Waiting for Normal

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Moving portrait of a neglected child.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an emotional book about a girl dealing with a disturbed and neglectful mother. There is also a description of her first period.

  • Not applicable.
  • References to "boobs" and a gay couple. A description of a girl getting her first period.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

Addie lives in a trailer under an elevated train track with her disturbed, neglectful, "all or nothing" mother, who often leaves her alone there for days at a time. Her beloved ex-stepfather does what he can to support them, but her visits with him are few and far between, and only when her erratic mother allows them. But as good as Addie is with coping, and as positive as she tries to be, those visits only remind her of a normalcy she can never have.


Is it any good?

 

This breathtakingly moving portrait of a neglected child achieves its effects in shades of gray. Addie's mother is not an evil witch and does, in fact, love Addie. Her loving stepfather does his best, but is often inept and doesn't see what his warmhearted visits are doing to Addie. Her friends and teachers all mean well, but none are able to see what is really going on, or to do anything about it. And Addie herself knows that her mother is unable to take care of her, yet does everything she can to hide that fact from those who love her and would protect her if they knew, even going so far, in one heartbreaking scene, as to fill empty food boxes with paper and put them in the cabinets so that it will look like there's plenty of food when her grandfather comes to check on her

Told in Addie's matter-of-fact voice, the story never descends to mawkishness, melodrama, or preachiness. Addie is a delightfully poignant and winning heroine, but the success of a character-centered story such as this one rests not only on the main character, but also on the supporting players, and here the author also excels. Addie's stepfather Dwight, her half-sisters, and the odd couple who run the mini mart across the street are all fully fleshed out and as vivid in the reader's mind as they are in Addie's life. This realistic look at a tough subject hits all the right notes in creating a warmhearted portrait of a child in trouble.

From the Book:
Maybe Mommers and I shouldn't have been surprised; Dwight had told us it was a trailer even before we'd packed our bags. But I had pictured one of those parks—like up on Route 50. I thought trailers were always in trailer parks. I expected a little grass patch out front, daisy-shaped pinwheels stuck into the ground, one of those white shorty fences and a garden gnome.

Dwight crossed traffic and pulled the truck up over the curb. When he stopped, Mommers' head bumped against the window. "What are we doing here?" she asked. I watched Dwight's face for the answer. Dwight is my stepfather. Well, he's really my ex-stepfather since he and Mommers split for good. That was two years ago. (It's best to know right from the beginning that my family is hard to follow—like a road that keeps taking twists and turns.) But Dwight had always told me, there'll be no "ex" between you and me, Addie, girl, and I believed him.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the concept of normal. What
is a normal life? Do you have one? Do you know others who have what
you'd consider to be a normal life? Is normal a good thing?


This review was written by Matt Berman
Kid, 12 years old
January 17, 2011
 
i luv this book :). It was terrific !

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Teen, 14 years old
May 6, 2011
 
One of the best book ive read. made me cry. will -for sure touch your heart.
Hi again (wow im so on here today). Anyway this book will forever hold a place in my heart. I feel so much for the characters and i just really loved it. I also think i loved it 'casue i can re-late. This story of a emtional, smart, brave, independant girl will touch your heart and make you stop and think for a moment about how blessed you are. How evryday is a gift and no matter how much cr@p goes on in your life- there is always another day to move on.

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Teen, 14 years old
January 19, 2011
 
terrible book
hate it

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Kid, 12 years old
July 26, 2011
 
Waiting for Normal
This book is very good and i tell my friends to read this book!

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Teen, 14 years old
December 13, 2010
 
This book is great for early teens and teens. NOT reccomended for youger children.
This book is wonderful!! There are some language problems and the mother smokes a lot. They do mention some product placement. I dont reccomend this book for kids 11 and under because of these issues. This book also is very sad. It kind of makes you look back at maybe some unfortunate kids/ adults that you know in a different way. :) I hope this helped. Have a blessed day!

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Parent
August 1, 2011
 
couldn't put it down
I read this to my little girl and we both loved it! This book and Bridge to Terribithia remind me of my own childhood. I found Bridge to Terribithia as a child and felt better that i wasn't the "only one" who moved around a lot and dealt with losing people close to me as a consequence of moving a lot. This book would have been even better for me when i was a kid. When I finished the book I asked my little girl, "Are you waiting for normal?" fortunately she said no :)

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Teen, 15 years old
May 29, 2011
 
Great Book!
This is a Great book! i am older and it was still an amazing book!

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Kid, 13 years old
May 9, 2011
 
GREAT BOOK!!! limit to mature 9yo+, though.
all of the book is good... but mommers says shes pregnant w/ pete's baby, references to body parts, and mommers stays at pete's house for a 'little overnighter' and stuff like that, not extreme. I'd say its very well written, and it's easy to read, but I think only mature kids 9+ should read it.

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Teen, 14 years old
September 6, 2011
 
The Best Book Yet
at first i didn't want to read the book. but after i started i couldn't stop. i don't recommend this book for young kids 12 and under because i think they wont get the concept of the book

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Teen, 15 years old
August 21, 2011
 
A Good Book
I really liked this book. It had some parts that got too slow and boring, but for the most part it was really good. My parents are really overprotective, and this book showed me how it COULD be. I liked how it didn't just tell a story, but it showed into the main character's mind. It was really good, and it's just the type of book I love. Happy reading! :)

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This review was written by Matt Berman
Author:Leslie Connor
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Family Life
Publisher:HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date:February 5, 2008
Number of pages:290
Hardcover price:$16.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):10 - 14
Read aloud:9
Read alone:10

This review was written by Matt Berman
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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