Define "Normal"

Define "Normal" is a must read for teens - for anyone!

The main characters are two teenage girls - Jasmine (or Jazz) and Antonia. Jazz is known to the school as a punk. She has piercings, tattoos and dyed hair; yet she has many friends just like her. Antonia is quite the opposite. She's known as the smart girl - the quiet one. And virtually friendless.

The story is centered around their meetings in school for peer counseling. During the first few meetings neither of the girls want to be there. Their feelings towards each other are dislike. They were polar opposites and Jazz does everything in her power to make it worse. After a disastrous first meeting, Antonia goes home to do her school work, yet can't. She has to take care of her two little brothers since her mother is ill.

The next session is pretty much a repeat of the last. Antonia refused to go back because Jazz isn't even trying. After remembering her commitment she made when joining the peer counseling, Antonia goes back. As the days, and counseling, go on, the girls begin to know each other a little more. Antonia begins to tell Jazz about her brothers, and a friend's sister's death. To calm her down, Jazz gives her a back rub and begins to talk a bit more about herself. After a while, Antonia actually looks forward to meeting with Jazz. It takes her mind off the other problems in her life.

When Antonia confesses she never learned to swim, Jazz invites her over to her house - to teach her to swim - because she has an indoor pool. The next day when Antonia arrives at the Luther mansion, she realizes the reason Jazz tries so hard to be different. Her family constantly pester her about why she can't be "normal" like other girls. Antonia learns another thing about Jazz. She's forced to take piano lessons. Antonia is surprised to find out Jazz comes from such a high class family. To most, the readers most likely assumed Jazz comes from a family without money by the way she acts. As the story progresses, things pop up in Antonia's life that make things even worse. Jazz beings to act as if Antonia doesn't even exist in school around her friends.

I don't want to go any further in the story for fear I may give away the ending. I will say though, it's not what is expected. This book is a good example of how one can never judge another by their appearance. After reading this 196 page novel, you'll come to find yourself asking the question, "What is normal?"

This book is one of my personal favorites.