Author Kate Klise is known for her quirky graphic mysteries she created with her sister and illustrator, M. Sarah Klise . This, her first solo effort, is a story of self-acceptance. Everyone knows sixth-grader Charles Harrisong is so not normal! At least, this is what Charles thinks. He lives with his large family in Normal, Illinois and attends Normal Junior High where he is embarrassed by everything. Charles is headed towards a major meltdown. Then, he and his family pack up one night and mysteriously move away. This could be their new beginning as a "normal" family. But, then again ...
Download and start listening now!
"Not your typical Kate Klise, but still enjoyed it. You really want to root for the Harrisong family. I think the parents must have been just as troubled as the kids, otherwise why in the world would they just pack up and head out of town. Life is always tough on kids in middle school, it's not going to change because you leave town and find a different location to live. But very much enjoyed the book. Looking forward to reading the sequel."
— Lorelie (4 out of 5 stars)
" Super weird... "
— Hayley, 2/20/2014" Wonderful YA book. I always read my middle school child's picks and this one was a winner. It has a strong message hidden beneath humor and the embarrassment of having a large family. The kid? She liked it too. "
— Lisa, 2/18/2014" This is a very COOL, really GOOD book! I LOVED it. IT wouldn't be on my favorites list but it was still really good! "
— Lauren, 2/9/2014" This book seemed a little unfinished. Yes the family had problems, but I don't understand why they left everything and bought a house boat. When you get to the end you think, well is that it? "
— Ragan, 2/4/2014" I truly LOVE Kate Klise but, I was reading this and I couldn't focus on the story and even when I wasn't tired and TRIED to read it during the day, (I usually read before bed,) I just kept dozing off. It's more interesting if it's like Letters from Camp, or Regarding the Fountain, where it's basically a big collage of letters, "WHILE YOU WERE OUT" notes, newspaper clippings, and memos. Now THAT is what I like to see from Kate Klise. So if your looking for books, don't try this one, but try these. LynnVisible by Julia DeVillers, The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. "
— Maggie, 1/17/2014" I read this book several years ago. Although young for our students, the idea of picking up and leaving everything is a theme many people can relate to. "
— Martha, 1/16/2014" Worst book ever. Don't read. Bad book. "
— Ben, 12/12/2013" Not too exciting. "
— Hannah, 10/2/2013" This was definitely a weird book that left a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions on my part. "
— Sue, 7/7/2013" Social content - high school "
— Jo, 3/7/2013" this book was kinda slow... i never really got the point... "
— Sarah, 2/5/2013" ive learned that charles is very embarrassed by his family, but not Clara. he thinks she is different. And he wants a new start a middke school, but hes not gonna get one!! "
— Sydney, 1/3/2013" Will read more of Klise for sure. "
— Janet, 11/23/2012" Kate Klise is so good and so are her books. Deliver us from Normal is totally rockin "
— Andrea, 6/5/2012" Narrator Charles pulls the reader through his self-loathing trip toward adolescence, and demonstrates the behaviors he's willing to adopt in order to be considered average. "
— Nan, 5/5/2012" Drama all the way I can really realate to the main characters older sister "
— Gabriela, 7/10/2011" It had me at the beginning, but then it just got too weird for me. "
— babyhippoface, 3/6/2011" This book seemed a little unfinished. Yes the family had problems, but I don't understand why they left everything and bought a house boat. When you get to the end you think, well is that it? "
— Ragan, 2/14/2011" I read this book several years ago. Although young for our students, the idea of picking up and leaving everything is a theme many people can relate to. "
— Martha, 10/11/2010" ive learned that charles is very embarrassed by his family, but not Clara. he thinks she is different. And he wants a new start a middke school, but hes not gonna get one!! "
— Sydney, 5/9/2010" I hav read the whole book and it was really good! Considering i am from normal illinois i relate a lot of the places in the book to actual places around here. "
— Zoe, 3/7/2010" I loved this crazy family, and I especially loved the voice of Charles Harrisong. In fact, as I was getting to the end of this story, I knew I just wasn't finished with Charles and the rest of the Harrisongs. Luckily I work in a library and there is a sequel.<br/><br/>Recommended for grades 5-8. "
— CuriousLibrarian, 11/30/2009" Just another nice, safe, clean, well-told tale about a family that does not fit in so it abandons its old life and takes up on a leaky houseboat. The characters in this novel are so vivid and well crafted. The story is nice. <br/> <br/>A perfect book to read to your elementary school aged kids. "
— Steven, 7/18/2009" Narrator Charles pulls the reader through his self-loathing trip toward adolescence, and demonstrates the behaviors he's willing to adopt in order to be considered average. "
— Nan, 6/17/2009Kate Klise is an author of children’s literature and one novel for adults. She spent fifteen years writing for People magazine. Many of her books are illustrated by her sister, M. Sarah Klise. She is also known for the bestselling 43 Old Cemetery Road series and other series, as well as stand-alone novels.
Johnny Heller, winner of numerous Earphones and Audie Awards, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has been a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award winner from 2008 through 2013 and he has been named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine.