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A review by maurakeaney
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
3.0
As the child of a mother with bipolar illness, and a hoarder to boot, I had no access as a child to books that were mirrors. While my own experience differs significantly from Addie's, I know I would have felt both transformed and validated by the positive depiction of Addie's resilience. As a window into understanding others, Waiting for Normal can also help children develop empathy for classmates whose parents struggle with mental illness and who have to overcome social challenges like a home into which you cannot bring guests. On that basis alone, I wanted to give this book 5 stars before ever reading it.
And then "Mommers" happened. And then it happened about 487 more times. I don't think I've ever read a more annoying character name, and it simply completely stretches credulity that a child would ever use it for a mother, much less a mother so erratic, thoughtless, and emotionally distant. The term was used so often and was so jarringly out of place that it seriously became an impediment to enjoyment of the book.
On top of that, the audiobook narration by Angela Jayne Rogers just didn't work for me - she affected a babyish tone for Addie, but her actual voice sounds like a post-menopausal smoker...and a post-menopausal smoker with a baby voice saying, "Mommers" all the time just. didn't. work.
That said...I love the lovable characters in the periphery of Addie's daily life, especially her neighbor Sula. I acknowledge the criticism that Connor gifts Addie with unrealistically wholesome and generous stepparents and neighbors, but Connor certainly gave her enough painful experiences to make the book both realistic and harrowing.
I could imagine myself giving the non-audio version 4 stars, but the combination of "Mommers" and un-enjoyable narration knocks this review down to 3. But as a depiction of life with a parent with mental illness, Waiting for Normal rings true to me in so many ways, and it has so much value as a mirror to kids like Addie and window for others to understand kids like Addie.
And then "Mommers" happened. And then it happened about 487 more times. I don't think I've ever read a more annoying character name, and it simply completely stretches credulity that a child would ever use it for a mother, much less a mother so erratic, thoughtless, and emotionally distant. The term was used so often and was so jarringly out of place that it seriously became an impediment to enjoyment of the book.
On top of that, the audiobook narration by Angela Jayne Rogers just didn't work for me - she affected a babyish tone for Addie, but her actual voice sounds like a post-menopausal smoker...and a post-menopausal smoker with a baby voice saying, "Mommers" all the time just. didn't. work.
That said...I love the lovable characters in the periphery of Addie's daily life, especially her neighbor Sula. I acknowledge the criticism that Connor gifts Addie with unrealistically wholesome and generous stepparents and neighbors, but Connor certainly gave her enough painful experiences to make the book both realistic and harrowing.
I could imagine myself giving the non-audio version 4 stars, but the combination of "Mommers" and un-enjoyable narration knocks this review down to 3. But as a depiction of life with a parent with mental illness, Waiting for Normal rings true to me in so many ways, and it has so much value as a mirror to kids like Addie and window for others to understand kids like Addie.