What do you think?
Rate this book
Faking Normal #0.5
The Blue-Haired Boy
Set before the events of Courtney C. Stevens's debut novel, Faking Normal, this digital short story focuses on Bodee Lennox, otherwise known as the Kool-Aid Kid.
Bodee Lennox has secrets. About where he got the four-inch scar on his leg. About the bruises on his back. About what it's really like to live in the Lennox household. These are things he doesn't share with anyone . . . until he meets Gerry, a girl with bright-green hair and a smile the size of Alaska. When Gerry falls out of a bus in Rickman, Tennessee, and lands at Bodee's feet, she gives Bodee two things he desperately needs: a friend and a chance to leave Rickman behind, even if it's just for a few hours.
He joins Gerry on her epic bus trip for as far as his money will take him. And by the end of the day, more of Bodee has changed than just the color of his hair.
Bodee Lennox has secrets. About where he got the four-inch scar on his leg. About the bruises on his back. About what it's really like to live in the Lennox household. These are things he doesn't share with anyone . . . until he meets Gerry, a girl with bright-green hair and a smile the size of Alaska. When Gerry falls out of a bus in Rickman, Tennessee, and lands at Bodee's feet, she gives Bodee two things he desperately needs: a friend and a chance to leave Rickman behind, even if it's just for a few hours.
He joins Gerry on her epic bus trip for as far as his money will take him. And by the end of the day, more of Bodee has changed than just the color of his hair.
71 pages, Unknown Binding
First published March 4, 2014
22 people are currently reading
1556 people want to read
About the author
Courtney C. Stevens
8 books899 followersCourtney “Court” Stevens grew up in the knockabout town of Bandana, Kentucky. She is a former adjunct professor, youth minister, Olympic torchbearer, and bookseller at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN. These days she writes coming-of-truth fiction by night, is the community outreach manager for Warren County Public Library by day, and runs a hobby farm named Fable Stables whenever there is time. Fable Stables has four dogs, six goats, twenty chickens (give or take), and three babydoll sheep on order. She's humbled by the tiny fleet of novels with her name on the spine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 14, 2015
"Kool-Aid Kids Forever!"
This was such a great novella and it really gave more depth to Bodee's character. I also enjoyed learning the origin of his Kool-Aid hair.
This was such a great novella and it really gave more depth to Bodee's character. I also enjoyed learning the origin of his Kool-Aid hair.
January 9, 2016
3.5 Stars!!
September 2, 2016
Okay. Yay. I can keep my head up long enough to say something about my darling Bodee. So, as you know, I've been absolutely, positively nauseous at all hours of every day, so I have taken to just re-reading all of my 2015 favorites-You know when you finish a book and say, 'I have to read this again. Soon. I will DEFINITELY re-read this soon'...but you are literally so caught up in all the wins and new books you and your friends are talking about that you forget you wanted to re-read those favorites. Well, here I am, capitalizing on all my built up love for the stories of last year.
I don't quite know how many I will get through, but, for now, I am having the BEST time reading about all of my favorite stories from last year. And you know what I've noticed? All the stories I adored last year have beautiful messages and deep, heart-felt plots that you can't help but to fall in love with. So, when I decided it was time for Faking Normal again, I chose to go ahead and read the companion novella that accompanied it.
I have never liked novellas, but this is Bodee's...how could I at least not try it?? So try it I did, and I actually really enjoyed it. Was it the best thing I've ever read? No. Was it memorable? Not really. But did I get to be inside Bodee's head and hear about his feelings for the girl who doesn't 'see' him (or notice he exists) yet? Yes. And I just loved hearing about things before the beginning of FN.
I can't say you'll gain much from reading this story, but you will see why he began coloring his hair with Kool-Aid and how hurt he is on the inside, how loyal he is to his mother. This book takes place before the awful events that start FN, and while they don't have a ton to do with anything in the next book, we still get to see sad, lonely Bodee and how he really doesn't have anyone to turn to.
So, you know, read it or don't read it, it really doesn't make a difference. But if you want a little extra insight on the 'Kool-Aid Kid', you might just enjoy this little journey where he finds a little happiness inside himself.
PS. I miss you guys...I hope I'll be reviewing here again soon!!
For more of my reviews, please visit:
November 9, 2014
Bodeeeeee. This is one of the best male point-of-views I've read in a while. I want more! I would kill to read Faking Normal from his perspective.
