Back to the Bright Before, Katherin Nolte
Back to the Bright Before, Katherin Nolte
List: $23.00 | Sale: $16.10
Club: $11.50

Back to the Bright Before

Author: Katherin Nolte

Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky

Unabridged: 4 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/30/2023


Synopsis

A magical adventure about two brave siblings determined to find a treasure that could save their family.

When eleven-year-old Pet Martin’s dad falls from a ladder on their family farm, it isn’t just his body that crashes to the ground. So does every hope her family had for the future. Money is scarce, and Pet’s mom is bone-tired from waiting tables at the local diner, and even with the extra hours, it’s not enough for a third surgery for Pet’s dad. Her five-year-old brother, Simon, now refuses to say anything except the word “cheese.” Worst of all? The ladder accident was Pet’s fault.

She’s determined to fix things—but how? Good old-fashioned grit…and maybe a little bit of magic. 

When a neighbor recites a poem about an ancient coin hidden somewhere on the grounds of the local abbey, Pet forms a plan. With her brother, a borrowed chicken, and a stolen pony, Pet runs away from home. If she can find the coin, Daddy can have his surgery, Momma can stop her constant working, and Simon might speak again. But Pet isn't the only one who wants the coin…which means searching for it is more dangerous than she ever imagined. 

This dazzling debut novel filled with magic, family, and adventure is sure to be an instant classic.

About The Author

Katherin Nolte received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she was a Truman Capote Fellow. Her fiction has appeared in dozens of publications and won multiple awards, but it was a late-night ER visit with her four children that inspired her to write Back to the Bright Before. An Ohio native, she currently lives with her family in Iowa.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Faith on August 16, 2023

A hidden bonus of being a Catholic author is that I've spent my life steeped in story-worthy elements. You want beauty and drama? Walk into a Mass and breathe in the incense and beeswax candles. Let the music of Byrd and Tallis echo in your ears. See the gleam of brass in the smoking thurifer and th......more

Goodreads review by Nessa on March 11, 2024

It was okay. I wasn't a huge fan but lots of kids love sad books. It felt very realistic then suddenly turned very fantastical.......more

Goodreads review by Emily on July 26, 2023

A delightful kids' adventure, with chickens, Latin phrases, and a wonderful big sister protagonist who is determined to save her impoverished family. This is everything my ten year old will love!......more

Goodreads review by Meaghan on January 07, 2024

This book was emotional, heartwarming, and a bit odd, but the audiobook narrator was what really made the story shine the most in my opinion. While I loved the opening chapters and I was anticipating a five star read, I found the story to be a little odd once Simon and Pet's adventure actually began......more

Goodreads review by LitPick Book Reviews on June 28, 2023

Back to the Bright Before by Katherine Nolte is a smooth and poignant children’s adventure story that features the journey of Perpetua or Pet and her little brother Simon. Although Pet’s family has never been rich, things go well until one day an accident casts a dark shadow over their lives. Pet’s......more


Quotes

"Like Oz or Narnia, the landscape will enchant readers looking for an eventful adventure." —Booklist

“A diverting, warmhearted, unusual fantasy.” —Kirkus Reviews

"Sweetly mystical." —Publishers Weekly