Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The art of being normal
Lisa Williamson
The art of being normal
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Lisa Williamson
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes. Its HootRating code, IE, means intense content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Some heroes don’t wear capes—they just dare to be themselves. Meet two friends who are breaking the rules of what it means to be normal, facing challenges that most kids never talk about. Their courage to live their truth shows why being different is the bravest thing you can do.
Quick Assessment
Two transgender friends, David and Leo, lean on each other through bullying, a secret that spreads through their high school, and David's plan to come out to his family. Expect misgendering, hate speech aimed at the characters, and a reference to sexual assault, so it suits teen readers who may want to talk through those moments with an adult. The tone is hopeful and focuses on friendship and the right to define oneself.
Why we rated The art of being normal IE (Intense)
The art of being normal is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 344 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.
We rate The art of being normal as IE (Intense, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Misgendering, Hate Speech, Sexual Assault.
Thematically, The art of being normal explores social justice, friendship, coming of age, family, and lgbtq+ representation — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about social justice, friendship, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
For Parents
Content Intensity
IE · Intense · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780374302375
- Pages
- 344
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction