Not Exactly Normal

by Devin Brown

He was always so normal!

Todd Farrel attends tiny St. Luke's Episcopal School in rural New England. Each year the sixth graders finish winter term with their big social studies reports. Wanting to make his report something special this year, Todd finally decides to write about mystical experiences -- something definitely  not  normal. After doing some research, Todd determines that he needs to have his own mystical experience.

While practicing soccer with his best friend, Nitro, listening to an unusual teacher who encourages original thinking, and giving in to his curiosity about Leda, the intelligent but unusual (in Todd's opinion) girl from California, Todd discovers some pretty extraordinary aspects to life in his ordinary world.

Not Exactly Normal  is a book about being different and about fitting in, about accepting the differences of others and seeing ways that everyone is alike. It will challenge readers' assumptions and help them look at the world and their lives in new ways.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Devin Brown (PhD, University of South Carolina) is a Lilly scholar and professor of English at Asbury University. A C. S. Lewis aficionado, Brown has written, taught, and lectured on Lewis extensively for more than ten years. He has written a number of books related to Lewis, including Inside Narnia and Inside Prince Caspian, and lives in Kentucky. In 2008 Brown was invited to serve as scholar-in-residence at the Kilns, Lewis's home in Oxford.

Reviews

[Katie Ziegler (Life Between Words) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, heartfelt, and reflective middle grade about an ordinary boy seeking the extraordinary. It reminded me a little of Katherine Patterson’s books (like A Bridge to Terabithia) and Gary Schmidt. It’s quiet and beautiful—but with a race to the finish line at the end. Just lovely.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading (and loving) two of Devin Brown's books in 2023, I decided to read some of his older writing, starting with this one.
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This book features some of the characters that come into his recent book, Not Exactly Love. It was fun to see them as younger kids.
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This book is a gentle, thoughtful book about noticing the small things and seeing the small everyday things as miracles. It's reminiscent of books by Gary Schmidt.
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This book takes place in a private Episcopal school, so there quite a few religious themes throughout. I loved learning more about Boxing Day and Advent and King Wenceslas.

[Jenni Frencham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this book reads like a Gentle Fiction, where not much happens to the characters and everyone one is happy, healthy, and above average. The fact that there's no conflict in the family and no problems in the classroom makes me wonder where this perfect world is. However, there are enough entertaining and funny comments throughout the book to keep me, and your average elementary student, reading, and the crisis, when it does happen, is quite a page-turner. It's not exactly your normal book, but it's definitely worth having on the shelf.

[Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devin Brown, who has written some excellent studies of both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, takes on young spirituality in NOT EXACTLY NORMAL. Todd Farrel is a sixth grader at St. Luke’s Episcopal School somewhere in New England. It is that almost-Christmas season that has been the setting for so many books for this age group, both excellent and schmaltzy. Brown’s young character becomes intrigued by the idea of the “mystical experience,” spurred on by the combination of a good teacher who presents serious ideas (the novel begins with Donne’s “no man is an island” sermon) and the dawning awareness of the mysteries presented by the girls in his class.

A wise old Episcopal priest once told my librarian wife not to worry about censorship issues in her school library because “faith is not threatened by ideas.” Not unlike many Episcopal schools, Todd’s class includes Jews, Catholics, at least one “Middle Eastern” family, and protestants of various sorts, who provide an all-American spiritual melting pot that Todd observes closely. His own mystical experience -- achieved in the quiet dawn following a harrowing near-drowning the night before when his friend Alex fell through some pond ice -- is a sense of harmony, a blending Julian of Norwich’s “all will be well” with Donne’s “no man is an island.” It is not unlike Mole encountering Pan in THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS -- “an awe that smote and held him” -- but here Todd simply realizes that we are all human and we’re all in the same boat.

Brown captures the kind of spiritual enlightenment that actually means something to young adolescents, from finding personal meaning in Christmas carols to the aesthetics of sports to using monster movies as a kind of comfort food. On the other hand, this is a book that is rather removed from the real world -- no worldly conflict impinges on this isolated community at all. There are no wars or rumors of wars, and the poor exist only as the recipients of the community’s largesse. Thus NOT EXACTLY NORMAL is, in fact, a not-exactly-normal idyll.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd has a great 6th gr teacher who is constantly challenging the students with "morning reflection." When the students are asked to create a report just before Christmas break, Todd decides his topic should be "mystical experiences." He has trouble writing his report until he himself has a "m.e." great

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd Farrell considers himself a normal, average sixth-grader and wants to change. So, he decides to do his school report on mystical experiences and to pay more attention to Leda Johnson who is the least normal of the sixth-graders at St. Luke's.

[Ashley Wahlert · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only words are these: hauntingly beautiful.

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because the author, Devin Brown, was recently signed by my publishing house and I was curious to read his first novel. From the opening pages, I was just delighted. The book is really straightforward: a normal kid with a normal family at a normal school doing normal life. But the deeper aspects of this book really touched me. There were so many great literary moments. I found it funny throughout, I loved the small, Episcopal middle school setting, so much like where my kids are. And I flew through the final chapters because the plot took a turn and I loved it. The “end notes” section was full of the truth behind the authors and history mentioned in the book. Since it was written in 2005, a few things are a little dated (purchasing cds, etc) but not in a distracting way. This would be perfect for fans of Gary Schmidt or Renee Watson.

[Heather Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud with my 15 year old. I think the writing was actually four-star writing, but the story was just so enjoyable. When a bookstagrammer that I respect compared this to a Gary D. Schmidt novel, I couldn’t have run faster to purchase this book — and she wasn’t wrong. This very much gave GDS vibes in the best way. We loved the internal dialogue of Todd and his quest to experience the mystical while living an everyday life as a kid. I really loved the small-and-special school feeling (similar to The Next Great Paulie Fink), and the family life of the main characters was wholesome without feeling heavy-handed or corny. This was a book that felt like it took place forty years ago but still had current references (Mia Hamm), which was a refreshing departure from todays middle grade norms. All in all, we loved it and will definitely keep our eye out for more by Devin Brown.

[Murtaza Tahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always thought I should eventually make a goodreads account and kept putting it off for years until now, thanks to some nice reminders! as such this is the first book i added!!!

not a proper review but couldn't let it slide anymore. this book means much to me sentimentally and though i enjoyed reading it as a kid, it just has that absolutely special place in my heart because of my history with it, and hence its place in my "dearest" shelf alongside "The Suitcase Kid" by Jacqueline Wilson.

i remember getting gifted this book by my aunt who bought it off of some book fair. Funnily enough, this is a signed copy by the author himself! however it was signed for a "Lauren" and a "Josh" so if either of you end up seeing this and had a copy signed for you once, feel free to reach out!!! i have ur book!! i have kept it so well and its super loved, you'd be proud!!!!

this was one of the first proper hard cover books I ever got as far as I can remember. the sentimental attachment comes from carrying it to school with me every single day and finding a lot of comfort in the book and its name, forcing myself to read JUST 1 page a day so it lasts longer and i continue to have that comforting thing alongside me that im always looking forward to. didnt really have a lot of friends around and i remember carrying this book with me for a whole year even though I had read it just for the familiarity that was brought about by carrying it with me everyday and taking it out.

i remember relating to the idea that there's this kid in school who wants to experience things not entirely ordinary. i remember relating to the love for exploration and wanting something different. i really related to wanting to/being different as corny as that sounds. i loved it so so sweetly though!!

i'll be rereading this eventually when I feel like im ready and I'll rewrite a proper review. it may take a while though...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd sees himself as an average sixth grader with average talents. Things change for him when he chooses an unusual topic for his last paper before the Christmas holidays. Todd decides to write about mystical experiences and proceeds to go in search for one for himself.

Devin Brown has created some wonderful characters including sixth grade teacher, Mr. Phillips, and his amazing wife, Pastor Jill. This is a heart warming story that makes the reader feel connected to the setting and characters. The ending is very suspenseful and is a fitting conclusion for Todd's hunt for a mystical experience.

This is a story about faith, community, and ideas. I especially enjoyed the quotations from poems and songs that fill the story. A moving story to read during Advent.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if the target age group (9 and up) would like Not Exactly Normal, but I thoroughly enjoyed this little gem in which nothing much happens. The narrator, Todd, talks about his sixth grade class, the other students and the teacher, having dinner with his family, and his homework assignments. Todd has a genuine and believable voice.

The story takes place in the days leading up to Christmas. Todd muses about life, being a hero, what it means to be "part of the main," religion, girls, and mystical experiences. There is a climactic event toward the end that coalesces all these issues for Todd. I could have spent a lot longer with Todd than 234 pages. A nice little book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one with my 10 year old (she checked it out of her school library). I loved it. The messages in the story were spot on- so much philosophy and faith set in an environment that was geared toward a pre-teen. The story focuses on Todd, a 12 year old 6th grader and his quest to have a mystical experience. The author touches on John Donne, Mia Hamm, and a host of other noteworthy historical figures. Admittedly, some of the content was over the head of my daughter, but by reading it together, we were able to have some wonderful, deep discussions. And she now quotes, "No man is an island. We are all part of the main. It does not matter for whom the bell tolls." Priceless!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy seeking mystical experience -- what's not to like? The frequent "instructive digressions" come on a bit thick: THIS BOOK TEACHES IMPORTANT THINGS WHILE TELLING A STORY.

But I still enjoyed this story about 6th-grader Todd, his politically correct and loving family, his sidekick (good term for a great soccer player like "Nitro"), the brilliant and eccentric outsider-girl, Leda, and his teacher, Mr. Phillips.

Good to add to the church library, which 6th-grader Natalia informs me is sorely lacking in books for her age group and reading level. (Episcopal Church library, I might add, since much of the action takes place at St. Luke's, an Episcopal day school.)

[Glenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutly the worst book I have ever read I got the book sighned by the author only because he came to our middle school and I had never had a book sighned by the author and I had no interest in reading yet (that came in the 7th grade) but I wish my teacher would have let us read something with more of a moral to the story sure he saved his freind but that is realy all that happened the entire story

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very cohesive book, well written, enjoyable, and nothing extra included that did not add to the plot (an increasingly rare and commendable quality). A book I think anyone could enjoy.
It's also a really easy read, which makes for a great relaxing reading 'vacation' :)

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an interesting book. it had a lot of religious themes in it, which made me think. I didn't really love the ending however--a lot of hype for really nothing. But the main idea of the book is that you find extraordinary things in the ordinary events of life.

[Cassi aka Snow White Haggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I'm baised because one of my favorite professors wrote this. Been a few years since I've read it so I can't give much of a review because after 3 years mostly remember "I liked this." Might try to re-read to add more cohesive thoughts.

[Melons]

I tried to read this book. Don't! it may sound good, but i had to abandon it on page 10!!! it is boring and has no point at all. at parts it is almost funny, but it ruins it. just dont read this.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good. A little slow moving, and a little predictable, but very cute. :)

[Kayla Rae]

I love this book!! It's about a normal teenage boy who turns out to save his best friends life.

[Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, gentle Jbook. Great words and encourages thinking outside the box.

[Andrea Stephenson]

Review coming soon