Faking Normal

An edgy, realistic debut novel praised by the New York Times bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys, as “a beautiful reminder that amid our broken pieces we can truly find ourselves.”

Alexi Littrell hasn’t told anyone what happened to her over the summer by her backyard pool. Instead, she hides in her closet, counts the slats in the air vent, and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does—and deal with the trauma.

When Bodee Lennox—“the Kool-Aid Kid”—moves in with the Littrells after a family tragedy, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in this quiet, awkward boy who has secrets of his own. As their friendship grows, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her summon the courage to find her voice and speak up about the rape that has changed the course of her life.

One summer changed everything. One friendship could change it back.

• A Powerful Survivor Story: Alexi hasn’t told anyone about the assault. She hides in her closet, convinced the scars on the inside are her fault.
• Coping with Grief: Bodee “the Kool-Aid Kid” Lennox moves in after his father murders his mother, bringing his own devastating secrets into Alexi’s home.
• Forced Proximity: Living under the same roof, two broken teenagers form a bond over the things they can’t say out loud to anyone else.
• Finding Your Voice: A raw, emotional journey about a quiet boy helping a silent girl speak her truth, and in doing so, finding the strength to face his own past.