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A review by cerrismatic
The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini
5.0
Wow, this book was excellent. Although I am definitely biased when it comes to Ned Vizzini's works, that's not why I loved this. It's a superb coming of age tale that I feel many can relate to.
This story revolves around Peregrine "Perry" Eckert, perpetual dork who is obsessed with the role playing game, Creatures & Caverns. (Think Dungeons & Dragons.) His parents feel like he may be too into the game, so they send him to Camp Washika Lake for the summer, so he can learn how to be a man. As soon as he gets there he learns just how much of an outcast he is. Even the one friend he had back home, Sam - fellow C&C player, seems to be ignoring him to maintain his status. After Perry gets into a fight and is brought to the nurse's office, he meets a girl named Anna, and for the first time in his life, manages to have a half conversation with someone of the opposite gender. Unfortunately for Perry, he totally screws it up by talking about C&C. He hears someone call him an idiot from behind and when he goes to investigate he comes across a ferrule. A creature from his game, his preferred creature. After following the ferrule, who reveals himself to be Mortin Enaw, he gets brought to "The World of the Other Normals," the land from his game. There he's put on a mission to help save the Princess of the land. The people he meets and the situation he gets himself into there helps him learn how to become a man. Perry learns the importance of putting away childish things in order to grow.
This story really resonated with me. I personally never liked Dungeons & Dragons, and still don't but, it really doesn't matter when it comes to the core story of things. You'll feel as if you've been transported somewhere else yourself. Ned Vizzini has outdone himself with this one. I was very pleased.
This story revolves around Peregrine "Perry" Eckert, perpetual dork who is obsessed with the role playing game, Creatures & Caverns. (Think Dungeons & Dragons.) His parents feel like he may be too into the game, so they send him to Camp Washika Lake for the summer, so he can learn how to be a man. As soon as he gets there he learns just how much of an outcast he is. Even the one friend he had back home, Sam - fellow C&C player, seems to be ignoring him to maintain his status. After Perry gets into a fight and is brought to the nurse's office, he meets a girl named Anna, and for the first time in his life, manages to have a half conversation with someone of the opposite gender. Unfortunately for Perry, he totally screws it up by talking about C&C. He hears someone call him an idiot from behind and when he goes to investigate he comes across a ferrule. A creature from his game, his preferred creature. After following the ferrule, who reveals himself to be Mortin Enaw, he gets brought to "The World of the Other Normals," the land from his game. There he's put on a mission to help save the Princess of the land. The people he meets and the situation he gets himself into there helps him learn how to become a man. Perry learns the importance of putting away childish things in order to grow.
This story really resonated with me. I personally never liked Dungeons & Dragons, and still don't but, it really doesn't matter when it comes to the core story of things. You'll feel as if you've been transported somewhere else yourself. Ned Vizzini has outdone himself with this one. I was very pleased.