Looking for Normal

by Betty Monthei

Dead. The word bounces from side to side in my head and spins in hot colors through my cold brain. Dead means forever. Forever, I cannot quite conceive. It's the kind of nightmare most kids never even dream about. One ordinary Tuesday morning, Annie is pulled out of class by her principal. Within minutes, the life she knows is shattered by the story of her father and a gun. Now both of her parents are dead, and the only two people left to explain things to Annie and her brother are the grandparents they never really knew. In this poignant and witty debut novel about love and loss, family and identity, Annie wonders how to look for normal now that everything familiar has disappeared and she's stranded in a world she doesn't want to recognize.

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sap! Yes, I cried. This is a sad story about the effects of alcoholism and mental illness and the effect it has on the family. This is a compelling story about murder/suicide and the impact young children suffer from it. A hard but good read.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful story of tragedy, loss, and adjustment, I truly thought I was going to cry at the end of this book. Annie and Ted are so 🤧🤧🤧 they didn’t deserve any of it. Neither did their mom, or even their dad. And I love the way Grandpa’s character develops. This book is amazing and so emotional.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie wants the princes and princess times back. The times when it was obvious that her father loved her mother and they were made for each other? Yeah, those times. These days it's hard to remember that they did love each other at some point because of all of the yelling and screaming. And then comes the hitting, kicking and punching.

Her mother knew it was coming. He had warned her. But Annie was still shocked when her father killed her mother and then himself. Now she and her little brother are living with their grandparents. Grandpa is distant, doesn't seem to know how to talk to them. Grandma is more open but is becoming more and more angry and hateful. And she's drinking an awful lot.

Then comes the day when Grandma has had enough and takes it all out on Annie, to the tune of a broken arm, 3 broken ribs and multiple bruises.

Finally Grandpa wakes up and takes control.

A very moving and beautiful story of love, loss and tragedy. Give to mature readers who are looking for a deep read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because the front cover pulled me in. I was at the library looking for something to read, but had no idea that I would end up reading something this good. As I flipped open the book to read the info, I almost put the book down. I didn't want to read something sad. But as I walked away I just grew more curious. I brought it home and immediately started reading it. I finished the entire book in one sitting. I cried my eyes out. It was the saddest book I have ever read. Don't ignore this book because of the sadness! I almost didn't read it! But I am so glad I did. This book is very high on my favorites list. It's beautifully written and each page has feeling to it. To feel the pain and the joys and whatever the little girl was telling us, is just amazing. It's rare to find a book where you react so strongly to the situation. Real tears, real smiles.. this is what this book brought me and I just think it's so greatly written.

[Watermelon Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST IMPRESSION:
Something which will be stuck in my mind. I loved the title.

WRITING STYLE:
The writing was simple. Too simple for a twelve-year-old. I remembered knowing a lot more when I was twelve (which was about two years ago) and I found it disappointing how the main character seemed oblivious to most things.

PLOT:
It tugged at my heart-strings. Which is perfect for a book like this one.

CHARACTERS:
Oh, I loved Annie. But I hated her. She was so dumb at times! I found myself thinking, how old is she, six? A lot of the times. But she seems too naive for my liking. The grandmother was one of my favourites, though she's not exactly a hero.

OVERALL:
A dark story told from the eyes of a torn but healing innocent girl.

AMOUNT OF STARS:
3

[Kkeyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A respectful YA book that treats some extreme situations. Told from a 12 year old girl's point of view after her father kills her mother and then she and her brother go to live with alcoholic grandmother. It may seem like an extremely dramatically situation, yet, some of our young adults are dealing with similar situations or even worse. This book provides a mature response to some of life's worst situations. Unfortunately, sometimes it is the children who need to be the adult. Maybe four stars based on the thoughtful residue it left me.

[aksnowbunny Proden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the saddest book I have ever read. but so well written that i couldn't put it down. every word hits you in the gut, grabs your heart and jerks out the tears. not my typical read, but really really good.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing.