Linda’s Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

June 19th 2012, Bloomsbury USA Childrens
214 pages, Hardcover
Personal Copy
Young Adult Fiction

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

Opinion:

In a spectacular debut, Trish Doller delivers a raw book on the consequences of war.
Travis is on leave from Afghanistan. He comes back to Fort Myers after being away from a year to find more problems at home. Everyone expects something different from Travis the Marine. They want something like adventure stories. Something like the knowledge of what it’s like to kill someone. For Travis, he just wants something like normal.

Something Like Normal is an emotional read. Travis lost his best friend overseas. He’s trying to accept his PTSD and face all the broken relationships with his family. He’s a protective guy, especially when it comes to his mom. Travis has to wrap around his head that he will say his final goodbye to his fellow Marine and best friend, Charlie, at the funeral. With Travis being part of the military, the story is much more than just any young adult book. He can’t be that carefree guy from high school anymore. Behind a hero, there is a normal guy trying to find his way.

I loved reading the book in Travis’s point of view. Trish writes such an authentic voice. He makes some big mistakes along the way. Ones that I want to kill him for, but he’s an emotional wreck. I can forgive him for that. All the while, I want to embrace his and get him the help he needs.  He’s a real guy that makes real mistakes. Plus, Harper is a great companion.  Her name has a story. She’s a girl with a grudge, but she is so forgiving. Harper is what Travis needs to stop feeling guilty about Charlie. They have a relationship and romance that will last.

Something Like Normal may be a short book, but it’s packed with the right kind of stuff. I shed more than a few tears. I can’t stop raving about it. Travis may have gotten, but I am definitely looking forward for future books coming from Trish.

Rating:

The elusive Linda-saurus:

Mover and shaker by day, book-ninja by night. Only native to Florida. Afraid of small children but has an affinity to the elderly. Beware of her sarcastic humor.

Categories: 5 stars, Contemp, Doller, Linda, Review