June 20, 2015
Quick review for a quick, wonderful read. Man, this novella makes me wish I'd been able to see more of Bodee's life and perspective in "Faking Normal", because this was a great, brief view. Courtney C. Stevens makes this narrative pop with tight writing and an intimacy that made the story and interactions work for what it offered. I loved his character, even through the brief interactions we see him with Gerry, a girl who gets off a bus and encounters Bodee as he contemplates leaving at the station. The two of them take a trip together and share insights on their lives and relationships here, knowing they're not going to see each other again - but they share common ground.
I loved Gerry's personality and thought it was a nice match to Bodee's calmer, quiet one. Gerry laments losing her girlfriend and confesses to taking a trip of escape of her own, while Bodee confesses to the abuse that he and his mother suffer from his father. They each have secrets, but they're expanded upon in some measure with a refreshing degree of honesty, albeit brief. This also shows how Bodee becomes the "Kool-Aid" kid as Gerry - with some degrees of hilarity - dyes his hair Berry Blue ("I look like a Smurf.") XD
This kind of slice of life portrait - with attention to tough details and character interaction - and intimacy is the kind of thing I love reading in YA contemporaries, and I would name it as one of my favorite novellas/short stories in the vein.
Overall: 5/5 stars
I loved Gerry's personality and thought it was a nice match to Bodee's calmer, quiet one. Gerry laments losing her girlfriend and confesses to taking a trip of escape of her own, while Bodee confesses to the abuse that he and his mother suffer from his father. They each have secrets, but they're expanded upon in some measure with a refreshing degree of honesty, albeit brief. This also shows how Bodee becomes the "Kool-Aid" kid as Gerry - with some degrees of hilarity - dyes his hair Berry Blue ("I look like a Smurf.") XD
This kind of slice of life portrait - with attention to tough details and character interaction - and intimacy is the kind of thing I love reading in YA contemporaries, and I would name it as one of my favorite novellas/short stories in the vein.
Overall: 5/5 stars
February 2, 2016
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Soooo good!
Soooo good!
April 12, 2017
It was really interesting to read bodees story how I wish we got to see some of the scenes from faking normal from his point of view.
March 16, 2014
My love for Bodee is strong. In case you don't remember how much I flailed over Court's debut novel, Faking Normal, read that review and be reminded. I LOVED IT. And I love him. It was such a treat getting a little prequel action and learning more about him and the reason for that colorful hair of his. Even more than getting to read more of Bodee, she introduced us to a new character, Gerry, whom I also adored and would love to read more about!! I'm hoping Courtney decides to give us a little more of her story *hint hint*.
So if you haven't yet experienced these characters, you're missing out and I highly recommend you get on it as soon as possible.
So if you haven't yet experienced these characters, you're missing out and I highly recommend you get on it as soon as possible.
May 29, 2016
Grade: C
Bodee Lennox tries unsuccessfully to protect his mother from his father's abuse. Green-haired Gerry Lennox (no relation) literally falls off a bus and onto Bodee, and he decides to take an overnight bus ride with her, where they discover things about each other and themselves.
Narrator Bodee is an interesting character who I look forward to getting to know better in FAKING NORMAL. I had some difficulty believing a kid so fearful of his father and protective of his mother would take off without telling anyone and dye his hair blue. Aside from that, I enjoyed the short story.
Bodee Lennox tries unsuccessfully to protect his mother from his father's abuse. Green-haired Gerry Lennox (no relation) literally falls off a bus and onto Bodee, and he decides to take an overnight bus ride with her, where they discover things about each other and themselves.
Narrator Bodee is an interesting character who I look forward to getting to know better in FAKING NORMAL. I had some difficulty believing a kid so fearful of his father and protective of his mother would take off without telling anyone and dye his hair blue. Aside from that, I enjoyed the short story.
Want to read
June 12, 2015Not long enough.
August 28, 2015
Well this was kindda great, Now I have this sudden urge to go get a box of Berry Blue Kool-Aid and dye my hair Blue.
March 26, 2020
This just adds so much to the story in Faking Normal, and Gerry is fantastic.
August 27, 2020
Well this blew me away I got so wrapped up in the story that I was really sad when it finished. I liked the idea that the two of them are so broken but they were able to fix each other if only for a day. i liked the way that the author made it out that Bodee is the broken one and it's Gerry that brings him some happiness then in the end we find out the truth. I really can't wait to read Faking Normal now.
July 4, 2018
I really liked it! The character of Grace was amazing and I would LOVE a novella just about her. It made me want to dye my hair back to blue.
March 5, 2014
"She can't hear the jackhammers pounding on the cement of my quiet personality or the chains of fear breaking in my head, but I can. This is my chance to change. Gerry is a girl who can face-plant and come up laughing, and I'm a guy who needs a how-to manual on that.
