A teen activist wrestles with protest-related anxiety and PTSD. A socially anxious vampire learns he has to save his town by (gulp) working with people. As part of her teshuvah, a girl writes letters to the ex-boyfriend she still loves, revealing that her struggle with angry outbursts is related to PMDD. A boy sheds uncontrollable tears but finds that in doing so he’s helping to enable another’s healing. In this inspiring, unflinching, and hope-filled mixed-genre collection, sixteen diverse and notable authors draw on their own lived experiences with mental health conditions to create stunning works of fiction that will uplift and empower you, break your heart and stitch it back together stronger than before. Through powerful prose, verse, and graphics, the characters in this anthology defy stereotypes as they remind readers that living with a mental health condition doesn’t mean that you’re defined by it. Each story is followed by a note from its author to the reader, and comprehensive back matter includes bios for the contributors as well as a collection of relevant resources.
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- Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
Featured
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
13+
Release Date
April 11, 2023
ISBN
978-1536224146
Buy This Book
Channeling their own experiences, sixteen exceptional authors subvert mental health stereotypes in a powerful and uplifting collection of fiction.
Editor review
1 review
Ab(solutely) Normal
(Updated: March 01, 2023)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
5.0
What worked: I'm a huge fan of short story anthologies. This collection of tales addresses mental illness in a way that is so relatable with how they break down the trite stereotypes that unfortunately continue to be out there. There's short stories, free verse, and even one story in graphic novel format.
A few of my favorites:
AVALANCHE by Nikki Grimes told in free verse really spoke to me about it being okay to ask for help, especially if you're the one being strong for someone else in crisis. The author at the end says:
'...People always tell me how strong I am, but you want to know a secret? No one is strong on their own. Everyone needs support...'
MY SISTER RAFAELA IS A GOOD PERSON by Mercedes Angel Acosta is about two sisters and how family members impact one another when more than one is struggling. I loved how she shows the older sister, who as a street medic is impacted by what she's witnessed, is struggling with PTSD and how the younger sister tries to reach out to her.
BACK OF THE TRUCK by Isabel Quintero addresses anxiety and panic attacks. I have GAD and panic attacks and this short story was very relatable to my own experiences as a teen and even now.
There are other shorts that address depression; sexual abuse; OCD; and suicide. Each tale addresses these topics in a way that peels back the misinformation that continues to be out there. All the authors share their own experiences in such a way that readers are sure to feel they've been seen. I know more than a few of these stories did that with me. I only wished a book like this had been around when I was a teen and a young adult. The writing is powerful, not preachy, and all resonate with hope.
Insightful anthology that is both inspiring and hopeful. I totally recommend.
A few of my favorites:
AVALANCHE by Nikki Grimes told in free verse really spoke to me about it being okay to ask for help, especially if you're the one being strong for someone else in crisis. The author at the end says:
'...People always tell me how strong I am, but you want to know a secret? No one is strong on their own. Everyone needs support...'
MY SISTER RAFAELA IS A GOOD PERSON by Mercedes Angel Acosta is about two sisters and how family members impact one another when more than one is struggling. I loved how she shows the older sister, who as a street medic is impacted by what she's witnessed, is struggling with PTSD and how the younger sister tries to reach out to her.
BACK OF THE TRUCK by Isabel Quintero addresses anxiety and panic attacks. I have GAD and panic attacks and this short story was very relatable to my own experiences as a teen and even now.
There are other shorts that address depression; sexual abuse; OCD; and suicide. Each tale addresses these topics in a way that peels back the misinformation that continues to be out there. All the authors share their own experiences in such a way that readers are sure to feel they've been seen. I know more than a few of these stories did that with me. I only wished a book like this had been around when I was a teen and a young adult. The writing is powerful, not preachy, and all resonate with hope.
Insightful anthology that is both inspiring and hopeful. I totally recommend.
Good Points
1. Insightful shorts that address mental illness
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