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dunder_mifflin's review
3.0
i cried a lot but there were some problems (misgendering, etc etc) but overall okay
boyleloren's review
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Voici un roman young adult qui aborde un sujet dont on on parle finalement peu : celui des ados transgenres, ces ados nés fille ou garçon mais qui se sentent viscéralement coincé dans le mauvais corps/s*xe.
Hasard des publications, il entre pour moi en résonance avec Opération pantalon, de Cat Clarke, sorti lui aussi en mars chez nous en VF. Seulement, dans Normal(e), le ton est moins malicieux, on est dans du YA plus âgé, même si les héros sont encore au lycée.
Ce roman c'est l'histoire de David, qui n'est pas né dans la bonne enveloppe corporelle, qui sait ce qu'il veut, même si sa famille n'est pas encore au courant. Comme souvent dans ce type de YA, on retrouve les scènes classiques de harcèlement scolaire, avec toute la cruauté mentale que l'on peut imaginer, les insultes qui font mal, les allusions à peine voilées ...
Mais Normal(e), c'est aussi l'histoire de Leo, nouvel élève à la réputation sulfureuse, un Leo qu'on découvre peu à peu (et là je dois dire que je suis restée bouche bée à un moment donné du récit !). Issu d'un milieu plutôt défavorisé, Leo intègre le lycée d'Eden Park, et son côté 'bad boy' venu de la cité le place immédiatement dans la catégorie des vilains garçons auxquels on prête tout et n'importe quoi.
Bien qu'un peu plus âgé de David, Leo va trouver en lui une oreille compréhensive et une belle amitié va les lier tous les deux, ils vont vivre des péripéties tantôt ubuesques, tantôt poignantes. Chacun à leur manière, ils sont vus par les autres comme des monstres mais c'est bien grâce à leur amitié qu'ils vont aller de l'avant.
Ce roman m'a beaucoup touchée, et c'est finalement l'histoire de Leo que j'ai trouvé la plus poignante, car on découvre avec lui que les apparences sont trompeuses et que les espoirs sont parfois bien cruels ...
Je suis ressortie de cette lecture avec une sensation douce-amère, l'envie de serrer certains de ces personnages dans mes bras, et de les retrouver quelques années plus tard pour voir quel chemin ils avaient accompli. Une belle lecture donc !
Hasard des publications, il entre pour moi en résonance avec Opération pantalon, de Cat Clarke, sorti lui aussi en mars chez nous en VF. Seulement, dans Normal(e), le ton est moins malicieux, on est dans du YA plus âgé, même si les héros sont encore au lycée.
Ce roman c'est l'histoire de David, qui n'est pas né dans la bonne enveloppe corporelle, qui sait ce qu'il veut, même si sa famille n'est pas encore au courant. Comme souvent dans ce type de YA, on retrouve les scènes classiques de harcèlement scolaire, avec toute la cruauté mentale que l'on peut imaginer, les insultes qui font mal, les allusions à peine voilées ...
Mais Normal(e), c'est aussi l'histoire de Leo, nouvel élève à la réputation sulfureuse, un Leo qu'on découvre peu à peu (et là je dois dire que je suis restée bouche bée à un moment donné du récit !). Issu d'un milieu plutôt défavorisé, Leo intègre le lycée d'Eden Park, et son côté 'bad boy' venu de la cité le place immédiatement dans la catégorie des vilains garçons auxquels on prête tout et n'importe quoi.
Bien qu'un peu plus âgé de David, Leo va trouver en lui une oreille compréhensive et une belle amitié va les lier tous les deux, ils vont vivre des péripéties tantôt ubuesques, tantôt poignantes. Chacun à leur manière, ils sont vus par les autres comme des monstres mais c'est bien grâce à leur amitié qu'ils vont aller de l'avant.
Ce roman m'a beaucoup touchée, et c'est finalement l'histoire de Leo que j'ai trouvé la plus poignante, car on découvre avec lui que les apparences sont trompeuses et que les espoirs sont parfois bien cruels ...
