I started reading this book out-of-the-blue, an I-ain’t-doing-nothing read; I had not even read the blurb. And…
Imagine my surprise when I found out it was more than the usual do-I-fit-in, am-I-normal, does-he-love-me, teenage-girl-angst filled book. Feminism, friendship, mental health and boy drama all intertwined in this book to form a page-turner worth losing sleep over (I do read into the wee hours of the morning and I know I should not, but… bite me).
The story – and here comes some spoilers, be alerted – shows sixteen years-old Evie who suffers from severe OCD, and her fight to be what she sees as “normal”. I only knew of OCD from the few glee episodes I watched, but this book is a real eye-opener on how sometimes we tend to banalize serious mental illnesses, e.g. I once – or twice – said I had ocd, reading this book, it was kinda of a well-deserved awakening slap on the face).
I felt very sympathetic to Evie and her family. The author did a good job of describing those raw feelings, the pain on her mother’s farce, the fear/confusion in the sister’s eyes and the disappointment in her father’s look. I know from experience how devastating it can be, relationships between the “not so normal” person and the rest of the family.
Anyway, she navigates through everyday life and activities, managing OCD, two new friends at a new college, and juggling love/boy drama.
The boy drama is very coherent with the protagonist’s age, nothing major or very new for the genre; but I loved how the author managed to turn teenage dialogues about feminism into something fun and educative, and I could clearly see, three young bright girls forming a Spinster Club and actually discussing feminism amid the boy talk. Am I Normal Yet? is first young-adult I read that highlights feminist concepts. Really, I am making my younger sister read it.
Now, those last chapters, I was heartbroken she had to go back to the psych clinic, and back on the meds, even if I knew it was coming… and I wanted Bourne to have dedicated a chapter for the big reveal (she explaining her condition to her friends), but at least we know they were supportive and sweet.
Oh, that epilogue! I really, really wanted Bourne to have written more about Oli, he was so cute. Maybe in the future she could write about him and his struggles with agoraphobia; it does not come to mind any books with boy protagonists and mental health issues that I have read or heard about.
Ops, there is “It’s kind of a funny story” by Ned Vizzini, but I haven’t read it yet, and it clearly says suicidal on the blurb. I am kinda running away from that for now, even if I know the character is gonna be okay.
Closing this review, I recommend the book (very much)! Also, just so you know, English prepositions and I have a very strained relationship. Don’t judge my writing based on them (haha).
