HOW TO BE NORMAL

In this award-winning Australian import, a 17-year-old from a repressive family enters high school and starts to see that her father might be more than just “strict.”

Astrid desperately longs for “a normal life.” But her father, claiming that capitalism undermines the family unit, bans processed foods and doesn’t allow Astrid and her mother to have mobile phones. Astrid was home-schooled by her mom in their pristine, supposedly idyllic home, but when her father’s unemployment leads to her mom’s going out to work, Astrid enters high school and gets a thrilling taste of teenage life. Her new friend Cathy encourages her to share her musical talents, and her crush, Leila, helps Astrid recognize her own queerness. But Astrid’s escalating integration into the outside world can’t remain secret from her dad, whom she comes to see is abusive. Now Astrid must decide how to escape. In her debut, Crawford handles sensitive issues deftly, capturing Astrid’s delicate balance between self-awareness and naïveté, although her nonbinary brother, Nick, provides some clunky explanations of LGBTQ+ issues. Astrid’s constant anxiety and self-scrutiny often make for a palpably distressing read, leavened by the moments of teen giddiness that shine through. Up-to-the-minute social media and cultural references paired with witty, believable teen dialogue make the setting feel current and lived in. Astrid’s family presents white, and the supporting cast is ethnically diverse.

A harrowing and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery, surviving emotional abuse, and coming of age in a complex world.