Grape must spend an hour a day writing about his history of trouble, from getting stuck in a storm drain to fighting with his best friend Lou. The story, written in journal entries from Grape's perspective, chronicles everything that led up to his most recent incident, including challenges at musical theater camp and a fascination with streaking. Grape's actions and issues with impulse control might prove alienating to some readers, but relatable for others with similar experiences. VERDICT Quirky kids will relate to Grape's struggles to fit in both in school and with friends." —Sarah Polace, School Library Journal 

"Grape is in trouble again! He punched Miss Roof in the arm! Now he's suspended from school for two weeks, and Principal Clarkson has threatened to send him to Riverwash, a school for problem kids. But he has one last chance. Grape must spend an hour a day writing about his history of trouble, and there's a lot of trouble to choose from! Grape's best friend Lou is by his side, and even though Grape drives his parents crazy, they're pulling for him all the way. But will Grape make sense of it all? Will it be enough to keep him out of Riverwash? A deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for young reader involvement from beginning to end, "Grape!" by Gabriel Arquilevich is an especially recommended addition to school and community General Fiction collections for children ages 9-12." —James A. Cox, Midwest Book Reviews

"An honest troublemaker pleads his way into our hearts in Grape!, the upper middle grade treasure from Gabriel Arquilevich." —Joe Walters, Independent Book Review

Author Biography

Gabriel Arquilevich was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, a child of Argentinian immigrants, a child the '70s. A lifelong teacher, he is the author of several middle-grade textbooks, including Writing for 100 Days, which appears in Cathy Duffy's Top 101 Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. His poetry, published widely, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He lives with his wife in Meiners Oaks, CA.