The Normal Kid

by Elizabeth Holmes

Sylvan has been angry ever since his parents split up. And now that an embarrassing photo has appeared in the paper, he's stuck with a lame nickname too.
Charity is back in the United States after several years in Africa. And she's learning that home can be a strange place when you've been away for a while.
Neither of them knows what's up with Brian. He spends whole afternoons alone on his trampoline.
From the first day of school, Sylvan knows he doesn't want to hang out with weirdos like Charity or Brian. He'd rather just be a normal kid. But when the principal gets ready to fire their favorite teacher, Sylvan, Charity, and Brian have to find a way to work together.

Genres: Friendship, Juvenile, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, School

248 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Elizabeth Holmes grew up in Tennessee and went to Davidson College in North Carolina. She then went to Africa, where she teached at a girls' high school in Kenya.

At first she wrote poetry for adults, resulting in two poetry books: The Patience of the Cloud Photographer and The Playhouse Near Dark.

She is married with Paul Cody, a novelist and is the mother of two sons. She now writes poems and stories for children.

Both she and her husband earned a master degree in writing from the Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, were they are still living.

Reviews

[Fire_Dragon_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this at first. I thought it would be boring and dull. I mean like come on, a book about a bunch of kids trying to save their favorite teacher from getting fired? I don't know about you, but to me that just sounds incredibly dull.
However, this turned out to be an awesome book about learning more about a person, and looking deeper than what they appear to be, before you judge them. The book summary, given in the inside cover of the book, does it no justice. The book is so much more than a bunch of kids coming together to stop powerful forces from taking their teacher. It's about bullying, the concept of having faith, making friends, struggling to fit in, acting out, and learning to love yourself. I must admit that the writing style is not of my preference; it sounds too awkward for me. But I was able to overlook that and enjoy this beautiful book.

(Wow, I can't believe the characters in the book are only in the fourth grade. They're struggling with things that I can so clearly relate to in my life)

[Deborah Darya · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up this book I thought "well this looks interesting," but after reading it, this is what I thought. I wouldn't recommend it to seventh graders and up, because I felt it was more for fourth graders, and that's because the way the author describes things and the words she uses seems like it's more of a younger audience, like on-page 68 the author says, that she wanted a friend in America but she hadn't found anyone, and the author also includes that Charity (one of the main characters) thinks that Sylvan (also one of the main characters) is alright but he is a boy, that kind of sounds like something a fourth-grader would say and a lot of books use language that is pointed towards what grade/age level that they think their book interests the most. Also, just an adult probably would lose interest. From my point of view, this book did not interest me that much because straight off the bat we get a look into Sylvan's life, and he just takes so much time talking about the summer and the trampoline kid that we think "when will we get to see his school?" I also think the climax could've been more interesting, and I would've liked more personality from Mr.In like him talking to everyone more and him being more than just a kind person. Looking back at the story I recognized that they take so much time to explain the characters and tell us their back story that it took away from the problem. I also think that the author should've had chapters about Brian, I would've liked to see what was going on in his life. But other than that this book had many good parts, like how they had given a hobby for Sylvan's mom, and how it makes two really different people get together to resolve the problem. Overall this was a normal book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Children's Lit class. This middle-grade novel alternates between the perspectives of Charity, who just returned to the US after spending years in Kenya as a missionary's kid, and Sylvan, who is feeling unbalanced after the divorce of his parents and annoyed by his hippie mother's attempts to get him to join her protests. Sylvan wants nothing to do with Charity or Brian--a classmate living down the street whom everyone calls "Trampoline Boy" because that's where you always see him--because they're just weird. Nothing like him, he's normal. But when he works with Brian on a research presentation and teams up with Charity to prevent the principal from getting rid of their teacher, Sylvan learns that everyone is different, and normal is essentially a meaningless label. I think this book does a great job of presenting Brian's neuroatypicality without trivializing it or making it his defining characteristic, and seeing how proud Sylvan gets of his engagement when explaining his poster is very sweet. This book also dealt with Charity's doubts about her faith as her father has lost his in a respectful manner, modeling the idea that it is okay to change what you believe.

