Chasing Normal

by Lisa Papademitriou

Mieka Baker just wants to be normal. It’s tough enough that her mom left a few years ago and that her artist dad decorates the house solely with “treasures” from the “vintage” store ( all their furniture is made out of plastic) but it’s just too much when Mieka and her dad have to leave Boston to go to spend the summer with her sick grandmother in Texas—someone Mieka has never met. Grandma Baker isn’t just brutally honest, she’s brutal. She tells Mieka she’s fat, frumpy, and basically unwanted. It’s all too much to handle, especially when she has to stay with her Aunt Kate’s family. The most normal family ever. Aunt Kate stays at home with the kids (where IS Mieka’s mom anyway?), Uncle Dave wears a suit to work, cousin Mark is a genius and Greta—well, she’s Mieka’s age but that’s where the similarity ends. She’s blond, beautiful, fit, friendly, popular and practically perfect.

But as the summer progresses and Mieka learns a thing or two about herself (hey, she can actually learn to enjoy herself at camp, even if it is Bible camp and she happens to be a bit chubbier than every other camper there) and her family members she realizes that there’s no such thing as normal. That even though she and her dad aren’t a conventional family and aren’t rich and don’t go to church they are incredibly lucky to have each other and to have love. And even the perfect kids seem to be chasing normal too.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2008

Reviews

[Gina]

The book, Chasing Normal is by: Lisa Papademetriou. Chasing normal is a realistic fiction novel that is about Mieka Baker; a girl (main character). The only thing Mieka want’s is to be normal. It is very hard for Mieka at home because her mother left her and her family a few years ago. Her father is an artist. Mieka has never met her grandmother and her dad hasn’t seen her in long time. Mieka’s grandmother is sick so, Mieka and her father leave Boston to spend the summer with her grandmother and cousins in Texas. Grandma Baker instantly shows off her personality when Mieka arrives. She calls Mieka fat. Mieka feels like an outcast having to live with her aunt Kate’s family who is “normal” and all Mieka want’s is to be normal. Great; Mieka’s cousin is, fit, popular, wealthy,blond and Mieka sees her as perfect. She begins to express these feeling in the beginning of the book when she meets her for the first time. Mieka almost describes Greta as a “Goddess”. Mieka pushes herself to go to bible camp with Greta in Texas (even though she isn’t religious). The author also shows that other kids like Greta have issues too and aren’t so “perfect” through things like,body image, friendship, etc. An example of this is, when Greta cries at camp because Greta and her good friend got in a fight. This is very relatable for most teen girls and helps some readers connect. Mieka gains a little bit of confidence from bible camp, and she discovers an artistic talent. Throughout the novel Mieka’s grandmother continues to be mean and when Mieka attempted on doing something nice for her, she gave her a bowl she made at bible camp. This attempt resulted in her grandmother throwing it on the floor and it cracked. This book was hard for me to relate to the main conflict/idea however, I can relate to the conflicts with friends Greta has in the novel because i’ve had similar conflicts with a friend. Throughout the book I noticed the author added small conflicts within the novel which she wrote to help other readers connect and understand some of the characters feelings. One thing the author did that I did not like was, the conflicts and events were kind of sudden and there was one conflict after another. However if you're someone who likes realistic fiction novels that follow the theme: Family and Friendships then, you should definitely read the book, Chasing Normal.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lead character, Mieka, and her father receive a phone call in their tiny apartment in Boston. The call is from Mieka's aunt saying her grandmother is very ill. After some consideration, they fly to Houston for a 3 week period of time to be available to the grandmother. Mieka is thrown into a situation with a cousin who seems perfect and is only 6 months younger than her own 12 years of age. Everything about her family in Houston seems perfect against her own life. Her mother left years before and it's just her and her artist dad who can't afford a lot of the things the family in Houston does. It's all about the new experiences and situations Mieka is exposed to that causes her father to consider moving to Houston. She is perceptive in seeing how her father never laughs in Houston and that helps sway her decision about where she wants to live. I learned from this book how 12 year olds can perceive their environments when placed in new situations like a religious camp, being forced to be around a grandmother who isn't a nice person and how moving into a new situation is not always the right answer in solving living problems.

