ABSOLUTELY NORMAL CHAOS

Creech, Sharon

ISBN 10: 0780770242 ISBN 13: 9780780770249

Publisher: Perfection Learning, 1997

Synopsis

A prequel to the 1995 Newbery Medal winner "Walk Two Moons," "Absolutely Normal Chaos" proves that Sharon Creech is not the kind of author you meet once and forget -- she writes with a memorable voice that speaks directly to the thoughts and feelings of her readers. "Absolutely Normal Chaos" chronicles the daily life of 13-year-old Mary Lou Finney during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever.

Sharon Creech fans will recognize Mary Lou Finney and her infamous summer journal from their appearance in "Walk Two Moons."

Mary Lou's journal opens with a plea, " Here it is: my summer journal . . But please PLEEEASSSE DON'T READ IT!"

What begins grudgingly as a dreaded assignment for school becomes a hilarious chronicle of the circle of people and events that make her summer. There is Carl Ray, the mysterious and troublesome cousin that comes to visit; Beth Ann Bartels, the best friend who's recently gone boy crazy; Alex Cheevy, the boy that makes Mary Lou's brains " mushy" and, of course, the Finney clan, her " normally strange family." What follows is a story of a summer filled with lessons and observations on love, death, friendship and family.

About this title

Review:

Absolutely Normal Chaos is one of Sharon Creech's four novels for children, including the prizewinning Walk Two Moons (1995 Children's Book Award and W H Smith Mind Boggling Books Award1996). Creech's hallmark is a funny, poignant, involving narrative which leaves the reader guessing and at the same time savouring delights along the road. Absolutely Normal Chaos takes the form of daily journal entries by the delightful Ohio 13-year-old, Mary Lou Finney. Things seem ordinary enough until her gangly 17-year-old cousin, Carl Ray from West Virginia, comes to stay. Before she knows it, their next door neighbour has died, Carl Ray has inherited large sums of money and she finds herself falling in love for the first time. And then, as though that wasn't enough, Carl Ray nearly dies in a car accident. The learning curve for Mary Lou is as steep as the enjoyment curve for the reader who could be anyone between the ages of 12 and 16. --Tamsin Palmer

Review:

"By turning sarcastic, tender, and irreverent, this is a real piece of contemporary teen life from one funny writer. [It] will quickly make its way into the hands of readers who loved WALK TWO MOONS."Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Perfection Learning
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0780770242
• ISBN 13: 9780780770249
• Binding: Library Binding