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hollowspine 's review for:
The Other Normals
by Ned Vizzini
Perry Eckert isn't the most popular kid. In fact, he doesn't have a single friend. Instead he spends his time playing Creatures and Caverns alone, reading rule books and imagining a fantasy world.
When his parents (through their lawyers) decide that it's time Perry started socializing with people and making some real friends, Perry finds himself getting packed off to camp.
That's where things start to get weird...well...weirder. Perry of course doesn't hit it off with his new yurtmates (yes they sleep in yurts) and ends up in the nurses office first thing. That's where he meets Anna and Mortin. Anna is a normal girl, who enjoys knitting mittens. Mortin looks exactly like Perry's C&C character Pekkar Cland, which is odd since Pekkar Cland is a Ferrule - he's one of the Other Normals, creatures from an alternative earth who have been visiting Perry's Earth for a long time via mushroom patches (it's a bit complicated).
Soon Perry finds out that Mortin and his fellows are from the World of the Other Normals and it's up to Perry to save their Princess from the clutches of the reptilian monster Ophisa. To do that Perry only needs to kiss the Princess' correspondent on Earth, Anna. Every Other Normal has a correspondent on Earth and when something happens to one of them, it affects both of them. When Perry punches the Other Normal Ryu, the Ryu at camp who put Perry in the nurses office on the first day, becomes the one who got beat by Perry instead.
So all Perry has to do is kiss Anna and the Princess will be saved. Easier said than done when you're a socially awkward skinny kid who has yet to grow a single hair.
Vizzini's novel is very funny and awkward, there are some cringe-worthy moments when Perry does exactly what you'd do if you were an awkward kid, he's pretty endearing. There is a lot of great and realistic character development going on here, both in the World of the Other Normals and at the summer camp. Perry doesn't immediately become brave or understanding or perfect all at once (or ever) but he does gain a sense of self and a greater understanding of others, Other Normals and um...Normal Normals both.
I remember back when I was in college reading Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini and loving it too. It had some of the same messages, being true to oneself, yet also learning how to be 'chill' and figuring out how to fit in without hurting others or yourself.
I would suggest this book to those who are growing out of the Diary of the Wimpy Kid books, kids who game, kids who like goofy books, fans of Pete Hautman and Gordon Korman among others.
When his parents (through their lawyers) decide that it's time Perry started socializing with people and making some real friends, Perry finds himself getting packed off to camp.
That's where things start to get weird...well...weirder. Perry of course doesn't hit it off with his new yurtmates (yes they sleep in yurts) and ends up in the nurses office first thing. That's where he meets Anna and Mortin. Anna is a normal girl, who enjoys knitting mittens. Mortin looks exactly like Perry's C&C character Pekkar Cland, which is odd since Pekkar Cland is a Ferrule - he's one of the Other Normals, creatures from an alternative earth who have been visiting Perry's Earth for a long time via mushroom patches (it's a bit complicated).
Soon Perry finds out that Mortin and his fellows are from the World of the Other Normals and it's up to Perry to save their Princess from the clutches of the reptilian monster Ophisa. To do that Perry only needs to kiss the Princess' correspondent on Earth, Anna. Every Other Normal has a correspondent on Earth and when something happens to one of them, it affects both of them. When Perry punches the Other Normal Ryu, the Ryu at camp who put Perry in the nurses office on the first day, becomes the one who got beat by Perry instead.
So all Perry has to do is kiss Anna and the Princess will be saved. Easier said than done when you're a socially awkward skinny kid who has yet to grow a single hair.
Vizzini's novel is very funny and awkward, there are some cringe-worthy moments when Perry does exactly what you'd do if you were an awkward kid, he's pretty endearing. There is a lot of great and realistic character development going on here, both in the World of the Other Normals and at the summer camp. Perry doesn't immediately become brave or understanding or perfect all at once (or ever) but he does gain a sense of self and a greater understanding of others, Other Normals and um...Normal Normals both.
I remember back when I was in college reading Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini and loving it too. It had some of the same messages, being true to oneself, yet also learning how to be 'chill' and figuring out how to fit in without hurting others or yourself.
I would suggest this book to those who are growing out of the Diary of the Wimpy Kid books, kids who game, kids who like goofy books, fans of Pete Hautman and Gordon Korman among others.