[Nina]

This book i have read was super good and i really enjoyed it. I really liked how a girl from Kenya, Africa and her family decided to move back to america to do her schooling and for there jobs. The kinds in this story really had me thinking if 'Normal' was really a thing. Also how the three main kids in the story had to work together so there favorite teacher won't get fired. I would think this book would either be an adventurous book because of the things they had to go through to make it happen.
my favorite character is charity. I liked her best because she thinks she know everything and the things she says to prove it is kinda mean. But she always tried he best to become more comfortable with Brian and Sylvan. The character i disliked the most is sylvans mom. I have no clue why but the vibe she gives off is just weird to me. Like she didn't do anything bad it just i don't really know why. just the things she does with sylvan. In all i would say this book was the best i have ever experienced and can not wait to read other by Elizabeth Holmes.

[Yunhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever just wanted to be normal? If you have, then you can relate to Sylvan! Sylvan just wants people to stop calling him "Tree Boy" and be normal, but his mother always insists on taking him along on protests to stop a new Walmart from being built, or to defend deer from people. One day at school, Sylvan meets two very un-normal people: Charity, who spent years in Africa, and Brian, who fidgets a lot and loves jumping on his trampoline. But Sylvan, Charity, and Brian all like their new teacher Mr.In. One day, it looks like the principal might want to fire Mr. In! How will they stop her from doing so? Sylvan, Charity, and Brian will have to work together so that Mr. In can keep his job! I really liked The Normal Kid because it's both funny and interesting.

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for middle schoolers. The story is about a group of children in a 5th grade classroom in the US. The book explores many types of normal and "weird" in a manner fitting a child 9 - 11 years of age. My 10 year old grandson enjoyed the book but the reading was a bit easy for him. The book wisely shows that all people have differences and accepting those differences bring us new experiences and new friends.

I read this book along with my grandson as part of his 5th grade reading assignment.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with two sets of 5th graders who actually really enjoyed the book (as did I) and I really think they took something away from it.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normal Kid by Elizabeth Holmes is a fun summer read full of emotion and life lessons. Normal Kid mainly takes place in the suburbs of America. The Normal Kid also sort of takes place in Kenya because one of the main characters, Charity, used to live in Kenya and had to move to America for reasons you need to read the book to find out. Sylvan, the other main character, has always lived in America. In the book you see two different points of view. You see the view of a person who's always lived in America and is used to the American lifestyle and you see someone who's grown up in Kenya and certain things are strange to her. A lot of people talk about the different types of people in the book and they are often categorized as “weird” or “strange”. However, by the end of the book, it does leave you wondering whether judging people on their appearance is right or should you get to know them before you start to judge them.

In my opinion, this book teaches many life lessons that will help me in my life. The biggest lesson I learned was not to judge a book by its cover and I know you probably already know that but this book really shows you why not to judge people. Also it is just a thrill to read because it's what I call a tag team book. A tag team book is were the two main characters telling their story swich off narrating the book from their perspective. Since it is a tag team book you have to keep reading more to find out the answers to the burning questions in your head. This book is realistic fiction so if that is your type of you will definitely enjoy this book. This is also a good book for people who have trouble with getting into a book since it is tag team style and you need to read more to find out what happens. This book is definitely a five out of five stars in my mind for its great life lessons and impeccable story line. I really recommend reading this book. It is a great casual reading book and you will be sad when it’s over.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in the alternating voices of two fifth graders, Sylvan and Charity, this title would be great to use with late elementary graders in class discussions about what's normal. After all, each one of us has something that makes us a little bit different, and we often find commonalities with one another if we look hard enough or take the time to get to know someone else. Sylvan is dealing with his parent's separation and acting out at school. He is sure that he has nothing in common with his two new classmates, Charity and Brian. Charity has just returned from Kenya where her father worked as a missionary and her mother worked as a nurse. A tragic event led to a crisis of faith for him, and Charity finds that her proper ways of behaving in the classroom [She shakes the teacher's hand and stands up when she speaks.] cause some of her classmates to make fun of her. Brian only occasionally speaks, stares into space, and obsessively focuses on certain objects. Surely, these three have nothing in common. But as the story proves, they actually have at least one thing in common--their love for their teacher, Mr. Inayatullah, who they think is going to be fired. As they work together to make sure this doesn't happen, they just might find friendship where they never expected it to be. One of the best parts of this book, other than the wonderfully patient Mr. In, is how the author leaves some questions unanswered and doesn't simply have Charity's father have a change of heart. I also liked the description of the difficulty with which Charity adjusted to the American school system when her life experiences had been so much richer than many of her classmates.

