Synopses & Reviews
Given the chance, fifteen-year-old Peregrine "Perry" Eckert would dedicate every waking moment to Creatures & Caverns, an epic role-playing game rich with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. The world of C&C is where he feels most comfortable in his own skin. But that isn't happening—not if his parents have anything to do with it. Concerned their son lacks social skills, they ship him off to summer camp. Perry knows he's in for the worst summer of his life.
Everything changes, however, when Perry gets to camp and stumbles into the World of the Other Normals. There he meets Mortin Enaw, one of the creators of C&C, and other mythical creatures from the game. Perry's new otherworldly friends need his help to save their princess and prevent mass violence. As they embark on their quest together, Perry realizes that his nerdy childhood has uniquely prepared him to be a great warrior in this world, and maybe even a hero. But to save the princess, Perry will have to learn how to make real connections in the human world as well.
Review
“With a deft sense of humor and a keen ear for funny and realistic teen dialogue, Vizzini explores one teen everymans quest to become a hero, one roll of the six-sided die at a time …. Great geeky fun.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“[A] lighthearted yet bitingly funny fantasy … Through the protagonists incisive observations, rampant insecurities, and unapologetic embrace of nerd-culture, Vizzini depicts the teen male experience with authenticity and honesty.” The Horn Book
Review
“Perry is lovably awkward, and his goofy eagerness is offset by his bitingly funny observations…. Vizzinis true strength is in authentically depicting the skills needed to survive growing up.” ALA Booklist
Review
“THE OTHER NORMALS is wildly imaginative, incredibly funny, and weirdly wise. I dont know where Vizzini gets this stuff its like hes tapped into the collective unconscious of alienated adolescents everywhere.” Lev Grossman, New York Times bestselling author of THE MAGICIAN and THE MAGICIAN KING
Review
“Vizzini has created a likable geek in Perry and an interesting alternate world that could easily be the setting for more adventures. This book will be enjoyed by readers open to something that straddles the line between fantasy and science fiction.” School Librar y Journal
Review
“A fast-paced coming-of-age story with a fascinating premise which, to the great credit of the author, is seamless and strangely believable.” R.A. Salvatore, New York Times Bestselling author of CHARON'S CLAW and The Dark Elf Trilogy
Review
Praise for ITS KIND OF A FUNNY STORY: “This book offers hope in a package that readers will find enticing, and thats the gift it offers.” Booklist (starred review)
Review
Praise for ITS KIND OF A FUNNY STORY: “A well-paced narrative...filled with humor and pathos.” School Library Journal
Synopsis
From Ned Vizzini, the best-selling author of It's Kind of a Funny Story and the co-author of the New York Times bestseller House of Secrets, comes this geektastic tale about role-playing and growing up. The Other Normals is a story from one of the most brilliant voices in teen literature about the winding and often hilarious path to manhood.
Given the chance, fifteen-year-old Peregrine "Perry" Eckert would dedicate every waking moment to Creatures & Caverns, a role-playing game with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. The world of C&C is where he feels most comfortable in his own skin. But that isn't happening--not if his parents have anything to do with it. Concerned their son lacks social skills, they ship him off to summer camp.
Perry is bracing himself for the worst summer of his life. Everything changes, however, when Perry gets to camp and stumbles into the World of the Other Normals. There he meets Mortin Enaw, one of the creators of C&C, and mythical creatures from the game. Perry's new otherworldly friends need his help to save their princess and prevent mass violence. As they embark on their quest together, Perry realizes that his nerdy childhood has uniquely prepared him to be a great warrior in this world, and maybe even a hero. But to save the princess, Perry will have to learn how to make real connections in the human world as well.
About the Author
Ned Vizzini (1981-2013) began writing for the New York Press at the age of fifteen. At nineteen, he published Teen Angst? Naaah . . . , his autobiography of his years at Stuyvesant High School. His debut teen novel, Be More Chill, was named a Best Book of the Year by Entertainment Weekly and selected for the Today Show Book Club by Judy Blume. Its Kind of a Funny Story, a cult classic, was adapted into a feature film and was named one of the 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels by National Public Radio. The Other Normals, his third novel, was a Junior Library Guild selection. He also wrote for television, including MTVs hit show Teen Wolf. His books have been translated into twenty-five languages.