Waiting for Normal [9780060890889]

Overview

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)

What does it take to build a life for yourself when the person who’s supposed to care for you can’t?

• A Mother with Bipolar Disorder: Addie learns to navigate her mother’s "all-or-nothing" world of food fiestas and empty pantries, loving her while craving the stability she can’t provide.
• Found Family: When her own home feels lost, Addie finds unexpected friendship and support from the quirky, kind-hearted neighbors at the corner minimart.
• Heartbreaking and Heartwarming: A deeply moving story for kids that honestly portrays the challenges of having a parent with mental illness, without ever losing its sense of hope.
• Finding Home: From a trailer under an overpass to her grandfather’s farm, Addie’s journey is a powerful search for the one place she truly belongs—with her half-sisters and the stepfather who never stops being her dad.