Je suis ressortie de cette lecture avec une sensation douce-amère, l'envie de serrer certains de ces personnages dans mes bras, et de les retrouver quelques années plus tard pour voir quel chemin ils avaient accompli. Une belle lecture donc !
thepetitepunk's review
4.0
I really enjoyed The Art of Being Normal. I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now (I'll admit, that fantastic cover enticed me) and I was not disappointed.
The story is narrated by two teenagers, David and Leo, who both have their own secrets. Their friendship isn't immediate but as they get to know each other, they realize they may understand each other better than they originally thought.
This was easy to read and I thought that the transgender topic was addressed well. Themes of bullying, family, friendship, and acceptance were integrated into the story. Although the plot and characters didn't stand out for me, I still think this is an important book. It gives a hopeful yet realistic perspective for anyone exploring their gender identity. I would definitely recommend The Art of Being Normal to others.
The story is narrated by two teenagers, David and Leo, who both have their own secrets. Their friendship isn't immediate but as they get to know each other, they realize they may understand each other better than they originally thought.
This was easy to read and I thought that the transgender topic was addressed well. Themes of bullying, family, friendship, and acceptance were integrated into the story. Although the plot and characters didn't stand out for me, I still think this is an important book. It gives a hopeful yet realistic perspective for anyone exploring their gender identity. I would definitely recommend The Art of Being Normal to others.
leafblade's review
4.0
Maybe I'll brin the rating up to five stars, it depends on how much i keep thinking of the book.
I found the first half to be extremely normal, that's why i can't bring myself to give it five stars right now.
But yeah, I found it really cute and realistic and important, and a girl named like me (Serena) was briefly mentioned and she was a jerk to Leo and now I hate her.
It left me speechless tbh I don't know what to say about it. I loved it, and I would really like to have more friends that read and are queer irl, since I'm the only one I know. kthxbye.
I found the first half to be extremely normal, that's why i can't bring myself to give it five stars right now.
But yeah, I found it really cute and realistic and important, and a girl named like me (Serena) was briefly mentioned and she was a jerk to Leo and now I hate her.
It left me speechless tbh I don't know what to say about it. I loved it, and I would really like to have more friends that read and are queer irl, since I'm the only one I know. kthxbye.
dilchh's review against another edition
4.0
Not only were the events were not predictable (yes, there were some cliches like a bully getting out of hand on his bullying, someone punched the bully, they all get detention, some unlikely friendship is formed yadda yadda), but you know what else is unpredictable about the book? YOU SERIOUSLY DID NOT EXPECT IT TO GO SO SO SO SO DARK IN A MATTER OF A PAGE FLIP (or a screen tap in my case, because I’m reading the ebook version)! No, seriously, there was this part in the book that already gave you enough hints that something horrible had happened prior to where the book started but, I kid you freaking not, I didn’t expect it to be THAT horrible and traumatising. My heart breaks in pieces when I read that part.
Although the ending closes in a hopeful tone, I like the fact that it was a sweet ending and that it happened sometime in Christmas (which by the way, Christmas is tomorrow y’all!!!). Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that this book was such an enjoyable experience, the built up was very slow but it was very steady that when you reached halfway through the book, you’re definitely hooked and you can’t stop reading it for fear that you would lose the momentum. The characters were all very endearing (except obviously for the bully). Something that still troubles me is the bullying, I don’t know how horrible bullying is in another country or in another era than when I was in high school, but I can tell you the bullying in this book is brutal. Brutal in the sense that it really gets into your head and ruins you mentally; don’t get me wrong though, I’m not criticising the author, if anything I’m actually complimenting the way she works the horrible bullying into something that is both horrible but also get into the depths of how the bullying destroys the victim mentally. It was such a rollercoaster experience to follow through the event as the reader.
