Search This Blog








2022 Literary Escapes Challenge








The 52 Book Club's Reading Challenge 2022

2022 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

What's Normal? Hint: Not Your Family.

Mieka Baker doesn't know what a "normal" family looks like, but she's pretty sure hers doesn't qualify. Ever since her mom took off, she's been living with her artist dad in a Chicago apartment decorated in what he likes to call "Salvation Armani." Her maternal grandmother, who owns a secondhand shop nearby, is Mieka's only close relative. As if a fractured, abnormal family isn't enough to deal with, she's also watching her best friend defect to the popular side. Life gets even crueller when she has to stay with her cousin's perfect family for a few weeks. Hanging out with her beautiful cousin Greta only makes Mieka realize what a big, clumsy oaf she is. Between Greta's uber-niceness; her family's big, spotless Texan mansion; and Mieka's chain-smoking, poison-tongued fraternal grandma, Mieka will learn the true definition of "normal." Hint: No family really qualifies.
Wow! A one-paragraph book summary may be a new record for me. Chasing Normal by Lisa Papademetriou is easy to describe because it's really a quick, simple book about learning to accept yourself for who you are. The story's been done a million times, but Papademetriou at least gives us some fresh characters. Don't expect a perfect happily-ever-after ending, but it's a very honest, hopeful story.
(Readalikes: I could name one hundred similar kids-learning-to-love-themselves stories.)
Grade: C
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for one scene involving a submerged maxi pad
To the FTC, with love: I received this book from the generous folks at Disney/Hyperion. Thanks!
1 comment:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!




Reading
Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower

Listening
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs



Followin' with Bloglovin'



-
-
-
Adult Assembly Required [Book Review]2 hours ago
-
61. Rivals (American Royals #3)2 hours ago
-
Sunday Post #4539 hours ago
-
FO Friday: Goth Kitty Socks12 hours ago
-
-
-
Book Quotes of the Week18 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
The 20 Books of Summer challenge1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
Audiobook: Call Me Chef, Dammit!2 days ago
-
-
-
-
Top Ten Tuesday #183 days ago
-
-
-
-
The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth4 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher3 weeks ago
-
Chirp Audiobooks - A Review4 weeks ago
-
-
-
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova1 month ago
-
-
-
-
Cybils Awards 2021: The End3 months ago
-
2022 Reading Log3 months ago
-
Back to the Classics 20224 months ago
-
-
-

Grab my Button!



Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
Hmmm, should I be offended by the name of this post? lol
ReplyDelete