Pati Poblete is one of the thousands of mothers who lost children to gun violence.
This is her story…
About The Book.
On September 21, 2014, Pati Poblete’s beloved son Robby was killed by gun violence in broad daylight at a busy intersection in Vallejo, CA. He was 23 years old. A Better Place is a mother’s story of loss and redemption as she weaves her path through the tragedy.
Poblete takes readers on a raw, heartbreaking journey from the scene of the crime, to a worldwide quest to understand Robby’s unfulfilled plans – all while trying to make sense of what has happened. Through her writing, she reveals how his death has changed her and how she used the horrifying experience to make sure her son’s legacy endures.
A documentary about Poblete’s story is now in the works. You can find a brief promo clip HERE.
“This is not a self-help guide, it is simply my story of how losing my son to gun violence shattered my world, my faith, my sense of community, and how I was able to rebuild my life through my son’s sense of adventure, fearlessness, and love for life.”
– Pati Poblete
Why This Book Is So Important For Students.
The roots of crime are complex, but there is one thing tying the recent acts of gun violence together: the culprits of these crimes lacked empathy and compassion across the board. America’s gun crisis has been also called a crisis of empathy. According to psychologists, teaching young people to have compassion and love is is the most fundamental way to reduce violence. This book promotes compassion by sharing a personal account of gun violence.
Sadly, Pati Poblete is one of the thousands of people coping with gun violence today. Though her story is heartbreaking, it provides hope and inspiration to people showing that they too can heal and find peace after an insurmountable tragedy. Hundreds of self-help books are available on grief and loss, however, these “how to” guides were of no comfort to Poblete in the aftermath of her son’s death. According to Poblete, there is no “how to” when it comes to recovering from such a loss. It’s more helpful to know you are not alone. Poblete found comfort in hearing other stories of loss and recovery.
“An eloquent message of comfort directed toward fellow travelers.”
– Kirkus Reviews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pati Poblete
Pati Navalta Poblete is a longtime Bay Area journalist, serving as the Community Editor for the Vallejo Times-Herald, News Editor at the Alameda News Group, and Editorial Writer and Columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, where she was nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize for her editorial series on the need for foster care reform in California. She later worked as the Asia Regional Director for an international organization that works with national governments and intergovernmental agencies on shaping sustainability policies. She is the author of “The Oracles: My Filipino Grandparents of America” (2006, Heyday Books), and the author of the upcoming book, “A Better Place” (Nothing But the Truth Publishing), to be released in May 2018. You can watch her story HERE.