The Art of Being Normal

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La novela se lee muy rápido, no tiene una lectura muy fácil porque es densa y la autora nos contextualiza mucho para entender bien qué es la transexualidad. Pero lo hace a la perfección, dejándonos ver cómo evoluciona una persona transexualidad que es consciente de su género. This is not true. Granny has bridge on Wednesday evenings and doesn’t miss it for anyone, especially her least-favorite grandchild. Livvy is Granny’s favorite. But then Livvy is everyone’s favorite. What did you wish for? Something stupid, I bet,” Livvy says, twirling a piece of golden-brown hair around her middle finger. The story was so painfully boring with the typical high school bullies who felt so unrealistic because they used pathetic insults like "freak-show".The dialogue was depressingly boring and failed in giving the characters any depth or personality,I think the worst thing I read was when one character uses the word 'Amazeballs'.Cringe.No one ever says that,it felt like the author was desperately trying to make the story appeal to a younger audience.

I’m also quite interested in the absent-but-accepting parent aspect? I find that really interesting, actually, and would be intrigued if other elements of the book weren’t putting me off. The Ace: Both Zachary Olsen and Alicia Baker are popular, attractive and talented in what they both do, respectively sports and music. This is the end of the spoiler section! What comes next are very minor spoilers that have nothing to do with the plot. 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.The Art of Being Normal was not what I had expected. I would say that this is a good introduction for someone who wants to know more about life as a transgender kid and adolescent. It is a heartfelt novel, for sure, but not a perfect one. Strong Family Resemblance: Leo is pretty much a carbon copy of his Disappeared Dad. Kate also takes after her own father; understandably, she's not happy about it. And just the struggle of being a kid these days…honestly. I sometimes can’t believe how hard it is to grow up nowadays. Never mind growing up being a little different than the other kids in school. I get fiercely protective of those being bullied…reading it makes my stomach tie up in knots and I want to crawl into my Kindle and make it right. Yeah…this book was a bit of a punch in the gut for me. David Piper has really never fit in. Apart from his two best friends, most of his fellow high school students ridicule him for being different. One of the school bullies has called him "Freak Show" since they were younger, but David is willing to wait him out until high school ends. His parents think he is gay, and are waiting for him to tell them.

Anger Born of Worry: Aunt Kerry gives Leo a slap and furiously chews him out when he comes home after having been missing for two days. Open-Minded Parent: Kate says her parents believe themselves to be this, and they are actually very accepting of what they (mistakenly) think their child's big secret is. Bless their hearts, they try their best with all their might to be supportive when Kate's coming out doesn't exactly turn out the way they expected it to.

Curriculum

As his body transforms with puberty, David gets further away from the petite, feminine frame he desires. The rising testosterone in his body elongates his figure and causes his feet to become large and unattractive. Despite Felix’s encouragement that Kate Winslet wears size nine shoes, David obsessively measures himself, distraught at the appearance of stubble on his chin. He wishes he had the curves of his mother. During the moments he is left alone in his house, David dresses up as a girl and uses his mother’s makeup, only to wipe it off and feel uncomfortable in his own skin once more. He reflects on the fact that he has never had a girlfriend or boyfriend, never been kissed, and never even held hands with someone. Understandably, David has some internalized transphobia and says some pretty transphobic things to Leo. (I can't remember any specifics because I have lent the book to a friend, but I remember this.) And Leo also says some transphobic things to David, which was odd, as he's trans too? I know that trans people have different experiences and points of view on their gender, but so many things about this book seemed off to me. I'm Chiara, & welcome to Books for a Delicate Eternity! Here you’ll find posts on books, reading, life, art, & things in between (like cats). Tenemos dos protagonistas que parecen muy diferentes y que al final resultan no serlo tanto. Ambos son personjes redondos, que nos sorprenden, nos emocionan y tienen muy buenos giros. David es el personaje más predecible, mientras que Leo guarda toda una sorpresa muy inesperada.

The more I think about it, the less I like this book. However, there were a few moments when I got quite emotional. I hope this book paves the way for more trans YA main characters. Their voices are shamefully underrepresented in literature. That optimism dissolved when it is revealed that one of the MCs is trans*- but only through a scene that revolves around having his genitalia exposed? What?! That doesn't work for me. I also didn't appreciate the transphobic slurs/dialogue the MCs said to each other, as well as using the wrong pronouns. Add onto that the fact that it was stated multiple times that "David wants to be a girl"- WANTS. NO. She already is. Also, neither character is gay so why is the pride flag on the cover? Whatever happened to the trans* flag? Pero, sobre todo, me ha gustado que esté dirigido a un público juvenil. He tenido con este libro la misma sensación que tuve en su momento con La lección de August: que debería ser obligatorio, imprescindible. Con el tiempo, La lección de August ha sido lectura obligatoria en muchos colegios, El arte de ser normal debería serlo también.Also, David uses he/him pronouns throughout the whole book which I guess goes with the whole 'wants to be a girl' thing.