My favourite scene in Am I Normal Yet? is when the girls have a Spinster Club meeting about the ridiculousness of period shame, blue blood in adverts, and paying tax on tampons. So I was very excited when I came across these two videos. A Taylor Swift spoof, and emmablackery rollerskating in blood-splattered cream trousers? I LOVE THE INTERNET!
Holly x
Today, we hear from the FAB Jess of Jess Hearts Books fame on ‘normal’, feminism and cheesy snacks:
What is ‘normal’?
I used to think that being ‘normal’ meant having it together, being like everybody else. But everybody has their own struggles that you don’t get to see behind the scenes and so now I think that ‘normal’ means being completely messed up but being brave enough to carry on anyway.
What message did you take away from Am I Normal Yet?
For me it drove home just how tough being a teenage girl is in a society that sends you mixed messages and impossible standards to live up to. It’s a treacherous road to navigate. I’m so happy that there is a book out there that points this out and stands up for girls providing them with feminist main characters that I hope inspire them to speak out against these messages that society sends them.
What does feminism mean to you?
Feminism to me means absolute equality between the sexes. It means busting harmful gender stereotypes that hurt both men and women. It means a movement that benefits everyone.
What other YA novels about mental health would you recommend?
Another incredible YA book I read this year about mental health was All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. If you’re interested in reading another informative YA book about OCD in particular I’d recommend Amy and Matthew by Cammie McGovern.
And finally, what’s your go-to cheesy snack?
Wotsits. It really doesn’t get any better than Wotsits.
Thanks so much Jess for taking part in the #100DaysofNormal YA Blogger series. Read Jess’s review of Am I Normal Yet? over on her blog, Jess Hearts Books, as well as lots of other brilliant reviews and features! Enjoy!
‘Calvin Harris can smoulder and bulge in his pants as much as he
wants to. He’s not the part of Taylor’s life I’m most jealous of.
…It’s her squad.
I want to be at her pool parties. I want to be backstage posing
for pics. I want HER TO BE MY BEST FRIEND EVER…but more than anything…I
really want to nab all of her friends….’
Read Holly’s feature on squads, trophy boyfriends and loving yourself over at Maximum Pop!
We’re big fans of GIRLLOSTINTHECITY.COM, a blog written by journalist
and social media editor Emma Gannon. It covers just about anything from
London life to books and culture.
So we were VERY excited when Emma interviewed Holly as part of her new author series (the first author to be featured was none other than Rainbow Rowell!)
Read Emma’s interview with Holly over at GIRLLOSTINTHECITY.COM. Enjoy!
It should be easy telling people you have mental health issues. But we know it isn’t. There’s still stigma and misunderstanding, and just plain aresholery.
Ultimately it’s up to you what you choose to disclose about yourself. But, although it’s daunting, if you find people who love you for who you are – even snotty/crying/panicky/dark/numb bits of you – it can help set you free (and realise that everyone is slightly nuts too, we’re just all pretending we’re not).
Not sure if you’re ready for a full disclosure yet? We have a great article over at TheSite.org called ‘How To Talk About Your Mental Health’. I hope you find it helpful.
Holly x
My two lives are COLLIDING this week, and thesite.org is taking over #100DaysOfNormal. When I’m not writing books, I work as a journalist and relationship expert for this brilliant charity website. It’s such a great resource for young people, and can help you with practically EVERY problem you could imagine growing up. Working there has influenced my writing so much, and I’m so excited we’re combining forces this week.
Follow @TheSite for prizes, advice articles, and exclusive videos. Today, find out how to submit your questions to Holly and how to win 1 of 3 signed limited editions of Am I Normal Yet?! See you over there!
Holly x
Thank you SO much to Sam at The Alligator’s Mouth bookshop in Richmond for this amazing review of Am I Normal Yet?
“Bourne’s writing is subtle but sensitive, addressing the day-to-day
struggles of both anxiety and OCD with sensitivity but without
restraint, bringing all of the uncomfortable truths of living with these
disorders into well-studied relief. Above and alongside this, Am I Normal Yet?
is a brilliant and humorous tale of teenage love and loss, with Bourne
lending her signature and much-needed feminist touch to the issues of
relationships, consent, mental health, and what it means to be a girl.”
Read the review in full over on The Alligator’s Mouth bookshop website.
Get your copy of Am I Normal Yet? at your local independent bookshop, or order online through The Hive.
Today sees the start of our #100DaysofNormal YA Blogger series and we are SUPER excited about it. We’ve talked to some brilliant YA book bloggers and asked them 5 BIG questions inspired by some of the themes in Am I Normal Yet?
Today we hear from the very lovely Amber who runs the Mile Long Bookshelf blog and vlog:
What is ‘normal’?
I’ve always thought ‘normal’ to be a lie. Everyone is different, and it’s not like we’re given a manual at birth on how to be normal. No, we’re left to be our own person and to develop our own tastes. Everyone is so different that I don’t think ‘normal’ can even exist.
What message did you take away from Am I Normal Yet?
So many! This book really is a goldmine. I think the main message I took away from the book is that the more open we are about things seen as ‘taboo’, the better. It’s okay to talk about your problems, whether the problem is that you’re seriously falling behind at school or you’re struggling with your mental health. Anyone who mocks you for it isn’t really your friend. And it’s okay to be open about feminism. If you’re given the opportunity to dent a stigma, throw massive rocks at it until the stigma has become a heap of junk on the floor.
What does feminism mean to you?
Equality for all genders, always.
What other YA novels about mental health would you recommend?
Am I Normal Yet? is the best book I’ve read about mental health. The next one on my list is Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. It’s about a fourteen-year-old girl who has social anxiety, like me, and whilst it gives a really good glimpse into that life and how it’s dealt with, it’s also really funny – much like this book!
And finally, what’s your go-to cheesy snack?
Pizza dotted with juicy tomatoes and dripping with cheese. Is that a snack or a meal? Pizza is life, that’s what it is. (I also like cheesy Doritos.)
Thanks SO much for taking part in our #100DayofNormal blogger series, Amber!
Make sure you head over to Amber’s blog, The Mile Long Bookshelf for fantastic features and reviews. We especially love her ‘How I Deal with Anxiety and Panic Attacks’ post (which we featured for #100DaysofNormal earlier this week!).
The #100DaysofNormal Blogger series will be back on Saturday 15th August when we’ll hear from the brilliant Jo at Once Upon a Bookcase. Don’t miss it!
