Charles has an all-consuming problem - being one of five kids in a very odd family living in a town called Normal, Illinois. Everything about his family seems different: their homemade clothes, their bargain-basement shopping, their being too poor to even be able to own their own house. And Charles's oddity seems to be a greater-than-normal ability to tune into other people's opinions about his family and STRESS about it all to an impressive extent. Charles's worst fears come true when his sister's campaign for school president comes to a humiliating halt when her posters are defaced by mean kids, and his family reacts to the situation by packing up, moving out of Normal, and buying a houseboat sight-unseen!
Even though the story is written in Charles's (very-worried) voice, this book is anything but stressful to read. Charles writes about his family in a very easy and humorous manner, and the reader can identify with many of the situations he lives through. I found myself wanting to be able to drop in and visit with Charles, his siblings, parents, and their two pet rabbits. It is ultimately a very touching story, and I can't wait to read the sequel "Far from Normal."
I'd rate this fiction book 4.5 out of 5 stars!
No comments:
Post a Comment