Define "Normal" [NOOK Book]

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Overview

This thoughtful, wry story is about two girls—a "punk" and a "priss"—who find themselves facing each other in a peer-counseling program and discover that they have some surprising things in common. A new reading-group guide written by the author is included in the back of this paperback edition.

When she agrees to meet with Jasmine as a peer counselor at their middle school, Antonia never dreams that this girl with the black lipstick and pierced eyebrow will end up helping her deal with the serious problems she faces at home and become a good friend.

... See more details below

Overview

This thoughtful, wry story is about two girls—a "punk" and a "priss"—who find themselves facing each other in a peer-counseling program and discover that they have some surprising things in common. A new reading-group guide written by the author is included in the back of this paperback edition.

When she agrees to meet with Jasmine as a peer counselor at their middle school, Antonia never dreams that this girl with the black lipstick and pierced eyebrow will end up helping her deal with the serious problems she faces at home and become a good friend.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
In this middle-school drama, two seeming opposites become friends and discover they are not such opposites after all. Peters (How Do You Spell G-E-E-K?) does little to update this well-trod theme, and while there are touching moments in her book, it's generally bland. Nerdy Antonia is assigned to peer-counsel Jazz, whom Antonia assumes is "hopeless. A punker. A druggie. A gang hanger." After a few agonizing sessions, Antonia begins to realize how much she needs someone to talk to. Her dad has split (as readers learn midway through), her mom's so depressed she can't get out of bed and Antonia's overwhelmed with responsibility and pain. Not only does Jazz literally intervene to get her family back on the road to recovery, but by offering her friendship, Antonia learns to depend on someone besides herself. In turn, she helps Jazz learn to talk to her parents and to compromise on arguments without compromising herself. They both learn that judging people by their outside appearance can be misleading. Occasionally, Peters captures a feeling perfectly, like Antonia's loneliness. "That's how I feel, I thought. Like a star...," she says, looking at the sky. "Distant. Detached. Blinking. On-off. On-off." Mostly, though, the exposition depends more on telling than showing. Ages 8-12. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
VOYA
At first glance, Antonia and Jazz could not be more different. Antonia follows the rules, studies hard, and struggles to keep her family together. Jazz is outspoken, pierced, and punk. Assigned to work with each other in peer counseling sessions, neither girl is thrilled with the prospect. During their sessions, Antonia learns more about Jazz's rebellious streak against her controlling mother while Jazz realizes that Antonia's mother is slipping into a deep depression. This process of discovery allows the girls to become friends, as each secretly is fascinated by the other's life. Jazz helps Antonia to accept assistance from adults when her mother finally needs to be hospitalized. When Jazz gives up playing the piano, something she loves dearly, to spite her mother, Antonia guides her in deciding what is important. Peters develops clear themes herelook beneath the surface for the real person, appearances may not reflect reality, and everyone has difficulties. Both Antonia and Jazz are welldeveloped protagonists with sympathetic supporting characters. The ending is a hopeful one in which the young women learn to accept and help each other. Readers who are looking for believable characters and a good story about friendship, being different, and growing wiser will appreciate Define "Normal". VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2000, Little Brown, Ages 12 to 15, 208p, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Sasges
Children's Literature
When Straight 'A' student Antonia Dillon agreed to become a peer counselor at Oberon Middle School, she expected to assist fellow students with their usual problems--boy trouble, school, parents, more boy trouble. Antonia certainly didn't expect to be stuck counseling Jasmine "Jazz" Luther, a girl with a reputation as a punker, druggie, and gang-banger. It's not as if Antonia didn't have enough to worry about in her own home, what with an absent father, two younger brothers, and a mother who stays in bed for most of each day, too depressed to venture outdoors. Against all odds, Antonia and Jazz strike up an improbable friendship. Antonia is amazed to learn that Jazz lives in a mansion and has a passion for playing classical piano. When Antonia's mother breaks down completely and her family is on the verge of being shattered, roles are reversed and it is Jazz who acts as counselor to Antonia. Toward the end of this fast and highly readable novel, both girls are on the brink of an enduring friendship, and each has learned a valuable lesson in tolerance. 2000, Little Brown, Ages 10 to 14, $14.95. Reviewer: Christopher Moning
School Library Journal
Gr 7-10-When Antonia is assigned to Jazz as a peer counselor, she figures there is no way she can help this tattooed, pierced, incorrigible girl. They are complete opposites. Antonia is a straight-A student whose parents are divorced and she is struggling to keep what's left of her family together as her mother battles depression. Jazz's family is wealthy and seemingly perfect. As they continue through the 15 hours of peer counseling, it becomes clear that both girls have issues they need to work through. They go from wary classmates to friends who support and help one another. As Antonia's mother is hospitalized for her depression, Jazz battles her own mother's need to control by quitting the one thing she loves most-playing classical piano. Both girls deal with their losses by finding new ways to look at their problems and to resume life as "normally" as possible. This believable book is well written and readers will feel that they know both Jazz and Antonia, and they will want to see them triumph over the frustrations in their lives.-Kimberly A. Ault, Lewisburg Area High School, PA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780316046404
  • Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
  • Publication date: 11/16/2008
  • Sold by: Hachette Digital, Inc.
  • Format: eBook
  • Sales rank: 85,741
  • File size: 211 KB

Meet the Author

Julie Anne Peters is the critically acclaimed author of Keeping You a Secret, Between Mom and Jo, Far from Xanadu, and Luna, a National Book Award Finalist.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 165 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(117)

4 Star

(31)

3 Star

(8)

2 Star

(4)

1 Star

(5)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 69 Customer Reviews
  • Posted April 28, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    What IS noRMal???????

