Pages: 368 Hardcover
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Release Date: January 1st 2015
Buy it From: Amazon - Amazon UK - Waterstones
Synopsis:
Two boys. Two secrets.
David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl.
On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year eleven is definitely not part of that plan.
When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long…
My Review:
This story follows David and Leo as they form an unlikely friendship
after Leo transfers to Eden Park School. David was a girl born inside a boy’s
body, and the only two people who know about it are his two best friends. He
wants to tell his parents but doesn’t know how to. He assumes that they think
he is is gay, and have been waiting for him to tell them so, but he doesn’t know
how to explain to them that he’s not gay. He’s actually a straight girl.
When the school’s bully gets hold of the notebook David uses
to write about the changes happening to his body, Leo steps in to help. When
the pair end up in detention together, they slowly start to get to know each
other more.
Heart-warming, witty, and full of brilliant characters, I completely
fell in love with The Art of Being Normal.
The characters and events throughout the story are believable and beautifully
written. Both protagonists had their own individual voice and personality, and
the scenes between them were wonderful to read.
The character progression of both Leo and David was
perfectly executed. I loved watching them grow throughout each chapter. This isn’t just a book about transgender issues; it’s about watching these characters
develop and overcome their own personal problems and doubts.
I’m glad that David had his best friends, Essie and Felix,
throughout the story. They were incredibly supportive of him, and it was good
for him to have people to share everything with. Leo, on the other hand, is reserved
to begin with and doesn’t have any desire to find close friends, so it was
great seeing him slowly open up to David and finally learn that friendship isn’t
a bad thing.
Leo’s story was fantastically written. Williamson has a
great way of conveying the emotions that run through the minds of the
characters and I feel she did this exceptionally well with Leo. When we finally
find out what event happened in Leo’s past for him to have to move schools, I had
to fight back the tears. It broke my heart, but it was so important to read.
There is a lot I would like to say about different parts of
this book, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone! Just know that it now
owns a little piece of my heart. As well as showing readers a glimpse at the struggles
these characters have to face, this story is also packed with humour, hope, and
beautiful moments that will stay with us long after the last page.
It’s also a fantastic example of good UKYA, and I can’t wait
to see what else Lisa Williamson has in store. There was a lot of buzz online about
this book before I read it, and now I see why. It’s a story that does live up
to the hype. I’m excited to see more and more readers pick it up and fall in
love with the characters as I did.
*I used male pronouns in regards to David in this review
because they are used within the book.*
Royal Rating:
