Into the Vortex

“Too many books written for young adults seem to deal in hopelessness,and so it is very refreshing to read a gripping and uplifting adventure about 12-year-old Kayden Barrett’s resilience in the face of adversity. Author John Poidevant’s debut is sure to make him a must-read in middle schools everywhere.” —DANNY BRASSELL, PhD, internationally acclaimed speaker, best-selling author of sixteen books and founder of lazyreaders.com

“Into the Vortex conveys a key message for today’s youth, ‘What is right with you is more important than anything that might be wrong.’ The story is a message of hope. A message of resilience. A message that everyone needs to hear and believe. The author understands resilience. He lived it. He passed it on to others, including me. That is a legacy of resilience worthy of this story. Let him pass it on to you.” —KAREN G. GRIFFITH, PhD, author of Building Resiliency: A Non-Thematic Small Group Approach and Creative Small Groups: Ready to Use Lessons

“Encapsulating the key components of social and emotional learning, Into the Vortex is a rapid-paced adventure that engrosses multi-aged readers from its inception. The protagonist’s journey toward healing touches on themes faced by so many youth today: fear, anxiety and depression, and the crucial relationship and resiliency skills that can make us stronger. Dr.Poidevant’s tale draws upon decades of experience in youth mental health, and his life lessons are practical, relatable, and filled with a message of unsinkable hope. A must-have for school counselors for book clubs or small group lessons!” —SUSANNA M. BROOKS, MA, M.Ed., school counselor, Cherokee County School District

“Over my four decades of navigating challenging whitewater rapids, including winning America’s first ever Olympic gold medal in whitewater slalom with my canoe partner, Scott Strausbaugh, I have frequently called ‘The River’ my best life coach. In his new book, Into the Vortex, John wonderfully captures the spirit of the river as a teacher and guide in a way that will engage and inspire young people to work with challenge and fear in pursuit of a good life bound by nature, positive relationships, continual learning, and the power of resilience.” —JOE JACOBI, Olympic gold medalist for whitewater slalom, Paddler of the Century by Paddler Magazine, Performance Coach

“Into the Vortex is a gift—a riveting story full of truth, wisdom, and hope, offering the tools of resiliency to youth, parents, educators, and helping professionals in a COVID world. It ought to be required reading for every student, to help them prepare for or recover from life’s challenges, and to encourage friends in need.” —REV. JONATHAN HARTZER, Anglican priest and pastoral counselor, Midland, TX

“Into the Vortex is an inspiring story of grit and resilience, one that will suck you in and keep you spiraling until the end. The strong underlying message of hope is timely in our world today, especially for our children. The author also provides numerous learning activities at the end of the book that allow teachers, counselors, students, and parents to gain a greater understanding of the importance of resiliency. Into the Vortex is an ideal fit with social emotional learning and promotes self-awareness, building relationships, and responsible decision-making.” —KIM HAGOOD, principal of Carmel Elementary, Cherokee County School District

“Into the Vortex is a fast paced read with a powerful message of inner resiliency that should be required reading for all children entering middle school. As a former middle and high school basketball coach I have seen firsthand the real challenges students face as they transition from grade to grade. Kayden Barrett’s story of mental toughness is inspiring, victorious and a must read for anyone facing adversity or loss in their life. Dr. Poidevant has simply and effectively mapped the course for rediscovering and rebuilding the resiliency that lies within every one of us.” —BART CHRISTIAN, author of the Simple Solutions book series and nationally recognized education speaker “John Poidevant has taken his life’s work and created an inspiring novel designed to impart resiliency and strength in the worst of situations. Into the Vortex provides a strong message of hope, optimism, and redemption. It is a timely read and one that clearly conveys resiliency in action.” —LES CONLEY, retired principal, coach, and teacher, Cherokee County School District “Using his skill as a gifted writer, Dr. Poidevant is able to envelop the reader in an adventure that both frightens and gives hope. In a time of great anxiety, he offers a sure path for the generations to come. His vast clinical experience has culminated in this great gift.” —CHARLES R. COOLEY, MD, author of Reindeer Magic and president, Kavik Publishing “In a world filled with mixed social and emotional messages directed at our young teens and adults, it is amazing to read an outstanding book designed to uplift emotional fortitude and promote resiliency! Author John Poidevant has lived a life of serving students who are in need of support and guidance, and his novel reflects those same intentional efforts with his strong message of hope, courage, and determination in the face of adversity. Our young people need more works of literature like Into the Vortex!” —DR. DEBRA MURDOCK, chief operations officer, Cherokee County School District

“I lost my dad suddenly to cancer when I was 10 years old. About eight months later, I was invited to read Into the Vortex with a group of my classmates and discuss the story with the author, Dr. Poidevant. Having been through the loss of a parent, like Kayden Barrett, I found many of the experiences in the book to be like mine. The story gave me hope that things will get better and that I have support systems I can count on at school and at home. It also made me realize that I am more resilient than I thought I was and that I will continue to get stronger.” —EMILY C. SMITH, eleven years old, Georgia middle school student

“Into the Vortex conveys the point to not take life for granted. The book is a great example for young people who have ever experienced a challenging life event. For me, it was early in my life. I have experienced some challenging health issues. Although my health issues and hospital stays were hard, my love, passion, and drive for my sport continues. I have found that my perseverance through those health challenges have made me a better athlete, and hopefully set me up to deal with adversity into adulthood. I have enjoyed the opportunity to read this book.” —ANNA GRESHAM, thirteen years old, Georgia middle school student

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