The Art of Being Normal
The debut novel from an outstanding new voice in YA fiction, that is not only immensely readable and compelling but also deals with a very current issue.
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 11 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.
Reader Reviews
Anonymous
26 November 2021
A good introduction to trans issues but still a very narrow representation. It was written in a way that is smooth and flows but lacks the emotional impact.
David and Leo are great characters but the transphobic tropes presented is a disappointment, e.g the constant misgenedering.
Anonymous
12 March 2024
David longs to be a girl
Leo wants to be invisible
It really shocked me and made my heart warm
When Leo and Alicia were having 53× it really shocked me when Leo says he was born as Megan