Dad'll kill me if he finds out.
But I'll die here if I don't go.
The Blue-haired Boy is a prequel to one of my favorite reads of 2013, Faking Normal, though it was only recently published on February 25, 2014. This short story is told through the POV of Bodee Lennox, who we know as the Koolaid Kid from Faking Normal that helps Alexi Littrell through a very difficult time in her life as he works out his own issues. But this is his story before Lex really knew he existed; about he learned to do his own brave thing that put him on the path to being the beautifully broken, yet strong hero we needed him to be for her. For him, that journey all starts with a purchased bus ticket out of Rickman, Tennessee and a seat beside a girl named Gerry, whose hair is the color of Mountain Dew that has a smile the size of Alaska.
I can't imagine it's an easy task to pack a fifty-four page book with as much emotion as Courtney Stevens did with The Blue-Haired Boy. Perhaps I was able to automatically feel so much for Bodee because I already knew a majority of his story from Faking Normal, but I don't think that's the only reason. Stevens has a given talent for interweaving dialogue and character interactions and turn of phrases so that they reach right inside your chest and give your heart a vigorous tug. Words as beautiful as hers have the power to strengthen you and break your heart simultaneously. It's a gorgeous sort of pain.
Finally. Gerry leans back to look at me. "You're maybe... the perfect guy. If only I were straight."
Straight or not, I am the least perfect guy. She stops me from shaking my head. Physically stops me.
"No. I mean it," she says. "You are the guy who gets on buses to figure things out. You listen more than you talk. You... you hold on to broken girls after everyone else lets go." She flares her nostrils and adds, "In a bus bathroom. That says something about you. And I think someday that's going to make all the difference."
"To me or to someone else?" I ask.
Gerry smiles. "Both."
But more than the strong feelings this short story awoke in me, I appreciated the opportunity to discover how Bodee came to be the Koolaid Kid and the girl that made it possible. Surprisingly enough, I felt like I had a pretty firm grasp on who Gerry was, how she hid the loss of her love behind crazy antics like traveling across the country on a bus, writing postcards to someone that's no longer alive, and dyeing her hair crazy colors because it helped her express the emotions she kept locked inside her heart. I like how she got Bodee, but still made him talk because she felt like it was something he needed to do even though she was a complete stranger. My only real complaint (and it's not a complaint at all, not really) is that this short story was over way too soon. I wanted more time with this girl whose beliefs in love made me question my own. I wanted more time to know her and Lewis. I wanted to read more of her influencing Bodee with her positive approach to life because of full spirit and captivating energy. I wouldn't be opposed at all to Gerry having her own book. (HINT HINT!)
So, would I rec this? Yes. I'm not sure it would be something everyone would love without the full understanding of Bodee's circumstances in Faking Normal, but this was perfect to me. I'm so thankful for this brief glimpse inside his head and the hints we got about how things came to be in the next leg of his journey that lead to Lex. I still want to keep him in my pocket.
November 25, 2014
Rating 4.5 stars
An excellent well-written short story.
The Book Blurb says it all for this short novella of 71 pages. The language and characterizations are simply to die for in The Blue-Haired Boy by Courtney C. Stevens. Evocative language, I’m captured by the slow rise in crescendo as Gerry reaches inside Bodee with her words, humor, game playing, and the hair dyeing. Meet the blue-haired boy with the bright- green haired girl. They recognize a share and common experience in each other. Kindred spirits. Needs that neither one realizes required fulfilling to help them to keep going.
The Blue-Haired Boy by Courtney C. Stevens
From the mouth of youth.
I surfed the net looking for interesting books to read. This one came to my attention as the book cover really grasps me with its innocent yet sad imagery. I’m glad I bought this wonderfully written short story. Now I probably will buy the book, Faking Normal just to see how Bodee will continue his story.
Highly Recommended recognizing this is a prequel to the main book, Faking Normal.
Review originally posted at TWLIB Reviews.
An excellent well-written short story.
The Book Blurb says it all for this short novella of 71 pages. The language and characterizations are simply to die for in The Blue-Haired Boy by Courtney C. Stevens. Evocative language, I’m captured by the slow rise in crescendo as Gerry reaches inside Bodee with her words, humor, game playing, and the hair dyeing. Meet the blue-haired boy with the bright- green haired girl. They recognize a share and common experience in each other. Kindred spirits. Needs that neither one realizes required fulfilling to help them to keep going.
“The people we meet, if they’re special enough, leave something on us. Something visible.”
