Left Out

Looking for Normal #1

by Jean Gill

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. Bronze Children's Books Award 2017 Readers' Favorites. Shortlisted for the Cinnamon Press Novella Award.
‘A compelling story about friendship, its strength, and the unusual ways it develops.’ Rebecca P. McCray, The Journey of the Marked
Left-hander Jamie knows that being different isn't easy but learns it can be exciting!
Shocked at discovering how left-handers are persecuted, Jamie ties her hand behind her back for a public protest in school. This does not go down well with the teachers.
Her best friend Ryan joins in but just when their campaign is working, Ryan's mother drops a bombshell. She's whisking him off from Wales UK to live back in America. There he faces bullying at its most deadly, and Jamie has to live from one email to the next, waiting to know whether her friend is hanging in there.
A modern classic of friendship and teen life, with all its pitfalls and challenges.
‘As a parent and a teacher, I felt this book in my gut. It hits so close to home on more levels than I can count.’ Anita Kovacevic, teacher and children's author, contributor to the international Inner Giant Anti-Bullying Project.

Genres: Young Adult

126 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2017

About the author

Jean Gill is a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with two scruffy dogs, a beehive named 'Endeavour', a Nikon D750 and a man. For many years, she taught English in Wales and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Carmarthenshire. She is mother or stepmother to five children so life was hectic.

Publications are varied, including prize-winning poetry and novels, military history, translated books on dog training, and a cookery book on goat cheese. With Scottish parents, an English birthplace and French residence, she can usually support the winning team on most sporting occasions.

Sign up for Jean's newsletter at www.jeangill.com for updates and a free book. If you review one of Jean's books you can add a dog to Jean's Readers Dogs Hall of Fame on her website. Contact Jean at jean.gill@wanadoo.fr with comments or questions. She loves to hear from readers.

Reviews

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Left Out' is a brilliant teen read. Compelling and engaging it deals with the difficult subject of bullying, celebrates friendship and courage it can give people to be able to accept that being different doesn't make you worse but just that - different.
Very well written with great characters and dealing with difficult issues 'Left Out' is not to be missed.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie is picked on at school for her clumsiness, which she attributes to being left-handed as nothing she uses is suitable. The only real friend she has is Ryan. He encourages her to research left-handedness and she finds out how many famous people, present and past, have been southpaws. She writes for the school newspaper, as does Ryan, though using a pseudonym. To both their horror, Ryan’s mum takes him away from their school in Wales to her native America but Ryan has hopes of wangling his way back.

This is a great little book which takes issues of bullying and being different, and manages to celebrate some of those differences. It opens the eyes of left and right handers to just how difficult it can be to use ordinary items – a potato peeler, for example – but how many left handers turn out to be extraordinary people. It’s not just a preachy book, though. It’s got some dark themes running under it, and a real page-turning feel to the plot. A very good read.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left out by jean gill.
Being different isn't easy but it can be exciting! How well do you know your friends?
This was a fantastic read with brilliant characters. It was a surprising read. 5*. Tbc on fb.

[B.A. Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant teen book – would make a super TV series!
I grabbed this book with my grandson in mind but found myself hooked by the funky cover and attention grabbing interior. There’s so much going on inside it’s a real winner for kids, parents, and even teachers as there are many important and relevant issues touched upon, to question and debate.
Jamie is left-handed and wishes her peers were aware of how difficult the world can be for lefties. Her best friend Ryan encourages her to start a campaign in school. The two embark on an ingenious journalistic endeavour which is an entertaining story of friendship in itself, particularly when Ryan is whisked back to his homeland, America, but it also throws in heaps of amazing facts about famous lefties and the science behind the whole left/right thing . I’m right-handed, but as a child was made to use my left hand at school when I broke my right. I enjoyed doing the little quizzes, discovering things I really didn’t know and uncovering the truths behind things I’d taken for granted.
Two extremely likeable, pro-active main characters tackling current, relevant issues and challenging stereotyping and prejudice in a believable (and entertaining) way - this would make a super kids TV series! Go Jamie! Go Ryan!

[Bruce Ashkenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left Out, book 1 in the Looking for Normal series, by Jean Gill

This is a little book packed full of information and entertainment. Jamie is a left-handed high school student In Port Talbot, Wales who feels discriminated against because of her handedness. Her friend Ryan, a recent arrival from London, convinces her to do research on those of sinister (lefty) inclination, feeling that if she knows more about famous left-handers she’ll feel better about herself. It works, and Jamie becomes obsessed with finding out left-handed facts and disseminating them to the high school public. Her confidence grows and she even helps her enemy, Kelly, out of a bad situation involving her brother’s mate. She grows closer with her brother and his friends. Jamie is devastated when Ryan is forced to move to his homeland, America, by his mother who wants him to learn more about his black culture. But Ryan is unhappy in Atlanta, where he has landed and hatches a scheme to get himself back to Wales. Jamie and Ryan both learn the outcome of discrimination and alienation and both are stronger for it.

[Paul Trembling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of 'young adult' books - it's been a while since I fell into that category - but I have read some of Jean Gill's excellent historical fiction (the Troubadour's series) so I know the quality of her work. And it was no surprise to find that she is just as good at opening up the lives of teenagers in a Welsh school as she was at delving into courtly romance with medieval knights!

The central premise of this story is that Jamie, the main character, is left handed - and she becomes increasingly frustrated by the problems that causes her. Her attempts (with her best friend, Ryan) to raise awareness of the issue are surprisingly effective - but not always in the way she'd expected!

But as well as looking at left-handedness in particular (with a lot of fascinating facts thrown in) and prejudice in general, this well paced and smoothly flowing story covers a lot of other ground, despite being relatively short. We also get some insights into the difference between education in Wales and the USA, for example. But at it's heart, this to me was about friendship: Jamie and Ryan are characters that you can identify with, you can understand the pain they feel when they're forcibly split up and the lengths they'll go to to get back together.

A well written, thought provoking and very engaging story. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Amie McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only was this a fun read, it was incredibly informative. And I couldn't believe the attachment I felt for the characters. The plot took directions I wasn't expecting. The writing was engaging and vibrant. Being a lefty myself this was an especially interesting book.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited, but must have gotten both on a freebie day or something. If hadn't, would have pulled the other on ku because I am ambidextrous {used to write left handed as well as right but the teachers in school....} and my son is left handed and he had problems with teachers in school, which meant the teachers had problems with me. If you don't see what the big deal about something so 'trivial' is, start paying attention to which way things open, be it the refrigerator or the door{s} to rooms, and think what would happen if you had to do things with a hand that is not really able to do it, or {with me} prefer to do certain things with one hand over the other, and it's automatic. Very well written story {-ies} as read both, back to back. This is also the story of friendship, and growing up together, even when separated.

Left Out (Looking for Normal Book 1)
Fortune Kookie (Looking for Normal Book 2)
Looking for Normal (2 Book Series) set

[Chantelle Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this YA novel after enjoying the author's poetry collection With Double Blade. I enjoyed the writing style and content so much, I was immediately intrigued by a YA novel by the same author. This was a great and enjoyable read. I started it one day and finished it the next. The story revolves around Jamie and her best friend Ryan. Jamie is on a mission to bring about equality for left-handed people, while Ryan has bigger problems when he is sent to America and gets mixed up in a school shooting. I liked these characters a lot and I particularly enjoyed the layout of the book which used articles and information written by the characters to convey the plight of left-handed people. A quirky read that made me smile.

[Anita Kovacevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of Jean Gill's brilliant stories! The best thing a book can do is pull you in and make you think and feel, and this one does just that. No matter whether you are an adult or a teenager, this is definitely a story you should let into your library. Every educator and parent should read it, and so should teenagers (although we might try telling them they shouldn't, just to increase the chances of it actually being enticing to them).
The story touches on numerous important issues about growing up, without preaching, judging, laying blame or displaying any prejudice. Introducing the theme of prejudice through the seemingly simple problems of a left-hander in the right-handed world lures us into seeing our world as it is - filled with prejudice all around. We realize how many times all of us show it, unaware, yet effectively hurting each other. The witty and humorous parts of the story and the wonderful characters will feed your soul, and basically inspire you to be a better person, not a mere conformist. A special treasure are the various kinds of parents in the story - they made me angry and smile at the same time, as I recognized myself in their attempts at doing what's best for their kids and loved them for it. Jamie and Ryan will, no doubt, resonate with teenagers - there is so much to relate to with those bright kids growing into great people.
The author shows admirable understanding of the teenage mind, led primarily by their emotional world, as they try to tug themselves out into reasonable adulthood. She displays the depth of their conviction, which sometimes may be misguided, but is deeply felt nonetheless, and we should therefore respect it in all its seriousness. For instance, when the main character Jamie observes her mother and never wants to be like her - we've all been there, right? Or when Ryan (mis)judges his mother's intentions - that scene made me rethink my own relationship with my son. Reading about Kelly's misplaced trust and about Ryan's new school, opened my eyes to the fact that it is no wonder how many teenagers enjoy gaming and fantasy so much - it is easier to bear than their own reality. But life has its twists and turns, and when we try to do better, we can, as Jean Gill proves. The story is permeated with author's expressive style gems, such as comparing Jamie's family to a bus terminal, informative texts about left-handers (with charming comments by the main characters) and the realistic family conversations.
As a parent and a teacher, I felt this book in my gut. It hits so close to home on more levels than I can count. I felt for all those kids, all those teachers and parents trying, failing and succeeding at doing the best they can. It is amazing to see how similar parenthood is all around the world, how many things can go wrong, how many times misunderstandings stem from brief, implied (mis)communication instead of good old-fashioned listening. This may well be the best writing by Jean Gill I've read yet, and I am so happy to know there are so many books I still haven't read by this author.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Williams is a klutz. This teenager from Wales drops things, trips over things, and she just isn't coordinated. Not only is she a klutz, but she is also left-handed. Jamie believes that her left-handedness is why she is so clumsy. People tease her for being different and tell her no one good at anything is left-handed. Ryan, Jamie's best friend, promises to prove them wrong. As Jamie and Ryan embark on a research journey, they learn just how many wonderful people are left-handed, and they learn a ton of facts about left-handers along the way.

Things are going smoothly and Jamie is finally feeling good about herself, until Ryan moves to the U.S. Saddened by the loss of her only friend, Jamie finds it hard to get back on her feet, all the while still learning about left-handers and publishing her research in the school newspaper.

When tragedy strikes in the United States, how can Jamie keep it together without her best friend by her side?

Opinion:
Traveling on this journey of self-worth with Jamie was one I won’t easily forget. Being a left-hander myself, I can relate to some of Jamie’s real-life struggles. I found the left-handed facts both amazing and hilarious. I also found the fact that people thought Jamie was less than them because she was left-handed both sad and humorous. I have never had a bullying problem as a result of which hand is my dominant hand, but the fact that Jamie did was a key feature in the plot.

This book was slow-moving, and it took a while to draw me in. The character development, however, is the best aspect of the book by far. The characters were the most relatable part of the book. Jamie was spunky, funny and curious, while Ryan was more of a determined figure who stood quietly and watched as things took place before him.

The tragedy in this book took place very abruptly, and I never expected it. Once I realized what was going on, I feared for Ryan’s life, as he was the strongest character in the book, and without him, Jamie couldn’t easily be herself.

All in all, this was a light book that will leave you laughing in some parts and biting your fingernails in anticipation in the others. I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to middle schoolers who are looking for a fun, easy-read that will make them smile.

Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer Age: 13

[James Minter · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are all different. It’s a fact and one that should be embraced and fostered. Without differences, the World would be a very grey, boring place, and without the vast array of innovations and cultures we all take for granted. Left-handedness is another example of the differences between people, and like all differences, it brings out prejudices similar to those held toward skin colour, religion, gender, height, weight and more.

