Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal by Gretchen Schreiber - OPTIONAL

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal by Gretchen Schreiber, 304 pages. St. Martin’s, 2024. $20

Language: R (40 swears, 16 ‘f’); Mature Content: G (some kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

At school and home Ellie Haycock is totally normal - she has a beautiful boyfriend and is an important part of the school’s debate team. When an unexplained cough sends her to the hospital, though, she is back at the specialty hospital and the family-living for hospital kids where she is part of kids who have problems.  Plus Elli is a VACTERLS - a group of birth defects that will keep her in surgery and hospitals for the rest of her life.  The two worlds should never meet. BUt her mother, who has been blogging about Ellie since she was born has other ideas.  Maybe Ellie, who is intrigued by a new boy at the hospital, Ryan, also has her own ideas of what her life should look like.

I was fascinated by this look in to a world I have no contact with. Since Ellie has a body that can never be “cured” her outlook on hospitals and such is so different from say a cancer kid, who might only be there short term.  I really enjoyed reading this new perspective. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS