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The Opposite of Normal
When Rabbi Mark Friedlander moves his teenage children from Manhattan to a quiet town in Northwestern New Jersey after the death of their mother, he hopes for a fresh start, a place for him and his children to heal while he leads a vibrant synagogue that will embrace them. What he gets instead is just the opposite.
His daughter, Hannah, twelve, struggles with grief, loneliness, and what it means to be Jewish as a Chinese adoptee. She wants to fit in, but that's difficult in their new mostly white and Christian town--so she decides to secretly convert.
His son, Aaron, a senior in high school, is applying to Ivy League schools and counting down to when he can leave the small town--until he discovers a shocking secret that threatens his entire future.
Lurking in the shadows is a pastor who says he just wants to support the kids in his congregation, but is that all he really wants?
The Opposite of Normal is about what it means to love and accept, what it means to do the right thing, and what it means to heal after loss.
His daughter, Hannah, twelve, struggles with grief, loneliness, and what it means to be Jewish as a Chinese adoptee. She wants to fit in, but that's difficult in their new mostly white and Christian town--so she decides to secretly convert.
His son, Aaron, a senior in high school, is applying to Ivy League schools and counting down to when he can leave the small town--until he discovers a shocking secret that threatens his entire future.
Lurking in the shadows is a pastor who says he just wants to support the kids in his congregation, but is that all he really wants?
The Opposite of Normal is about what it means to love and accept, what it means to do the right thing, and what it means to heal after loss.
232 pages, Unknown Binding
First published February 2, 2014
20 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Judy Mollen Walters
9 books82 followersJudy Mollen Walters is the author of four novels, Start at the Beginning (2016), The place to Say Goodbye (2015), The Opposite of Normal (2014), and Child of Mine (2013). She can be reached at judymwalters@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 15, 2014
The Opposite of Normal is a poignant story that follows the struggles of the Friedlander family to move forward with their lives after the loss of their wife/mother to cancer.
Rabbi Mark Friedlander is a forty-seven year old widower who moved his family (seventeen year old Aaron and twelve year old Hannah) two years ago from Manhattan to a Northwestern small town in NJ for a fresh start after the death of his wife Julie. He thought the move would give them a quiet life where they could start over. But life in the suburbs is the opposite of normal for the Friedlander family as Mark, Aaron and Hannah continue to struggle with the loss of their wife/mother, and each encounters personal issues that unravels their family bonds even further. Can the Friedlander family find a way to accept the loss, find a way to heal, strengthen their family bond, and move forward with their lives?
Author Judy Mollen Walters weaves a poignant emotional family tale of loss and healing that tugs at the heartstrings. Set in a small Northwestern NJ small town, written in the third person narrative with alternating chapter perspectives by Mark, Aaron, and Hannah, with flashbacks to the past revolving around the family memories of Julie, the reader is easily drawn into the complicated family dynamic of the Friedlander family.
Mark struggles with the loss of his wife and the insecurity of his new role as a sole parent to his children. He is also dealing with a declining congregation membership. He has been informed that if the enrollment numbers do not increase by the end of Spring, that the synagogue's board will not renew his contract.
Aaron is a seventeen year old high school senior who is struggling with the loss of his mother, and his conflicting feelings about his Christian girlfriend Marti, and his wish to leave the small NJ town to attend Columbia University. A poor decision made with Marti ensues in a "crisis" can possibly cost Aaron his dream.
Hannah was adopted by Mark and Julie from a Chinese orphanage when she was six months old, and has been raised in the Jewish faith. Now at the age of twelve, she is unwillingly preparing for her Bat Mitzvah and struggles with her identity and religious affiliation. Feeling like a misfit and having a hard time fitting in with her classmates, all she wants is to look and act like everyone else. Her desire to be like her Christian best friend Kristin, leads Hannah into trouble when an overzealous and unscrupulous pastor sets his sights on her as his next "convert."
The Opposite of Normal easily draws the reader into the Friedlander family's personal struggles as they journey down the path of loss, healing, and moving forward. As the reader becomes invested in the Friedlander family's lives, each of their personal issues, sense of grief, and the unraveling of the family bond unfolds, it is an emotional and palpable story, you can't help but hope they find a way back to each other as a family.
The author provides the reader with a very richly descriptive and indepth look into the Jewish faith and traditions, touches upon the Christian faith, and a variety of social issues that I found to be very intriguing and informative.
If you are looking for a heartfelt and emotional family story that will leave you satisfied at the end, then look no further, The Opposite of Normal is the book for you!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Rabbi Mark Friedlander is a forty-seven year old widower who moved his family (seventeen year old Aaron and twelve year old Hannah) two years ago from Manhattan to a Northwestern small town in NJ for a fresh start after the death of his wife Julie. He thought the move would give them a quiet life where they could start over. But life in the suburbs is the opposite of normal for the Friedlander family as Mark, Aaron and Hannah continue to struggle with the loss of their wife/mother, and each encounters personal issues that unravels their family bonds even further. Can the Friedlander family find a way to accept the loss, find a way to heal, strengthen their family bond, and move forward with their lives?
Author Judy Mollen Walters weaves a poignant emotional family tale of loss and healing that tugs at the heartstrings. Set in a small Northwestern NJ small town, written in the third person narrative with alternating chapter perspectives by Mark, Aaron, and Hannah, with flashbacks to the past revolving around the family memories of Julie, the reader is easily drawn into the complicated family dynamic of the Friedlander family.
Mark struggles with the loss of his wife and the insecurity of his new role as a sole parent to his children. He is also dealing with a declining congregation membership. He has been informed that if the enrollment numbers do not increase by the end of Spring, that the synagogue's board will not renew his contract.
