Are You "Normal"?: More Than 100 Questions That Will Test Your Weirdness

by Mark Shulman

Can you rub your belly and pat your head? Do you like pepperoni on your pizza? Are you normal? In the spirit of National Geographic Kids popular Weird But True series, the author has pulled out all the stops breaking down the facts on our silliest secrets. Did you know about twenty percent of 10-year-old kids probably still suck their thumbs and about two thirds can roll their tongues? This engaging book, full of colorful and witty illustrations, delivers a light-hearted approach to our most silly and sensitive traits. Perfect for tweens grappling with the transition into their teenage years, this book celebrates individuality and is a great reminder that “normal” is relative!

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2011

Reviews

[Doren Damico]

This fascinating and highly creative book shares the survey information of thousands of kids who were asked questions like: Do you make your bed everyday? Who in your family gets to hear your problems first? Where do you bite the chocolate bunny first? Learners get a quick guide on polls, fractions and percentages, then proceed to the questions on topics of Home, School, Friends, Family, Sports, Body, Tech, Food, Me and Fun. Each section begins with a home quiz, shares survey results for individual questions, then provides a Weird-O-Meter summary for your final score. The book deals with all the information in a positive and empowering way to promote one undeniable fact: “You are absolutely unique!”

See enhancement resources and links, as well as 9 other reviews of National Geographic Kids books at: http://www.dorendamico.com/10-awesome...

[Paula]

This book satisfies one of the most basic and pressing needs of tweenage and teenage kids - minutely assessing how they compare to others. Right? Just take Greg Heffley, who starts out the whole Wimpy Kid oeuvre by stating that he is the "52nd most popular kid" in school.

[Mark]

I love this book.

[Rebecca]

I knew very well I am not normal. I didn’t need this book to tell me that, especially when this book was a couple of years outdated by the time I bought it. It could have been a resource to tell me what normal kids are like, but alas, this book was from 2011 and normal changed a lot during the 2010s. Everyone’s a little bit weird, but this book certainly doesn’t tell you that. At least I felt validated from knowing I was not normal (I would become more normal later).

[DALZ]

my childhood bookshelf is overflowing with books i no longer need, but i am too sentimental to throw them away without any ado. so, i am rereading them in order to make room for new books! i specifically remember reading this one on the commuter rail from rockport to boston. this seems like a great way for kids to learn a little about fractions and statistics, if a little goofy. the questions concerning technology are hopelessly outdated, of course. not a bad read.

[Catherine]

Curious and Awesome

[Matthew Van]

The book is good and i am not really normal

[Adrienne]

It was definitely interesting. The only problem was that it could've been more interfering with the parts of most things.

[Kelly Chester]

Very informative book

[Parish]

When you reread this as a neurodivergent adult and realize just how absurd the standards for normality are

[P Burton]

As

[Sandy]

What exactly is normal? For some kids, they don’t want to be normal but they want to know what is considered normal so they can do the opposite. Then again, some kids want to know if they fit in. Welcome to the book of “Are You Normal?” Exploring topics ranging from home, school, family, sports, body, tech, friends, me, fun and food. Each topic has around ten questions with one question per page. On each page, it states the answers that the kids have chosen with bright pictures and sometimes with some fun facts. With 173 pages, you will sure to find somewhere you fit in. For example:
“How many texts to you send a day?
What’s your favorite sleepover snack?
Ever fake sick to miss school?”

[Lisa]

I was into this book-long magazine quiz. It was fun- I even bothered to keep score throughout (spoiler alert- I'm probably the most boringly normal person alive). The only thing I didn't like (and the reason it got knocked down to 3 stars) was that the numbers didn't actually add up. For instance, in one section, I had the lowest score on each option (a 19) and the first bracket (of being normal) was from 1-15. A 1 wouldn't be possible, and that bothered me the whole book, but when I realized the lowest score possible was still not in the range, I was just annoyed. :) Fun book of ice-breakers, and really a decent introduction to the concept of statistics.

[Simon]

I was amazing this book it for kids or family, because there are few category much are: Sports, Family, School & ect... and kids are vote with online research last 2010-2011 and they have publish this book for spaciel kids, So I like it this book because those are real kids. I was turning the book and i saw "who many have brother or sister ?" and I saw poll answere but only " less 5% who not have brother or sister, only child!" So I my also only child!

So it was cool book I my amamzing real kids who vote, However more research inside internet but I check and it was vary waird they not have poll vote. MMM! I my not sure who kids want to poll vote.

[The Reading Countess]

From how many texts you might send/receive, to the number of electronic devices, to the amount of time spent on homework, this book will reassure every young reader that they are indeed normal.

It came as no surprise that athletes were respected 36 percent and teachers were given the thumbs up by 23 percent.

Sigh.

Yup. That's normal.

[Adam]

Good! The questions are nice and going. But did you notice racist inside! I mean, who would mind about hair? You can't change DNA, because if you mutate it to look like it's normal, you will get heartthrobs. Also, you shouldn't tell others about their ambidextrousness. It's what can not be decided! Anyway, I liked the flimsiness and I want to enjoy more of National Geographic!

[Laela]

This book is just a bunch of questions. It would be a great book for a party or a long car trip.

[Anne]

Fun! I enjoyed this book. My 10 year old son got into it as well. We both answered the questions and laughed quite a bit in the process.

[Christiana]

This was fun!

[Kaylea]

It is a great quiz book that I use to question my friends. Most of them are Weird!

[Mas5thgrade2012]

Amazing!
~monkeyfreak#1

[Brindi Michele]

I loved these kind of books when I was a youngster...taking quizzes and discovering yourself.

[Shay]

Thank you Mark Shulman! Now know how to be even more different than I already am! This book is great for misfit or popular friends who want to know what's in and out, or just to have laugh!

[Debby Baumgartner]

National Geographic shares some survey results with kids to see if they are normal. Fun stuff.