Define "Normal
This is a book by Julie Anne Peters and is without doubt one of the best young-adult novels that I have ever read. The story concerns two girls; Jazz Luther and Antonia Dillon. Jazz is, in appearance, a punk/goth mix wearing black lipstick, wild hairstyles and color and with an attitude. Antonia, on the other hand, is an almost "perfect" girl, getting excellent grades, doing everything expected of her and a teacher's favorite at her school.
The two girls are teamed in a Peer Counseling session, bringing what appears to be two total opposites into a series of meetings that is supposed to help them solve their "problems." The novel takes a while to get into all the problems both girls face, but they are very, very different and very, very difficult on them. That either girl was able to continue functioning in school is a testimony to their inner strengths.
There's also a lot in the novel about how people are judged based on their physical appearance, with Jazz appearing to be the druggie/troublemaker type of person and Antonia the nerdy/goody-goody type of person. The novel does an excellent job in showing how judging people just by their looks is not only wrong, but cheats a person out of appreciating the qualities that each person has. Those qualities may be hidden behind physical looks, clothing or a seemingly obnoxious attitude, but the qualities are very probably there and can be wonderful, creative qualities that we would miss if we turn away from the person simply because of how to us physically.
The story also deals with an extremely serious problem, and that is clinical depression. This is something that can very seriously hurt a person's life and the lives of those around them, a condition that is treatable with medications and counseling.
It's also a wonderful story about friendship and how true friendship can survive powerful disagreements and grow even stronger. This is absolutely a must-read young-adult novel.
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