Aaron is a seventeen year old high school senior who is struggling with the loss of his mother, and his conflicting feelings about his Christian girlfriend Marti, and his wish to leave the small NJ town to attend Columbia University. A poor decision made with Marti ensues in a "crisis" can possibly cost Aaron his dream.
Hannah was adopted by Mark and Julie from a Chinese orphanage when she was six months old, and has been raised in the Jewish faith. Now at the age of twelve, she is unwillingly preparing for her Bat Mitzvah and struggles with her identity and religious affiliation. Feeling like a misfit and having a hard time fitting in with her classmates, all she wants is to look and act like everyone else. Her desire to be like her Christian best friend Kristin, leads Hannah into trouble when an overzealous and unscrupulous pastor sets his sights on her as his next "convert."
The Opposite of Normal easily draws the reader into the Friedlander family's personal struggles as they journey down the path of loss, healing, and moving forward. As the reader becomes invested in the Friedlander family's lives, each of their personal issues, sense of grief, and the unraveling of the family bond unfolds, it is an emotional and palpable story, you can't help but hope they find a way back to each other as a family.
The author provides the reader with a very richly descriptive and indepth look into the Jewish faith and traditions, touches upon the Christian faith, and a variety of social issues that I found to be very intriguing and informative.
If you are looking for a heartfelt and emotional family story that will leave you satisfied at the end, then look no further, The Opposite of Normal is the book for you!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
March 11, 2014
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Opposite of Normal by Judy Mollen Walters follows the Friedlander family.
Mark, the father, is a rabbi who lost his wife to cancer two years ago and relocated from NYC to a smaller city in New Jersey. He’s struggling to keep the temple enrollment going while also dealing with his children.
Aaron is Mark’s son, a seventeen year old who ends up in some trouble when he makes a few poor decisions with his religiously Christian girlfriend.
Hannah is Mark’s adopted daughter, originally from China. She’s struggling with her faith. She wasn’t born Jewish, but she was converted as a baby, and is feeling much more of a connection with the Christian faith.
I really did enjoy the storyline of The Opposite of Normal. But I also struggled with a few things.
The story felt more like a YA read, and I think this is because Judy had two young adults telling their stories in this triple narrative. Mark’s side felt like it belonged in an adult novel, but Hannah’s side felt very YA. This is a good thing because Judy was able to get inside Hannah’s head to make her voice very clear. But it did lend itself to sounding more like a YA read in my opinion.
The story wrapped up very nicely. It wasn’t a clean ending with all of the questions answered, which I liked. But it was hopeful and ended with positivity.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca @ Love at First Book
The Opposite of Normal by Judy Mollen Walters follows the Friedlander family.
Mark, the father, is a rabbi who lost his wife to cancer two years ago and relocated from NYC to a smaller city in New Jersey. He’s struggling to keep the temple enrollment going while also dealing with his children.
Aaron is Mark’s son, a seventeen year old who ends up in some trouble when he makes a few poor decisions with his religiously Christian girlfriend.
Hannah is Mark’s adopted daughter, originally from China. She’s struggling with her faith. She wasn’t born Jewish, but she was converted as a baby, and is feeling much more of a connection with the Christian faith.
I really did enjoy the storyline of The Opposite of Normal. But I also struggled with a few things.
The story felt more like a YA read, and I think this is because Judy had two young adults telling their stories in this triple narrative. Mark’s side felt like it belonged in an adult novel, but Hannah’s side felt very YA. This is a good thing because Judy was able to get inside Hannah’s head to make her voice very clear. But it did lend itself to sounding more like a YA read in my opinion.
The story wrapped up very nicely. It wasn’t a clean ending with all of the questions answered, which I liked. But it was hopeful and ended with positivity.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca @ Love at First Book
October 5, 2016
Great book
This book held My interest with the complicated rules of different religions and how it affected families of different faiths sharing the same problem. A great read...
This book held My interest with the complicated rules of different religions and how it affected families of different faiths sharing the same problem. A great read...
July 12, 2014
This is a well written novel about a family that basically disintegrates before your eyes. Each chapter is told from a specific character's POV and you get into their minds as to what is happening to them within the structure of their own family. It was so painful at times to read and I found myself very upset at the father for most of the book. Though he is a kind man, suffering on his own, I wished he were stronger and able to be more of the father he should have been. I also wished the characters interacted more with each other. I found those moments in the novel to be the strongest, but the book really was about what was happening to the family members while they weren't together.
The author tackles the religious issues extremely well and I found her knowledgeable on both the Jewish and Christian angles. As the book continued and as the stress continued, I found myself compelled to keep reading and see where the author finally took us. I'm glad I did. Well done.
The author tackles the religious issues extremely well and I found her knowledgeable on both the Jewish and Christian angles. As the book continued and as the stress continued, I found myself compelled to keep reading and see where the author finally took us. I'm glad I did. Well done.
August 10, 2014
Very quick read. A book about teens, families and community. You do not have to travel far south or west to find one way thinking and expect everyone else to believe that one way. Reminder to teens that you are responsible for your actions.
March 14, 2014
Although I enjoyed the book there were to many things going on. The main story was great but I felt that the last story for Pastor Jim was unnecessary and very cliche
January 31, 2015
This was a quick read with lots of issues woven in. I liked it and read it quickly, but with so many great books out there, this is not one of my favorites!
March 27, 2015
It was an easy read, clearly the intended audience is YA. But it was an interesting look at how religion effects people differently, and how they respond to its influence.
October 29, 2015
I felt cheated of my time.
Really not engaging. Immature story. Written by a non professional. This felt like a padded short story. I Wasted my time.
Really not engaging. Immature story. Written by a non professional. This felt like a padded short story. I Wasted my time.
August 3, 2016
This is the second book of Judy's that I've read- really enjoyed it- just wished it hadn't ended so suddenly!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews