Synopses & Reviews
Addie is waiting for normal.
But Addie's mom has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, jubilation or gloom, her way or no way.
All or nothing never adds up to normal.
All or nothing can't bring you all to home, which is exactly where Addie longs to be, with her half sisters, every day.
In spite of life's twists and turns, Addie remains optimistic. Someday, maybe, she'll find normal.
Leslie Connor has created an inspiring novel about one girl's giant spirit. waiting for normal is a heartwarming gem.
Review
*“This book persuades that good people and delighful possibilities are all around, even in the most unpromising circumstances.” KLIATT
Review
“A heroine with spunk and spirit offers an inspiring lesson in perseverance and hope. First-rate.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Review
“[Leslie] Connor treats the subject of child neglect with honesty and grace in this poignant story. Characters as persuasively optimistic as Addie are rare, and readers will gravitate to her.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Review
“A story centered around loss, heartbreak, abandonment, and new beginnings.” School Library Journal (starred review)
Review
“Connor convincingly portrays Addies beyond-her-years resourcefulness and the opposing feelings that drive her to protect the life she has while longing to be a permanent part of the ‘normal home her sisters occupy with her stepfather.” The Horn Book
Synopsis
School Library Journal Best Book * ALA Notable Children's Book * New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best * Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice * Connecticut Book Award Winner * American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award Winner
This poignant and joyful novel is filled with meaningful moments and emotional resonance.
Addie is waiting for normal. But Addie's mother has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, her way or no way.
Addie's mother is bipolar, and she often neglects Addie. All-or-nothing never adds up to normal, and it can't bring Addie home, where she wants to be with her half-sisters and her stepfather. But Addie never stops hoping that one day, maybe, she'll find normal.
"A heroine with spunk and spirit offers an inspiring lesson in perseverance and hope. First-rate." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
About the Author
Leslie Connor has her own memories of the energy crunch of the seventies, and she got to thinking: What comes after the long lines at the pumps? What if the earth's supply of gasoline were to finally run out? She tried to imagine what it would look like: "I saw bicycles. And I saw them taking to the highways. I also saw a changing value of goods and services. Then Dewey showed up on my shoulder to tell the story of these kids home alone, trying to keep up with operating a busy bike-repair shop and coping with the unfamiliar condition of suddenly having something everybody else wants." Leslie is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Waiting for Normal, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, and Dead on Town Line, a young-adult novel in verse. She lives with her family in Connecticut.