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Something Like Normal Trish Doller Books

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Something Like Normal Trish Doller Books

Very good book. I feel it gave a decently realistic depiction of the way many soldiers feel when coming back to the States after being in war, as well as PTSD symptoms. It really touched on so many of the things that I have heard war veterans tell me when I've interviewed them. It was everything I thought was lacking with the book Making Faces by Amy Harmon, and all I had been wanting that book to address about PTSD and the sense of isolation/detachment/fear they feel when coming back home. It touched on his survivor's guilt; his unease in settling back in to civilian life; having to deal with civilians that didn't know what it was like to have lived through war; the ridiculous questions asked by curious people; the feeling of not being able to connect with your previous best friends; the stigma of possibly killing his career if he seeks professional help; flashbacks; jittery at loud noises; confusion and blurred lines of his ingrained morals because of the enemy's lack of rules in war; looking around you for IEDs or booby-traps even in a place you know is safe; panic attacks; sleeplessness and nightmares - it did so well going into all those things in such a short book (only 214 pages). I felt the author did a great job with the main character, Travis "Solo". He's realistic, has a believable voice, and is flawed but in a way that makes him more lovable and human. This little book is well worth the read, and it's quite touching.


Tags : Amazon.com: Something Like Normal (9781599908441): Trish Doller: Books,Trish Doller,Something Like Normal,Bloomsbury USA Childrens,1599908441,Family - General,Romance - General,Social Themes - Depression,Afghan War, 2001-,Afghanistan,Brothers,Dysfunctional families,Family problems,Family problems;Fiction.,Love,Love stories,Post-traumatic stress disorder,Post-traumatic stress disorder;Fiction.,United States,Veterans,Veterans;Fiction.,101701 Bloomsbury US Childrens HC,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Fiction,General fiction (Children's Teenage),Historical Military & Wars,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Love & Romance,JUVENILE FICTION Social Themes Violence,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 10-12 Ages 15+,Social Themes - Violence,Social Themes Depression & Mental Illness,TEEN'S FICTION - GENERAL,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Family General (see also headings under Social Themes),YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Depression,Historical Military & Wars,JUVENILE FICTION Love & Romance,JUVENILE FICTION Social Themes Violence,Social Themes - Violence,Social Themes Depression & Mental Illness,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Family General (see also headings under Social Themes),YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Depression,Fiction,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),General fiction (Children's Teenage)

Something Like Normal Trish Doller Books Reviews

How do you cope with death? How could you move on when you feel responsible for that person's death? Travis is on leave from Afghanistan. He's left with the terrible reality of surviving an attack. But losing and witnessing his friend Charlie's death. In fact he died in his arms. And in order to save his own life, he had to kill the person who killed Charlie. WOW......... So the question is, how do you cope? Travis isn't coping well with it at all. He's filled with so much guilt. He's having nightmares and is continuously seeing Charlie everywhere. He even has conversations with him. But Travis is putting up a front. He doesn't want to tell anyone. But the more Harper ( a girl he crushed on) is involved in his life. The more he's able to confide in her. And, it's really touching how she helps him mend by simply just being there for him. I've always appreciated our soldiers who sacrifice their lives for our freedom. But after reading this, I have even more of an appreciation. I honestly don't know how they could do it. I'm not that brave. So to all that serve our country, THANK YOU. Please read this book. It's an eye opener
I’ve read quite a few rave reviews for Trish Doller’s debut Something Like Normal, so I looked it up on NetGalley to request a copy. As soon as I received the approval email I downloaded Something Like Normal to my and started reading. If I hadn’t started it while visiting my grandpa in the hospital, I would have finished this in one sitting because it’s that good. If I could get away with writing a review that says “READ IT!” I would just do that because it’s hard to form words for such a wonderful story.

