Author Elizabeth Holmes Tackles Divorce, Fitting-in, and Autism in New Novel The Normal Kid

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In The Normal Kid—written by Elizabeth Holmes and published by Carolrhoda Books—readers are introduced to Sylvan, a fifth-grade boy who is determined to be normal. He’s just been through a long stretch of acting out, after his parents divorce, and now that things are better, he just wants to blend in—which isn’t easy when your mom is a sign-waving activist who wants you to be part of her political protests.

As a new kid in the same class, Charity wants to make friends and fit in—which isn’t easy when you’ve just arrived in America after spending half your life as a missionary in Africa. There she had plenty of friends, and her pastor father led the community—until one of his projects ended in tragedy and sent the family back to America. Charity’s confidence slips away as she discovers all the rules are different here, and everyone thinks she’s weird.

From the very first day, Sylvan knows he doesn’t want to hang around with kids like Charity—or the oddest member of the class, a nervous boy named Brian who doesn’t say much and obsessively jumps on his trampoline. But then school projects force them to work together. When the school’s principal seems ready to fire their beloved teacher, the class unites to fight back.

With beautiful characterization, The Normal Kid tells the story of three very different kids who have to take a hard look at who they really are to discover what “normal” really means.

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About the Author
Elizabeth Holmes is the author of two middle-grade novels and two books of poetry. She lives in New York with her family who she believes is just about normal.

About the Publisher
Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, creates high-quality fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults. Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independent children’s book publishers with thirteen imprints and divisions.

PUBLICATION DATE:
October 2012
$17.95 Hardcover
$13.95 eBook
Ages 9-18
HC: 978-0-7613-8085-6
EB: 978-1-4677-0261-4
248 Pages● 5 ¼ x 7 ½

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