When Leo comes out to him, David is envious that Leo’s mother supports him, yet Leo wishes he could tell David that it’s not that simple. He has parents who love him, a little sister who’s only a slight pain, and a dog. They live in a pretty run-down house in a lower-class neighborhood. Meanwhile, David isn’t out as transgender, yet for the most part his home life is pretty comfortable. His mother is often out with her boyfriend–who Leo resents–leaving him and his sister, Amber, to take care of their little sister, Tia. It’s revealed later on in the novel that Leo is transgender, and while his mother allowed him to be who he wanted to be, his home life isn’t great.
What I especially thought was interesting about the difference in David’s and Leo’s perspectives is how you expect that when someone gets to the point where they’re openly transgender, their life will suddenly be a happy ending… when that isn’t always the case. The story has humor but also contains moments that are incredibly poignant and shed light on very real situations, from one’s home life to bullying at school to struggles that many transgender teens go through, whether it’s the fear of disclosing their identity to others or being afraid to take that first step and show their true self beyond closed doors. The characters are so real and engaging and full of depth. There’s so much that I loved about this book.
What I loved about The Art of Being Normal… Then Leo meets Alicia, and while he find he’s falling hard for her, a part of him is afraid of getting too close… But Leo wants more than anything forget about what happened last February… Along with this, his home life is less than perfect, having a strained relationship with his mother–who never seems to be around to take care of her kids–and desperate to hunt down his biological father.
On his first day, Leo is known as that kid who got kicked out of his last school. All the while, David tries to get up the courage to finally tell his parents the truth. He has a scrapbook filled with mementos and memorabilia–from photos to articles–as inspiration for who he truly wants to be.
Every day, he records the progression of his physical attributes–height, weight, chest, Adam’s apple, penis size–as the threat of puberty looms closer. The Art of Being Normal, Lisa Williamson’s debut novel, is a story of two boys, whose lives intertwine and who both have one thing in common…ĭavid has a secret, and apart from his two best friends, he’s never told anyone: ever since he can remember, David’s one wish has been to be a girl.
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