Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which isnear impossible when you have a brother with autism and a familythat revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying toteach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple"to "keep your pants on in public"---in order to head off David'sembarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, newsort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's alwayswished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everythingupside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?
Tomie's family starts building their new house at 26 FairmountAvenue in 1938, just as a hurricane hits town, starting off a busy,crazy year. Tomie has many adventures all his own, including eatingchocolate with his Nana Upstairs, only to find out-the hardway-that they have eaten chocolate laxative. He tries to skipkindergarten when he finds out he won't learn to read until firstgrade. "I'll be back next year," he says. When Tomie goes to seeSnow White, he creates another sensation. Tomie dePaola's childhoodmemories are hilarious, and his charming illustrations are sure toplease.