I can see teaching this book to a classroom of 6-7th graders. There is one scene when periods are discussed, but it's a situation that is very real to girls of this age and it could be an opportunity to have a discussion with boys and girls about puberty. Perhaps after the regular "health" talk and film. There can be discussion about how Mieka handles certain situations and how they could be differently handled by the students. How to treat other people from different economic backgrounds, lessons in manners, family dynamics including divorce, and what to do when you feel like you are different. I really enjoyed this book because it describes the dynamics of girl friendships and can open many discussions about this topic.

[Morgan Anderson]

it was a cool book

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Papademetriou, Lisa Chasing Normal, 193 p. Hyperion, 2008.

Mieka, 12, and her father, have been summoned to the side of Mieka's paternal grandmother, as she seems close to death. Never mind that Mieka and her dad are closer to her maternal grandmother and that Mieka has never even met Grandma Baker in her life. Now she is spending three weeks with her cousins and a surly old woman, and wondering the grass really is greener on this side of the fence.

Three weeks may seem short, but it may be just enough time for Mieka to figure out what it is she wants. All in a nice, neat package that doesn't include one swear word even!

EL - ESSENTIAL, MS - ADVISABLE
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...

[Rylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was 11. They're were certain thoughts and phrases that have stuck with me for the past 10+ years. I couldn't remember the name and had a hard time finding it since I borrowed it from my library. I'm so glad I was able to find it again and experience this story all over again.
Reading this book with adult eyes, I see why this book was so formative and made such an impression on me. As a child I didn't even realize some of the topics that were touched on like food insecurity. It was so gently and simply done. This book has some beautiful writing and very real characters with real problems.
Mieka and her dad will live with me forever

[Laura Hoyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest look at friendships and fitting it- things are not always what they appear to be.

[Sherry Dale Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meika Baker just wants to be normal. Living in her tiny apartment in Massachusetts life seems charming with an eclectic collection of vintage furniture from her Nana’s thrift store. Her artsy dad’s paintings all over the place make life comfy and cozy until a four am call interrupts their simple life.

Mieka and her dad are now headed to Houston Texas to spend the summer (without her mom who up and left to live in California) and see grandma who is too honest for her own good. Grandma is something to behold and everyone is tired of dealing with it.

Mieka just can’t seem to fit in with her Texan relatives who are perfect and …absolutely normal. Aunt Kate stays at home with the kids, Uncle Dave wears a suit to work and has lots of money, Cousin Mark is a genius, and Greta is…everything Mieka is not. She is blond, beautiful, fit, friendly and popular which makes her the most normal teenager -ever.

Mieka has to attend bible camp and deal with her new relatives. Life throws a few curve balls at her along the way and Mieka wonders if she will be chasing normal for the rest of her life.

Lisa Papademetriou (try saying that 3 times fast-cool name) has written or adapted over thirty books for young readers, including Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me; The Wizard the Witch and Two Girls from Jersey; How to be a Girly- Girl in Just Ten Days and New York times bestselling Disney Fairies Novel, Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon.

Lisa lives in Massachusetts with her hubby, daughter, and dog. She plays guitar and dances to 80’s music while drinking large amounts of coffee. Lisa grew up in Houston Texas.

“I love this book, finished it in one night. I love to read about my neck of the woods. Chasing Normal is a great summer read.”

[Elmedina]

I thought that some of the people in this book were kind of mean to the main character Mieka. Her grandma isn't really a real grandma because she isn't supported of her in any way. She calls her names and if i was her i wouldn't respect her at all.

This book is about a girl who is trying to be normal in her family. Her grandma calls her fat, frumpy, not really wanted by her. So then she tries to find out what means to normal to get her grandmothers respect back. So then she tries to be like her cousin becuase her grandma thinks that she is normal. But then she soon realizes that there is not one way to be normal.

My favorite part was when Mieka realizes that there is not one way to be normal. Mieka's grandma has no write in saying that Mieka isn't normal; like that she is fat and not welcomed. At least Mieka realized at camp that she is normal in her own special way after all.

