THE NORMAL KID

Name: THE NORMAL KID
Author: Elizabeth Holmes
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8085-6

by Elizabeth Holmes ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2012

Pre-adolescent angst—funny, perplexing humiliating—is perennially fertile ground for middle-grade fiction. Holmes shows us...

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In a changing world, what can "normal" mean?

Lately, change has rocked Sylvan’s world—and not in a good way: family breakup, an embarrassing newspaper photo and now a new fifth-grade teacher. Sylvan tells himself he’s a “normal, average, everyday kid.” Sylvan’s classmate and co-narrator, Charity, has bigger changes to process: Her missionary dad’s abruptly returned the family to the States after five years in rural Kenya. Now he works as a house painter and won’t say grace. Charity’s classmates think she’s weird to shake hands with their teacher, but next to Brian, she is normal. Brian, on the autism spectrum (his depiction is realistic and low-key), makes loud noises in class, avoids eye contact and spends hours alone jumping on his trampoline. This well-told story captures a pivotal life experience: What we’ve assumed was permanent, bedrock reality can shift beneath us without warning. “Normal” changes. If it’s a tough lesson, it’s also liberating. Sylvan’s mom drags him with her to protest demonstrations (hence that embarrassing photo). That’s her normal—but is it Sylvan’s? Charity’s beliefs are her own, to keep or lose, whatever her dad believes.

Pre-adolescent angst—funny, perplexing humiliating—is perennially fertile ground for middle-grade fiction. Holmes shows us where it comes from and where it can take us if we let it. (Fiction. 8-12)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-7613-8085-6

Page Count: 248

Publisher: Carolrhoda

Review Posted Online: Aug. 14, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2012

Categories:

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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LAUGH WITH THE MOON

by Shana Burg ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Ultimately, Burg’s lyrical prose will make readers think about the common ground among peoples, despite inevitable...

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Melding the colors of heartache and loss with painterly strokes, Burg creates a vivid work of art about a girl grieving for her recently deceased mother against a Third World backdrop.

Clare is not speaking to her father. She has vowed never to speak to him again. Which could be tough, since the pair just touched down in Malawi. There, Clare finds herself struck by the contrast between American wealth and the relatively bare-bones existence of her new friends. Drowning in mourning and enraged at the emptiness of grief, Clare is a hurricane of early-adolescent emotions. Her anger toward her father crackles like lightning in the treetops. She finds purpose, though, in teaching English to the younger children, which leads her out of grief. Burg’s imagery shimmers. “The girl talks to her mother in a language that sounds like fireworks, full of bursts and pops. She holds her hand over her mouth giggling.... She probably has so many minutes with her mother, she can’t even count them.” Her realization of the setting and appreciation for the Malawian people are so successful that they compensate for Clare's wallowing, which sometimes feels contrived.

Ultimately, Burg’s lyrical prose will make readers think about the common ground among peoples, despite inevitable disparities. (Fiction. 9-12)

Pub Date: June 12, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-385-73471-4

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: March 20, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012

Categories:

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FAMILY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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ADVENTURE AT SIMBA HILL

From the Kari and Lucas Mysteries series , Vol. 3

by Susan Runholt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 3, 2011

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Kari and Lucas, two teens who’ve combined their expertise to solve mysteries in previous adventures (Rescuing Seneca Crane, 2009, etc.), are headed this time to Simba Hill in Kenya with Uncle Geoff, an archaeologist. The girls have completely different talents: Lucas is blessed with a photographic memory, and Kari is strong on intuition and people skills. Even before arriving at their luxurious bush accommodations, they hear of artifacts remarkably like the discoveries at Simba Hill having been smuggled into England. Neither seeing exotic animals in their natural habitat nor exposure to Kenyan locals, notably the Maasai and Kikuyu peoples, distracts these two, who are determined to once again find the clues that elude others. Danger from the human malefactors is augmented by threats from lions, hippos, spiders and snakes. Lighthearted and yet mostly based on logic, this outing allows readers to get a taste of Africa’s pleasures—albeit Hollywood-flavored, similar to those experienced by the average wealthy tourist. The cast of suspects and rapidly made friends keeps the mood frothy and the sinister actions nicely removed. (Mystery. 8-12)