“Sure it does. Everyone hurts us. If we stopped loving them because of pain, we’d never love anyone.”
The Blue-Haired Boy by Courtney C. Stevens
From the mouth of youth.
I surfed the net looking for interesting books to read. This one came to my attention as the book cover really grasps me with its innocent yet sad imagery. I’m glad I bought this wonderfully written short story. Now I probably will buy the book, Faking Normal just to see how Bodee will continue his story.
Highly Recommended recognizing this is a prequel to the main book, Faking Normal.
Review originally posted at TWLIB Reviews.
March 14, 2014
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
This was a very sweet novella about Bodee before the events of Faking Normal. The Blue-Haired Boy gives background on how Bodee became the Kool-Aid Kid and slips in a reference to Alexi's favorite band, the eX-Files. Even though this is a prequel novella, I think it is more impactful if you read it after Faking Normal.
The Blue-Haired Boy focuses on one day in the life of Bodee Lennox where he decides to act rashly and leave town. He follows a girl he met at the bus stop, Gerry, half-way to Panama City. On the way, they both share their personal stories and pains. It is a safe way to share because they both know they'll never see each other again. Gerry recognizes the good in Bodee and she's the one that starts his obsession with Kool-Aid hair dye.
I loved Bodee in Faking Normal and I loved Bodee here. I was not expecting to love Gerry; I didn't think we would be able to get enough character development from a 70-page novella. Boy, was I wrong. The Blue-Haired Boy made Gerry a broken but fully realized character who had a very positive impact on Bodee's life.
This was a very sweet novella about Bodee before the events of Faking Normal. The Blue-Haired Boy gives background on how Bodee became the Kool-Aid Kid and slips in a reference to Alexi's favorite band, the eX-Files. Even though this is a prequel novella, I think it is more impactful if you read it after Faking Normal.
The Blue-Haired Boy focuses on one day in the life of Bodee Lennox where he decides to act rashly and leave town. He follows a girl he met at the bus stop, Gerry, half-way to Panama City. On the way, they both share their personal stories and pains. It is a safe way to share because they both know they'll never see each other again. Gerry recognizes the good in Bodee and she's the one that starts his obsession with Kool-Aid hair dye.
I loved Bodee in Faking Normal and I loved Bodee here. I was not expecting to love Gerry; I didn't think we would be able to get enough character development from a 70-page novella. Boy, was I wrong. The Blue-Haired Boy made Gerry a broken but fully realized character who had a very positive impact on Bodee's life.
March 6, 2014
I appreciated this closer look into Bodee pre-Faking Normal. It goes to show that he had his time of anger and healing. It set up much of what was to come for him. I adore this blue-haired boy so much.
September 17, 2015
Great characters & wonderful insight into Bodee Lennox in a road trip story that takes place before the events in the novel FAKING NORMAL.
March 14, 2014
I really liked Bodee's story. Short and sweet.
April 16, 2014
Pretty complete for a novella. We learn more about Bodee pre-Faking Normal; a little about how he grew into who he is and how he became the KoolAid Kid.
July 19, 2015
I don't know. Oh gosh... my heart wants to cry. Thanks Gerry!
December 15, 2017
should have been named koolaid kid
August 2, 2016
Someone, get me a Bodee.
September 17, 2022
Bodee was a standout character in Faking Normal, therefore, it was a pleasure to learn more about him. His past was heartbreaking, but I loved that he had this afternoon with the green-haired girl that may have been the push he needed to escape his shattered home life.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
June 18, 2017
I didn't see the Gerry/Lewis snafu coming, so that was pretty interesting. This Bodee was different from the one I loved in Faking Normal, though that makes sense given the timeline. A poignantly simple but touching story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2018
This was the perfect bittersweet read for a snowy Sunday afternoon.
I loved learning more about Bodee's past even though it hurts quite a lot... and Gerry was the perfect addition to Bodee's world... I just wish it had been longer because I don't feel like leaving Bodee behind me so soon.
I loved learning more about Bodee's past even though it hurts quite a lot... and Gerry was the perfect addition to Bodee's world... I just wish it had been longer because I don't feel like leaving Bodee behind me so soon.
February 23, 2019
If you are thinking of reading this, please do yourself a favor and read the awesome book Faking Normal first. If I had read this first I would have never picked up the book and would have really missed a great book. This short story was just okay, but I am very glad that I read it.
December 18, 2017
Short. An interesting take on Bodie from Faking Normal but really only a few chapters so not a lot of character development
March 12, 2018
Short novella character prequel, but a solidly satisfying short story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews