Reviews

Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes by Sonia Patel, Anna Drury, Karen Jialu Bao, Rocky Callen, Val Howlett, Mercedes Acosta, Nikki Grimes, Alechia Dow, Ebony Stewart, Patrick Downes, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Francisco X. Stork, Nora Shalaway Carpenter, Isabel Quintero, James Bird, Marcella Pixley

debstubb's review

challenging informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Very interesting, unique, and informative look at mental health through stories. I’m glad I read it 

cgsunit's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

lichmaster701's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

shelfcare_with_ashley's review

I thought I was going to like it more than I did. 

maireadingparty's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

karenelyse2's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

"We Are Stardust," "The Call: a One-Act Play," and" Spidey Sense" were my top three stories in this collection. We Are Stardust has to be my ultimate favorite though, because it just resonated with me.

This collection is such an eye-opener. It's a candid discussion about the experiences of those struggling with their mental health. I felt for so many of these characters. I felt seen through some of them. And other characters revealed mental health struggles I didn't even know were a thing! So many of the authors put themselves and their own personal experiences into these stories. It just feels so authentic. 

And the cherry on top has got to be the fact that so many of the stories had a magical spin to them, of they weren't straight up fantasy.

Please pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of each story. I'm not kidding when I say this collection is a candid look at mental health. The thoughts, feelings, and traumatic experiences of these characters can be very triggering. The authors do not sugarcoat what they discuss. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

esmewasreading's review

3.5

When I first started this I was hesitant since I wasn't a huge fan of the first few stories but I loved the second part a lot! 

as always with anthologies I always wish each story was like 10 pages longer since it's hard to fully immerse yourself into a world and plot when you have so little pages to work with.

most of my favorite stories were with the ones with magical realism or fantasy elements (hello fantasy era). 

I applaud the authors for all adding triggers before ever single story, it's really appreciated especially for a book with this type of subject.

jessicawithabook's review

3.0

More books should be written like this about mental health to help break the stigma surrounding it. I love that it provides multiple authors and different types of stories to portray their meanings. 
DEFINITELY check your content warnings and take them seriously. You will need to be in the right headspace to read this whole book or sections of it! 

donasbooks's review against another edition

4.0

I found AB(SOLUTELY) NORMAL, edited by Rocky Callen, on the Libby app. Check for your local library on the app and read great books for free!