Over the years I’ve learned about myself that if I can’t connect with a character then I won’t enjoy the book. I’ve also learned that I mostly prefer first-person point of view. Something Like Normal fits both of those preferences, plus it features a male protagonist which is something I’m always looking for. Travis is on leave from the Marines and he’s really suffering after witnessing the death of his close friend Charlie. He’s also dealing with coming home to a family that’s been falling apart since his deployment. I really like that Trish Doller wrote Travis the way she did because he’s not written as a hero. He’s written as a suffering young man who’s trying to recover and make amends. He’s trying to become a better man, a man he can be proud of. I can see a number of teenage guys relating to Travis, especially if they’re considering joining the Marines or another part of the armed forces. Many of my seniors that enlist do so because they hope it will shape them into a better person; they hope it will provide some guidance in life. Travis says he really doesn’t know why he joined, but his character made me think of past seniors I had in class that enlisted because they wanted guidance or a sense of direction in their lives. I always appreciate a story with a hero, but there’s something about a story with a flawed character that a reader can’t help but love. Travis’s voice is real and authentic; it’s how I imagine many teenage guys think and feel and act.

I’ve noticed that more Y.A. novels are featuring characters who have graduated from high school. I hope to see more published like this because it’s an excellent way for upperclassman to relate to what’s in their future. It’s also a way to keep teens reading Y.A. beyond high school. Even though Travis is done with school and has been in situations and done and witnessed things most adults never will, he’s still dealing with family drama and common relationship insecurities/dilemmas. I doubt Travis returned home expecting to fall for a girl, especially when his ex-girlfriend has moved on to his brother. His life is complicated, but after running into Harper everything starts to turn around. As I was reading Something Like Normal, I didn’t know what to expect from Harper, but I ended up loving her character. Really, I love Travis and Harper together as a couple. They form the kind of relationship where they work off each other. They mesh in that perfect, awkward, kind of rough around the edges way, but those edges begin to smooth over. Travis isn’t perfect, far from it actually, but his effort to become better is endearing. We see these efforts in his relationship with his mother and with Harper. Both of these women make Travis want to become a better person which is when we see the rough edges smooth over.

Trish Doller includes flashbacks and nightmares in Something Like Normal which give us an idea of the suffering and experiences Travis goes through. I appreciate these scenes for two reasons. My first reason is because it breaks up the family and relationship drama Travis is going through at home. I know many readers enjoy romance and relationship issues in the books they read, but for the readers that want a little less of that, these flashbacks and nightmares will add a welcome break. The second reason I like these scenes is because it gives us a more well-rounded idea of who Travis is and what life is like for soldiers in Afghanistan. I can’t imagine returning home and constantly searching the floor for bombs. Or preferring to sleep on the floor rather than my bed. Or feeling vulnerable without my gun in my hands. These scenes are an invaluable layer to the story.

I feel like I haven’t expressed enough how completely fantastic this debut is. There isn’t anything I disliked or would change. It’s an engrossing story that I predict will be a huge hit in my classroom.
Very good book. I feel it gave a decently realistic depiction of the way many soldiers feel when coming back to the States after being in war, as well as PTSD symptoms. It really touched on so many of the things that I have heard war veterans tell me when I've interviewed them. It was everything I thought was lacking with the book Making Faces by Amy Harmon, and all I had been wanting that book to address about PTSD and the sense of isolation/detachment/fear they feel when coming back home. It touched on his survivor's guilt; his unease in settling back in to civilian life; having to deal with civilians that didn't know what it was like to have lived through war; the ridiculous questions asked by curious people; the feeling of not being able to connect with your previous best friends; the stigma of possibly killing his career if he seeks professional help; flashbacks; jittery at loud noises; confusion and blurred lines of his ingrained morals because of the enemy's lack of rules in war; looking around you for IEDs or booby-traps even in a place you know is safe; panic attacks; sleeplessness and nightmares - it did so well going into all those things in such a short book (only 214 pages). I felt the author did a great job with the main character, Travis "Solo". He's realistic, has a believable voice, and is flawed but in a way that makes him more lovable and human. This little book is well worth the read, and it's quite touching.