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A review by xangemthelibrarian
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
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness