The Other Normals

A number of violent encounters in both realistic and otherworldly settings. Most of the incidents are neither graphic nor disturbing, just the usual fantasy weapons-play. A couple of incidents do result in the injury or even death of sympathetic supporting characters, but they lend the story a necessary thematic weight.

Still on the brink of puberty, 15-year-old Perry is preoccupied with the idea of sex, even if his understanding of it is alternately naive and flat-out wrong. At one point, he exposes himself at a camp dance, an incident that's more pathetic and humiliating than creepy. There's a scene in a brothel where Perry's tempted by a half-human prostitute, but that encounter goes awry before anything happens. There's talk of pubic hair growth, spontaneous erections, and breast development, but no sexual activity beyond an awkward attempt at a kiss.

Fairly salty but neither gratuitous nor unrealistic, given the setting and circumstances. One or two uses each of the most common curse words and profanities, from "damn," "hell," "ass," and "bitch" to "f--k" and "motherf--ker."

Except for one regrettable night of getting drunk on wine, Perry abstains from alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes. But his older brother indulges in all three. In the World of the Other Normals, Perry encounters characters who drink too much and are addicted to smoking quartz crystals.

Parents need to know that The Other Normals is a fast-paced coming-of-age fantasy with a hip, humorous sensibility. Perry, the 15-year-old protagonist, is a misfit obsessed with gaming, achieving puberty, and learning about girls. His narration is occasionally salty, with one or two uses each of the most common curse words and profanities, from "damn," "hell," "ass," and "bitch" to "f--k" and "motherf--ker." Perry's older brother has a problem with drugs and alcohol, and Perry himself gets drunk on wine in one scene. There's some violence, mostly of the swordplay variety, but a couple of intense battles result in death and serious injury. Sex is often on Perry's mind, and there's talk of pubic hair growth, spontaneous erections, and breast development, but no sexual activity beyond an awkward attempt at a kiss. Perry exposes himself at a camp dance in one funny yet mortifying scene.