Books › Faking normal
Faking normal
321 pages
A raw and tender journey of two traumatized teenagers who become each other's safe harbor in the aftermath of unspeakable pain.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a quiet, dimly lit room with a friend who finally trusts you enough to tell the truth. It is a steady, emotionally heavy experience that wraps the reader in the suffocating weight of hidden trauma, only to slowly let the light in through the cracks of an unexpected friendship. The prose is accessible and earnest, focusing deeply on the visceral, physical manifestations of anxiety and the exhausting performance of pretending everything is fine. While the subject matter is undeniably dark, grappling with assault, self-harm, and devastating family violence, the overarching atmosphere is one of profound tenderness and resilience. It will deeply resonate with readers who love issue-driven YA contemporaries where broken characters find the courage to heal by leaning on someone who understands their pain.
- Mood
- melancholic
- intimate
- tender
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- raw
- empathetic
- vulnerable
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- healing from trauma · the burden of secrets · unexpected friendship · reclaiming one's voice · shared pain
- The writing
- Emotionally direct and accessible, grounding heavy psychological burdens in visceral, everyday teenage realities.
- The arc
- Begins in suffocating isolation and hidden trauma, slowly opening up into vulnerable connection and the brave reclamation of self.
- Who it's for
- Fans of issue-driven contemporary YA who gravitate toward stories of broken kids finding solace and strength in one another.
Content notes
- sexual assault
- self-harm
- domestic violence
- murder of a parent
- PTSD
About the book
Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.
Hiding the truth about a sexual assault that makes her hide in the closet and compulsively scratch herself to redirect her pain, Alexi befriends Bodie, whose own secret gives Alexi strength. The plot contains profanity, violence, and violence.
Description from Open Library.
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