How to Be Normal
Title: How to Be Normal
Author: Ange Crawford
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Shortlist: John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults
Winner of the inaugural Walker Books Manuscript Prize. With themes including coercive control, coming of age and finding yourself, this debut authentically deals with timely issues with insight, sympathy and well-crafted humour.
Astrid is about to start her last year at high school. And her first.
When her dad loses his job, Astrid’s homeschooling comes to an end. Until now, she has lived within the confines of a tightly controlled, contracted world where there's no room for anything … except following her father’s rules and pretending that everything is normal.
As Astrid and her mum tentatively expand their world, they struggle to break free of their ingrained wariness and self-doubt. But with hope, new friends, and the strength of a promise, Astrid has a chance to find out what she wants, who she loves, and who she really is.
Winner of the inaugural Walker Books Manuscript Prize, this is a brilliantly written YA debut that deftly explores timely issues with insight, humour and pathos.
Judges’ Report
A quiet but powerful novel, we were impressed by the delicate way Ange Crawford handled themes of coercive control. This is the kind of novel that can offer hope and understanding to readers and is not something we’ve seen represented often in YA. Crawford avoids the didactic and has written a novel about a challenging and complicated issue without flatting any of the characters or using them in service of a lesson. We loved how warm these characters were, the use of music as a motif for self-expression and the generous explorations of complex friendships and romantic dynamics when things must be kept secret for the sake of safety. How To Be Normal is another confident, polished debut.
About the Author
Ange Crawford
VPLA book photography by Shannyn Higgins
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are proudly supported by the Victorian Government.