Prejudices are negative behaviours learnt in childhood from parents, peers, and society as a whole, and reflect the values held. Since prejudices are not likely to go away anytime soon, children and teens need to be taught to understand and embrace differences at a minimum and to become resilient to the bullying, name calling, and aggression that often follows.

Jean Gill has done a good job opening up the left-hand, right-hand debate. However, this book is actually two books – the first one covers who in history is left-handed, and what it’s like to be different, and is fascinating and well researched. The second is a story dealing with being a left-handed teenager and trying to educate peers about the issues encountered, while dealing with the usual angst of being an adolescent, and at the same time, running a long-distance friendship.

A lot is going on in this book. Mixing the two books together, with the friendship storyline, plus extraneous scenes like, for example, the band members getting drunk in the coal shed, added little to story and became a distraction to the message. This is an important issue book, and brings with it a great opportunity to open up conversations about left-handedness in the classroom and at home. Definitely worth a read though. 4.5 star.

The author provided me with a review copy.

[Claire Stibbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this sumptuous book in one sitting and I know boys and girls will relate to the two main characters in a heartbeat. Who hasn’t been persecuted in middle school/high school? Even the “cool” kids take a fair beating at some time or another, because no one is comfortable in their own skin at that age. No matter how tough you think they are.

The story revolves around Jamie, enterprising and resourceful, and Ryan, deliciously delightful. What a great friend. But these are two intrepid kids with a plan. Not just any plan, a well-thought out, well-researched plan that gives the reader insight into the much maligned left-hander. The project they choose is to make a point. Left-handed or right-handed. Left-brained or right-brained. And what difference does it make? To me this makes the point of how kids act toward one another and how they can make a difference.

Why was I attracted to this book? I heard the buzz and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I also wanted to read the type of story that makes you think, an educational story that needs to be told. The author is clearly an expert in her field, where the supporting cast of characters are so authentic we all have one of those in our own family. How Jamie struggled with the practical part of her project resonated with me on a very deep level, as it will with readers. I’m left handed, so is my husband and so is my son. I recall at school a teacher snatching a tennis racket out of my left hand (and a Rounders bat) and where I was forced to play with my right hand. Of course, I have recovered well from this offense but when it happened many years later to my son who picked up his first crayon in his left hand and was ‘corrected’ repeatedly by a teacher in kindergarten, I went to bat for him. With my left hand. Nuff said.

This book did an excellent job of showing how even small things, things we might think trivial, can be detrimental to someone else. How for those who don’t understand the full force of their callousness, it holds up an uncompromising mirror to heartlessness. And because prejudice of any kind causes irrevocable damage. As a result, it is an educational and charming read with a dab of humor that puts it all into perspective.

On to the next in the series.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Left Out
Author: Jean Gill

Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 7/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 6/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 17 readers:
14 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
14 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
141 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘This author is so very good at working with character. I think she’s trying to do too much with the plot though. It’s as if she’s trying to tick every box. Crazy, crazy cover; I loved it!’ Male reader, aged 16
‘Very slow to start but then it got going, I thought it was a lot of fun. I laughed a lot. The two characters were very different. I enjoyed following them on the journey.’ Male reader, aged 15
‘I enjoyed this story. The only strange thing is that I’m left handed and it’s never affected me in any way. But I thought the facts were interesting. Strange book.’ Female reader, aged 16
‘Loved this book. The first half is different to the second. The author knows a lot, and is good at educating her readers in a comical way. The story slips off track here and there but it’s still gripping.’ Female reader, aged 18

To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating story left-handers will love! A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Cheryl Swales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanting to read book 2

Want to see how Jamie and Ryan's friendship develops and their left handed studies and if Ryan recovers completely from his time in America

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that LEFT OUT (Looking for Normal, #1) by Jean Gill is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83kh4...

[Sally Mcdonagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. A tale about being different and finding out that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. That we are all different in a our own ways.
Would recommend 😀