The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson, new for 2015, is the YA novel that EVERYONE will be talking about this year.
Beautifully written, and sensitively portrayed Williamson tackles notions of identity and sexuality head on with warmth and humour. Oh, and then there’s that ending too …!
Williamson’s debut is a sensitive, warm and uplifting portrayal of two young men struggling to find themselves, and the freedom to be themselves.
Switching between first person narratives of Leo Denton and David Piper, Williamson brings these two teenager characters together at Eden Park School.
David has always felt a little different to the others in his school. David’s parents have come to the conclusion that their son is gay, however they are unaware that David just does not identify as a boy. He is a girl stuck in a boy’s body. David needs to find a way to tell them.
Leo used to be known as Megan. Several steps ahead of David, he is firmly on the path to establishing himself in the correct gender. The appearance of Leo at the same school, and in the same year group is certainly a fortunate coincidence, but it works thanks to Williamson’s carefully plotted story line.
Constant unwanted attention from the school bully, Harry, is a key issue for David. A particularly painful bullying scene in the school canteen will have your heart pounding. On the plus side it is the moment that brings David and Leo together in a supportive friendship.
Williamson allows David’s anxiety over his body to gradually emerge in a sensitive manner. His anxiety over it becoming more and more male, despite everything inside his head screaming that it should be otherwise, is touching and well drawn.
‘how it feels to look in the mirror and realise my inside and outside don’t match up; that they don’t even come close.’
Keenly observed details from both Leo and David are the source of some great lines of humour, as are the interactions with their friends Felix and Essie.
Williamson has packed a lot into this novel – school parties, trips and a search for a missing father are combined with the dreaded school politics and cliques. All are played out with alternating tones of sensitivity and perfectly timed humour.
The sweet Hollywood movie style ending was unexpected, yet, balances perfectly with the strong content of the novel demonstrating Williamson’s ability to integrate humour and lightness, with understanding and respect.
The Art of Being Normal will open your eyes and your mind. It will have you punching the air with joy at the ending. I LOVE a novel that can achieve that!
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