Now this was such a quick and fun, also enlightening experience. I have never read any story about transgender, so to have this as my first book on the topic felt like a good choice on my part. Seriously, I don’t know what else to say about this book except, do give this book a try. Whether or not you are interested in topics such as teenage transgender, this was such a great read. Do give this book a read, I really don’t know how to sell this book again apart from repeating the chant of “Do-read-this-book-Do-read-this-book-Do-read-this-book”. I’m going to be very annoying but please, seriously, read this book.
Although the ending closes in a hopeful tone, I like the fact that it was a sweet ending and that it happened sometime in Christmas (which by the way, Christmas is tomorrow y’all!!!). Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that this book was such an enjoyable experience, the built up was very slow but it was very steady that when you reached halfway through the book, you’re definitely hooked and you can’t stop reading it for fear that you would lose the momentum. The characters were all very endearing (except obviously for the bully). Something that still troubles me is the bullying, I don’t know how horrible bullying is in another country or in another era than when I was in high school, but I can tell you the bullying in this book is brutal. Brutal in the sense that it really gets into your head and ruins you mentally; don’t get me wrong though, I’m not criticising the author, if anything I’m actually complimenting the way she works the horrible bullying into something that is both horrible but also get into the depths of how the bullying destroys the victim mentally. It was such a rollercoaster experience to follow through the event as the reader.
Now this was such a quick and fun, also enlightening experience. I have never read any story about transgender, so to have this as my first book on the topic felt like a good choice on my part. Seriously, I don’t know what else to say about this book except, do give this book a try. Whether or not you are interested in topics such as teenage transgender, this was such a great read. Do give this book a read, I really don’t know how to sell this book again apart from repeating the chant of “Do-read-this-book-Do-read-this-book-Do-read-this-book”. I’m going to be very annoying but please, seriously, read this book.
grishaperson42's review
We didnt finish it w school but it was boring anyway so im not carrying it on.
readwithkiekie's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I've ever been so happy to finish a book. And I don't mean that in a bad way, I literally finished the book with the biggest grin on my face, content with the ending and slightly wanting more Kate (David) and Leo. I'm so glad this book was mainly focused on finding ones true self, as well as true friendship. You know, the type of friendship you'll have for life.
However, I also have to be open and honest to the slightly problematic aspects of the book too. Do I think this represented Transgender people in the best way? Absolutely not. The author is a cis female and could never fully understand what it's like to be Transgender, all the issues people with Gender Identity Issues go through. I also felt like the romantic aspect was seen as a laugh at the expense of Kate which made me uncomfortable. The Art of Being Normal is a good place to start out but there are so many more better representing books out there.
However, I also have to be open and honest to the slightly problematic aspects of the book too. Do I think this represented Transgender people in the best way? Absolutely not. The author is a cis female and could never fully understand what it's like to be Transgender, all the issues people with Gender Identity Issues go through. I also felt like the romantic aspect was seen as a laugh at the expense of Kate which made me uncomfortable. The Art of Being Normal is a good place to start out but there are so many more better representing books out there.
sccrethistory's review against another edition
5.0
sin duda alguna uno de los mejores libros que he leido. En un principio la historia toma un rumbo que no parece acabar como acaba. el libro no para de darte sorpresas y cosas con las que emocionarte, esas cosas hacen que sigas leyendo sin parar.
los dos personajes principales Leo y David son muy reales, muy cercanos y llegas a entender y querer a ambos.
es un libro que me ha gustado mucho y que ojala este libro fuese mucho mas conocido y no libros como After que representan cosas horribles y enseñan cosas que no deberian a los adolescentes. En cambio este libro enseña a comprender a los demas, a entender la razon de las cosas y a ver como una relacion de amistad puede ser de gran ayuda
sin duda 5 estrellas y una gran 10
los dos personajes principales Leo y David son muy reales, muy cercanos y llegas a entender y querer a ambos.
es un libro que me ha gustado mucho y que ojala este libro fuese mucho mas conocido y no libros como After que representan cosas horribles y enseñan cosas que no deberian a los adolescentes. En cambio este libro enseña a comprender a los demas, a entender la razon de las cosas y a ver como una relacion de amistad puede ser de gran ayuda
sin duda 5 estrellas y una gran 10