[Adam j · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Normal Kid this book tells about a story of a group of 5th graders. Is about a boy named Sylvan and a girl named Charity, Sylvan best friend is named Adam. Sylvan parents are divorced, Sylvan has a brother named Jason. Sylvan mom is always involved with pep rallies. Charity is from Africa and she moved here from Africa, her mom is a doctor. Charity also meets Mr Ignatia a teacher who she likes and he might lose his job. There is also a boy named Brian who is different than then other people, like he faces challenges. Later in this book they have to do a project about about a country and Sylvan gets partnered with Brian and Charity gets partnered with Adam and Adam does not like her. In this project Adam gets india and Sylvan gets Australia and in the beginning if the project sylvan does all the work but coming near the end Brain starts to help and they have to make a poster about their country and Brian doesn't let anybody see his poster… so have to read the book to see if Brain poster actually shows his picture or if it's a total mess up

Opinion: This story is a good book to learn about some life skills in life. Like, just because someone isn't cool you shouldn't make fun of him. Also Don’t let people judge you of who you are. Also I really liked this booked because it tells stories about fun ideas kinda like they start a potion to not get Mr. I not to get fired that Sylvan makes friends with charity. Also I enjoy that charity still writes back to her friends back in Africa because she misses them a lot. Also how charity makes new friends in her new school and if Mr. Ignatia gets fired. I hope you read this book.

[Matthew H · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Normal Kid is really what it sounds like it is just a normal fifth grader starting the year and is facing any problems that a fifth grader might have such as popular or not popular. One thing that makes Sylvan special is that he has the ability to communicate with kids that maybe come from different backgrounds or do things differently, He is able to really bond with them and make them feel welcomed. This he may not realize, but it makes him more than just a normal kid.
Sylvan now finds himself confused because his parents become friends with a girl that came from Africa and other kids think he is ridiculous for hanging out with her, they think this because she comes from Africa and she does things differently such as standing up when she speaks shaking the teachers hand in the morning, but really she is very nice.On top of that, kids see him protesting with his mom and now he is building a bad reputation. All this is happening to a supposedly just normal, average kid, so what does he do now?

I believe that this book is very good for the right people and I think if you are into books about kids with problems or are struggling to fit in then you would love this book. The book includes emotional traits problems that are very realistic and can at points is very exciting. One example is when Sylvan starts a protesting letter and gets the whole grade to sign so that hopefully his teacher doesn’t get fired. Also at the end the kid who had mental disabilities was transferred to a school that would be better for him.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sylvan is having difficulty dealing with his parents' split. At the start of 5th grade, there's a new teacher and two new kids -- Charity who just returned from several years in Kenya and Brian who barely speaks and spends hours on his trampoline. In alternating chapters we learn Sylvan's and Charity's story and with the help of their teacher we also learn something about tolerance and acceptance and what it means to be "normal".