    I ReAd IT in 6th Grade And Fell in LovE WiTh IT!!!!!!!!!!! The StTORY LinE Was GreAt And it SuckEd ME in FRoM BEGGinIg To EnD!!! IT did HAvE A Few Parts That DraggEd oN, BUt fOR ThE MoSt PARt IT was An amazing Read tHat i sTill RememBer... IT Shows you that people Aren't Always WHat thEy seem and everyone has their own struggles that they have to deal with... It keeps you thinkingfrom beggining to end...

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 6, 2011

    Loved

    You find a friend in the strangest

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 26, 2011

    I love this

    This book is so amazing. I cant even put it down

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted March 13, 2012

    Stop Judging

    This shows you everybody haves problems nobody is different from each other. This will help people understand other people in way not by the way the dress. Or by the way the act.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2012

    Define normal

    I have had a horrible life and i mean horrible people make fun of me and now they dont as ive asked them many times but they cannot define normal not only that but i have been so hurt by what the people have said about me i had to do consuling not peer consuling though and my counsler gave me this book and now im more happy 87% thanks for helping me and the people at my school see its impossible to define normal and truly nobody is normal!:)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 26, 2011

    Wow

    This book is an amazing book its weird diffrent and very interesting i love it and will recomand it to anyone

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted March 26, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Normal a relitive concept

    A story of two girls journey's where they discover that the appearences of someone who may look and behave compleatly oppisite form another may not be as diffrent as you think; and a second look at thier story may reveal they are not that much diffrent from you.

    A riviting story that takes one throug the difficult life of understanding what is normal and where one fits in.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 22, 2008

    I Also Recommend:

    define"normal"

    this book was awsome.if you want to read how a "punk" and a "priss" become the best of friends then read this book.if you like drama in familys this is the book for you.if you feel that everyone thinks your mom is the best mom ever but you think diffrently read this book.finally if you found out the most weird looking person you have ever met is a perfect musician at a type of music you didnt even think they ever heard of READ THIS BOOK !!!!!!!!!!!!!
    If the rating for this book was 1-50 stars i would give it a million and 50 stars.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted January 29, 2008

    A MUST Read Book

    This book shows people that even though you see someone one way, that may not be who they really are. Though, yes jazz is a 'punk' with percings and dyed hair and black lipstick, and of course 'tone' or Antonia is a straight A's kind of girl with her future set out ahead of her we see that maybe it's the 'normal' people who have more problems than the people who stand out in a crowd. You can NEVER judge a book by it's cover, Not even THIS book!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2007

    READ THIS BOOK!

    I had to read this book for reading class in 8th grade and I absolutely loved it! If you get a chance read this book!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2006

    I Loved it!

    In my opinion this is a very interesting book. Normaly you expect to have 'perfect' people characterizasing a 'perfect book', but this time looks like 2 random girls meet.Jazz and Antonia's experiences made my remember what as a teenager we have to learn. This book really got into the issues a teenager can go through and shows the importance of a friend when you only have you self. This 2 girls made the perfect way to express that differences no matter when you are learning to live and deal with your own destiny. Friendship is more than the differences everyone has while Tolerance is what you use when there's nothing else to support you. The mix of this 2 themes really got me and well one of the best books i've ever read. From a sincere author like Julie Anne Peters, like i never imagined. DEFINE 'normal' one of the books i would love to have.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted September 27, 2006

    awseum

    this book blew me away, it captured how teens really feel about different things and it just i cant even explain how GREAT this book was

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2006

    Something everyone needs to know

    I love the idea of this book. There's no such thing as normal, really. Everyone has struggles and needs someone to lean on. Antonia and Jazz are both awesome characters and it's nice to see how they end up.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted March 4, 2006

    «Define Normal is a never ending story.»

    This has to be the best book ever if we were giving it stars then it would get five. I think that Julie Anne Peters is one of the brilliants authors ever. She binds a fictional story that almost every one can relate to in one way or another. I think that I would probably relate to Jazz Luther because of how she doesn¿t care what people think of her. Antonia is more embarrassed about how she looks even if it¿s poor most of the time. She is about15 or 16 and she has to take care of every thing I don¿t think that this is fair and I don¿t like it much but it complements the story. While Jazz is probably my favorite she can still be annoying. I would recommend this book to all teen or adult teen girl simply because they can relate to it and they would truly understand the context.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted April 25, 2005

    This is awesome

    I really liked this book. This book helped me realize that there really is no such thing as normal because what one person may consider normal may not be normal to another!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 20, 2004

    incredible read!

    Reading this book will rethink your judgement of everything around you. Although it isn't exactly a hard high school read, it was a heart wrenching book that questions your definition of normal. It will change your out look on judging people forever!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 1, 2004

    PIZZAZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This book is awsome! I loved it. It has a great plot and characters that I can relate to since they are my age. Julie Anne Peters is a great author!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted September 18, 2004

    This book is awesome!

    This is a great book. It shows how two opposites become best buds.This is the kind of book that no matter what genre you like, you'll love it. I recomend it for kids only over 12, though.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted April 16, 2004

    No such thing as Normal.

    Antonia, 14, participates in math club along with taking care of her brothers and sister when their mother is ill. She does well in school with straight A's. When the guidence councler asks her to help another student in a session called Peer Counsling she agree. Her peer would be Jazz, a punky gang hanger. Soon they realize that their lives will change with the help of eachother.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 25, 2004

    Amazing

    i think that this book brings a realism to all middle school highschool sterotype. No 1 is perfect and there is no real definition 4 normal i would also like to agree with someone that this would be the best movie ever.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 69 Customer Reviews

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