Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
336 pages
Hardcover
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.
Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.
When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and
awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an
unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As
they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with
his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.
A searing, poignant book, Faking
Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author - Courtney
C. Stevens.
I’ve done my best to remain spoiler free – for that reason,
there’s a bit of vagueness, which I usually try to avoid.
I expected Faking
Normal to be a heavy, serious read, and I honestly wasn’t sure I was in the
mental space to handle it. While the subject matter is very serious, at it’s
core Faking Normal is an uplifting
and inspiring story about what being a friend, and being supportive, really
means. In a novel where grief and trauma dominates, I found Alexi and Bodee’s
slow growth of trust in each other, and the subsequent slow reveal of the
traumas they’ve faced, to be a really powerful thing. I had such a strong
emotional reaction to this novel. The story will stay with me for a longtime.
Faking
Normal has one of the most interesting and heartbreaking opening
chapters I’ve ever read. While we have no idea the depth of trauma Alexi has
face, we are instantly introduced to a big part of the devastation Bodee is
facing.
Even though he initially is a man of very few words, I couldn’t help but adored Bodee from the beginning. He is the quintessential loner, who for reasons outside of his control, and definitely outside of his wishes, becomes the center of attention. With a dry humor, fierce loyalty and a haunting quality, Bodee makes for one heck of an intriguing character. My adoration for Bodee’s strength is one of two reasons this novel will stay with me. If we should all be lucky enough to have a Bodee in our lives, the world would be full of much happier people.
Even though he initially is a man of very few words, I couldn’t help but adored Bodee from the beginning. He is the quintessential loner, who for reasons outside of his control, and definitely outside of his wishes, becomes the center of attention. With a dry humor, fierce loyalty and a haunting quality, Bodee makes for one heck of an intriguing character. My adoration for Bodee’s strength is one of two reasons this novel will stay with me. If we should all be lucky enough to have a Bodee in our lives, the world would be full of much happier people.
In the beginning I was not the biggest fan of Alexi or the
way her story was kept a secret. I found myself impatiently waiting to know
what happened to her, so that I could understand why she was reacting to
situations the way she does. My early judgment of Alexi is the second reason Faking Normal will stay with me. Midway
through the novel, before we fully know Alexi’s story, she tells Bodee that she
doesn’t want to become synonymous with the trauma she experienced, in the same
way Bodee will forever be associated with his trauma. At this point I realized
how I allowed myself to be one of the people who didn’t know the details, yet
made assumptions and judgments based on what they thought they knew. One of the
people Alexi feared. I ultimately had nothing but respect for the extreme
courage and strength of Alexi’s character. The true story of what happened to
her is appalling, and shocking. Her character and her story, started as one I
didn’t understand, but become one I will never forget.
Faking
Normal is a powerful contemporary read. The story is not only perfectly
paced, believable, and beautiful, but the message is poignant. For readers who
appreciate Sarah Dessen-esque slower, but oh so worth the wait reveals, I
cannot suggest Alexi and Bodee’s story more. If this is what Stevens is capable
of in her debut, you can be sure I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
Rating 5/5
*** I received a copy of the novel from the publisher to
read and honestly review. I was in no way compensated.
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