I wanted to like this book. I hoped it would be stronger in the message of acceptance, but I think it missed the mark. Although adult readers will understand and maybe even sympathize with Charity's father's sudden loss of faith and will likely recognize Brian's autistic tendencies, this is probably lost on an audience of younger children. The age of the characters makes it unappealing for older teens. Not poorly written, but I just think it missed the mark.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sylvan's parents have separated and his mom gets involved in lots of protests and social causes and drags her son along with her. He just wants to be normal. Charity's family has just come back to the States from Kenya where her father was a minister. Now he's suffered a crisis of faith and she's trying to get used to a world where she doesn't know the social norms. She just wants to be normal. Clearly something is wrong with Brian. His behavior in school is a little peculiar and it seems like the littlest thing can set him off. He's not normal either. But what is "normal" exactly? This is an interesting introspective book that deals with loss of faith, deciding who you are, empathy for others, and learning to adapt to change. It's not going to appeal to every young reader, but those who like realistic fiction and well-defined characters dealing with real-life problems will find it a solid choice.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm... interesting book told in two voices - a 5th grade boy whose parents have recently separated and a 5th grade girl whose family has recently moved back to the U.S. after being missionaries in Kenya for five years. There is a third character at the beginning, Brian, who I expected to be a more prominent character than he actually was. In fact, I kept waiting for something to happen to/with Brian and was somewhat disappointed. The whole point of the book is what is a "normal" kid anyway. Everyone has their own kind of normal. Not a bad message to have lingering in your head after reading a middle grade novel.

[Noah Wolfson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually just started this book, but it seems quite interesting due to its relatable setting. It's about being weird or not being weird in elementary school and how that is such a big deal. It also relates to teachers in the aspect of wanting her or wanting to be in his class and how that can also be a huge commotion. However, from the beginning of this book and the summary, it seems like it teaches people to not judge to quick because then you don't allow yourself to truly understand the person. This theme is portrayed when the two "weird" kids and the "normal" kid work together to save their teacher's job. How it ends? I don't even know yet, but am very excited.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

good gr. 4-6 book about being yourself and what really is normal. 2 fifth graders tell the story in alternating chapters: Sylvan's parents are separated and he just wants a normal life. Charity just moved back from a mission in Africa with her family, and the other kids laugh at her limited knowledge of American life. They both decide to stand up for their new teacher, whom they think is going to be fired. Can you be normal and different at the same time? A good lesson for all students.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sylvan, Charity and Brian are all unusual kids with their own special "oddness." Sylvan and Charity tell what it's like being a weird kid as they enter school in 5th grade. Charity comes from another country, and Brian has some emotional issues and Sylvan likes to think of himself as "normal." They kind of come together when they assume that their favorite teacher is going to be removed from his position. It was a kind of forgettable book.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has elements that reminded me of The Poisonwood Bible! And the school portions of the story are as perceptive as Andrew Clements' books. A fairly nice read with fifth graders who come together for a common goal, and end up learning a lot about each other in the process.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute easy read about fifth graders. (Probably 5th grade reading level too.) It's helpful to remind ourselves that we are all the "normal" kid. We all want to feel normal and although we are all different, we are all normal, too.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked how the story illustrated how we are all different yet all normal. Writing was smooth and engaging.

[Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about being normal and making friends who are different than yourself. It is a quick read, for 5th grade students.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book for preteens who are a little unsure of who they are, so pretty much all of them.

[Lucy]

I snacthed this book off the libary slef and it turns out to be better than any other book i took from the libary

[Eduardo daniel Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great it tells the story of a boy from his perspective and how he sees the world and the stuff that he gets into but this book is great and is an absolute good book to read

[Patrick J Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Normal Kid starts with a boy named Sylvan he is miserable, his parents are divorced and if that is not bad the beginning of school stated and there is a picture of him on the board not a small picture a big one right in the center and people are calling him tree boy. His best friend Adam and him try to be a normal kid and not be friends with the weird kids. Then a new girl named Charity who is from Kenya and Adam and Sylvan think she is weird. Then Sylvan and his mom have a dinner with Charity’s family. His mom does a lot of protesting and Sylvan has to protest with her which he really doesn't like. There is also this kid named Brian who has a trampoline and people call him the trampoline kid. In the school year they have to do do a project about a country and Adam is partners with Charity and Sylvan is partners with Brian and they have to work together to get it done. He is in not a “normal kid.” Will Sylvan find out what is a normal kid.

I liked the book I thought the book was very interesting. I thought it taught you a lesson about life. I think the lesson is don’t judge a book by it’s cover. They could be really nice, they are just different and Sylvan finds the lesson about being nice. The book was very interesting because I don’t normally have that experience in the school’s that I go to. They get along at the end but Brian has to go to another school.