cover image Differently Normal

Differently Normal

Tammy Robinson. Piatkus, $13.99 paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-349-41904-6

Growing up with a single mother and an autistic sister, Bee, has taught Maddy to keep her expectations low. There’s no time or money for college, and though she tries to pursue her passion for photography, most of her life is given over to work and caring for Bee. She’s certainly not looking for romance. But when Albert, who works at Bee’s therapeutic riding stables, notices Maddy, her life takes a turn. Albert is a good guy with problems of his own: his macho, overbearing father routinely bullies and demeans him. He can’t wait to leave town, but Maddy can’t picture a scenario that would let her leave with him. Still, they enjoy the love that they find, until tragedy intervenes. This is New Zealand author Robinson’s first book to be published in the U.S. Unfortunately, flat characters, a predictable plot, and frequent passages of workmanlike prose may distract readers from Maddy and Albert’s love story and lessen the impact of the eventual tragedy. Ages 14–up. [em](Mar.) [/em]