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amieinstereo's review
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lydiastorytime's review
3.0
Very sweet book on friendship. Some of the dialog did not age well, the ablism and bigotry sticking out and altering the desired perception of charicters. I related to this book more then I expect and I appreciated the representation of growing up with a mentally unstable mother. This recovery journey in the book felt like a fairy tale but I enjoy fairy tales.
lanica's review
4.0
"This thoughtful, wry story is about two girls--a "punk" and a "priss"--who find themselves facing each other in a peer-counseling program and discover that they have some surprising things in common."
That pretty much sums it up. Add a mother with major mental health issues and a needy brother from one family and overbearing (from the girls' point of view) parents for the other and it's a book with all the pieces that make current publishers and reviewers joyous.
LIBRARIAN REVIEW: Another book that has all the elements that are popular in teen fiction, but done with skill. It's a good read with lots of discussion raising elements. Strong female characters, thoughtfully created adults that add to the story rather than cardboard cutouts, though provoking discussions between characters and a ending that makes sense for all that has come before - if a little trite. I recommend it for all levels of school libraries. No sex, no boys really at all, no drugs, not violence...it's a 'good' good read. :)
That pretty much sums it up. Add a mother with major mental health issues and a needy brother from one family and overbearing (from the girls' point of view) parents for the other and it's a book with all the pieces that make current publishers and reviewers joyous.
LIBRARIAN REVIEW: Another book that has all the elements that are popular in teen fiction, but done with skill. It's a good read with lots of discussion raising elements. Strong female characters, thoughtfully created adults that add to the story rather than cardboard cutouts, though provoking discussions between characters and a ending that makes sense for all that has come before - if a little trite. I recommend it for all levels of school libraries. No sex, no boys really at all, no drugs, not violence...it's a 'good' good read. :)
dame_samara's review
5.0
This book definatly deserves five stars all the way. It was a book that left me questioning what normal was and if I actually believed it exsisted. Which in all truth changed the way I think of things now days as well. But it is a must read book for anybody, especially if your in that point in your life when your doubting who you are.
ivy_is_sleepy17's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My first 5 star reading of February. Definitely a great YA book with loving characters, real world problems, and a happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
jeslyncat's review
4.0
A great book--two girls meet in a real and honest way and communicate in like-sign.
gothradiohour's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of my childhood favorite books. I remember reading it over and over again between 4th and 5th grade. The important lesson of not judging people based on their appearances is so important, and such a great theme for young people to learn.
The language of the 90s makes me giggle with all of Antonia's internalized biases against Jazz in the novel. Calling Jazz, a "punker," "druggie," "gang-hanger," I assure you no one uses that language today, well not to my knowledge at least. Those terms were very real back then. When dressing alternatively was seen as dangerous.
I chose to reread it for my library's 2023 reading challenge. One of the categories was to reread a book you love.
I am so sad to learn that Julie Anne Peters has retired from writing. She wrote so many LGBTQ young adult books in the early 2000s, and while Define 'Normal' technically isn't under that category, I can definitely feel hints of queerness throughout the book.
Its very much a quick read now, but I still find the story captivating as I did when I was younger. Just remember everyone is going through their own struggles, and you won't know it until you get to know them.
The language of the 90s makes me giggle with all of Antonia's internalized biases against Jazz in the novel. Calling Jazz, a "punker," "druggie," "gang-hanger," I assure you no one uses that language today, well not to my knowledge at least. Those terms were very real back then. When dressing alternatively was seen as dangerous.
I chose to reread it for my library's 2023 reading challenge. One of the categories was to reread a book you love.
I am so sad to learn that Julie Anne Peters has retired from writing. She wrote so many LGBTQ young adult books in the early 2000s, and while Define 'Normal' technically isn't under that category, I can definitely feel hints of queerness throughout the book.
Its very much a quick read now, but I still find the story captivating as I did when I was younger. Just remember everyone is going through their own struggles, and you won't know it until you get to know them.
mesy_mark's review
3.0
This is an okay book looking at the fact of what it is liked to live under a mother who is severely clinically depressed to the point of hospitalization. Antonia is fourteen and is trying to be the perfect image to protect her real home life existence that is taking care of her brothers and mother with her father long gone. Jaz a punk is in the peer counseling program too. And she is who Antonia is supposed o help.
The plot is okay. I typically like Julie Anne Peters's books. It just felt a little bit like it was too chid like for being a young adult book. It could have been written with more of an older teen tone since the characters were already 14 and dealing with heavy stuff. It might have made it more interesting. Or at least make this middle grade- it seemed to just put in a gray zone that made the text a little harder to get into.
The plot is okay. I typically like Julie Anne Peters's books. It just felt a little bit like it was too chid like for being a young adult book. It could have been written with more of an older teen tone since the characters were already 14 and dealing with heavy stuff. It might have made it more interesting. Or at least make this middle grade- it seemed to just put in a gray zone that made the text a little harder to get into.
thatkorigirl's review
3.0
One of my favorite authors during the time wrote this, but beside her others works it pales. The use of tired clichés to define the girls was subpar to her normal brilliant characterizations. The writing style maintained excellence for young adult readers, however, and overall I would easily recommend to any younger middle school readers who enjoy books about what is average.