[❤ Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meika doesn't exactly have it all flowers and rainbows. Her mom left when she was young and her dad is a stay at home artist barely making enough to support both of them. When her dad gets the news that Grandma Baker, his mom is in the hospital because of a fatal heart attack that really puts the icing on the cake. Forced to go to Houston for 3 weeks to spend time with their Aunt and Uncle Meika's life seems absolutely crummy. When she get's there she's welcomed by the perfect little family. All dressed up, beautiful and rich, she definitely doesn't feel at home. Dressed in her bowling shirt while they have on elegant dresses isn't exactly "fun." Grandma Baker isn't exactly a thrill either, unless you like being called fat and ugly that is. Watch as Meika opens up and learns to live life being different. Enjoyable and heart warming. Very good read.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

kind of an interesting kid's book. the protagonist thinks she's sooooo strange and everyone else is normal... that part's a little cloying. but she ends up at Christian day camp because her beautiful normal cousin is going, even though she's never been to church. No one really pushes religion, but she benefits from a little mentoring. Meanwhile her dad is trying to deal with his estranged mother, who is really a bitch for no reason. The interesting part happens when it doesn't all work out in the end. The old bitch refuses to accept her son's artistic lifestyle, and doesn't think his daughter is prim and proper enough. And they all just deal.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Mieka raised by her artist-dad who basically paints on whatever he can put his hands on. Early in the morning her dad gets a phone call from his sister-in Texas, that their mother(grades) isn't feeling well, Mieka and her dad are forced to go. Mieka soon finds out that she inset normal..When they get to Texas they go visit their grandmother baker straight away! Soon after Mieka founds out that her grandma isn't the nicest person, if anything she's brutally honest!!


Overall this was a breeze to read, I really got into the story!!
I would recommend this for GIRLS
;)

[Bethie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book about a girl who lives with her dad, and all her family lives in texas. Except for her mom who lives in California when her parents got divorced. When her grandma, who she's never met before is ill they decide to go visit. They stay with her cousins', aunt and uncle. When they go and visit her grandma in the hospital soon after they arrive her grandma actually calls her fat. You'll have to read this great book about how this girl takes her grandma's rudness, and what else her grandma might do to hurt her feelings.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mieka and her dad live on their own and like their messy life. But when her dad's mom is hospitalized, the two fly to Houston to see her - for the first time in 7 years. While in Houston, Mieka and her dad stay with Mieka's aunt, uncle and cousins - a seemingly perfect family. But nobody's perfect, as Mieka is about to find out.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! It's a simple "summer book" that contains underlying family issues, including a nasty grandmother, a free-spirit father and daughter, well-to-do cousins, and a lot of self-discovery. It takes place in Houston, Texas, and the author really nails it when she describes a summer in Houston's famous humidity.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mieka lives with her artist father in NYC, but they are called to Texas when her grandmother's health becomes critical. Mieka's cousins have two parents, big house, a stay at home mom, and plenty of money. Mieka thinks this is �??normal�?� and it looks pretty good. In the end she has a chance to stay in Texas with her father and have a "normal"� life. But is that what she truly wants?

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent middle grade novel about girl who travels to Houston with her artist dad to visit her sick grandmother and get to know the rest of the family.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think it was a great book but one of the characters changedin a way you wouldn't suspect.

[Savannah Stultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book but not what the title makes it seem

[Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Judy Blume book in story idea. Which is a good thing! I like this book, but its just to regular.
Great characters though.

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't remember the title of this book and I read it about three years ago.... I LOVED it SOOOOOOO much!!!!!

[mackenzie ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

i started this around 3 40ish today... spent the rest of my day reading this, and finished in one day. Really good book!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok but kinda boring.

[Kylie Meister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was a very good choice for me to read. I thought the author had wrote and explained the story well! Lisa Papademetriou is a good book writer.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

OUCH! This would have been a good book but I felt Hit.Over.The.Head.With.The.Message.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my kind of book.

[♫ Maren ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book thanks syd for recommeding it!!