Violet Beller, thanks again for reading and providing terrific notes. Helen Perelman Bernstein, thanks for suggesting the cover concept. Samantha Bernstein, thanks for sharing your lovely Zentangle self-portrait.
When cancer strikes a kid, it’s a thunderbolt aimed at the whole family. Fortunately, our family is tough—especially Alex, who read an early draft and provided incisive comments. Alex, your strength of character, insight, and empathy will never cease to amaze me. I love and respect you like crazy. Thank you for allowing me to tell this story—not your story, of course, but of course your story was the inspiration.
As ever, I owe my daughter Lizzy bottomless gratitude for several rounds of reading and editing (with her scary pencil), as well as behind-the-scenes support. Josh, thanks for all your encouragement, counsel, and humor, which always keeps me going. Dani, a extra-special hug for all your bravery and goodness. And Chris: you’re the best husband and father imaginable. You’re also an amazing reader and editor, and I couldn’t do this writing thing without you. Thanks for collaborating with me on absolutely everything. I love you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BARBARA DEE is the author of Halfway Normal, Star-Crossed, Truth or Dare, The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys, Trauma Queen, This Is Me From Now On, Solving Zoe (Bank Street Best Children’s Books), and Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life (Publishers Weekly starred review).
Barbara is one of the founders and directors of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her family, two naughty cats, and a rescue hound dog named Ripley. Read more about Barbara at BarbaraDeeBooks.com.
ALADDIN
Simon & Schuster, New York
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
authors.simonandschuster.com/Barbara-Dee
ALSO BY BARBARA DEE
Star-Crossed
Truth or Dare
The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys
Trauma Queen
This Is Me From Now On
Solving Zoe
Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Aladdin hardcover edition September 2017
Text copyright © 2017 by Barbara Dee
Jacket illustration and hand-lettering copyright © 2017 by Jenna Stempel
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
ALADDIN and related logo are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or [email protected].
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Art direction by Jessica Handelman
Interior designed by Greg Stadnyk
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dee, Barbara, author.
Title: Halfway normal / by Barbara Dee.
Description: First Aladdin hardcover edition. | New York : Aladdin, 2017. |
Summary: Twelve-year-old cancer survivor Norah struggles to fit in at middle school after two years of treatment, but she finds her voice with the help of new friend Griffin, who shares her love of mythology.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017003893 (print) | LCCN 2017031288 (eBook) | ISBN 9781481478533 (eBook) | ISBN 9781481478519 (hardcover)
Subjects: | CYAC: Middle schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | Friendship—Fiction. | Leukemia—Fiction. | Family problems—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / New Experience. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Emotions & Feelings.
Classification: LCC PZ7.D35867 (eBook) | LCC PZ7.D35867 Hal 2017 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017003893
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1: The Girl Who
Chapter 2: All Behind You Now
Chapter 3: Nice Haircut
Chapter 4: Doodles
Chapter 5: Lucky Me
Chapter 6: All Better Now
Chapter 7: Friendship Bracelet
Chapter 8: Best Part of The Day
Chapter 9: The Whole Story
Chapter 10: The Full Experience
Chapter 11: Hydra
Chapter 12: Ready for Flight
Chapter 13: Something I Need to Tell You
Chapter 14: Sort of Hiding
Chapter 15: Unexplained Absence
Chapter 16: Silly Putty
Chapter 17: What You Say
Chapter 18: Bad Hair Day
Chapter 19: The Social Thing
Chapter 20: Earrings
Chapter 21: Spider-Girl
Chapter 22: Kraken
Chapter 23: Girl Talk
Chapter 24: Cyclops
Chapter 25: All About Feelings
Chapter 26: A Pair of Green Dragons
Chapter 27: Hera
Chapter 28: Evil Bug
Chapter 29: Pink
Chapter 30: Captivity
Chapter 31: Q and A
Chapter 32: Rock Star
Chapter 33: Whoosh
Chapter 34: Persephone
Chapter 35: The Dog
Chapter 36: Pomegranate
Chapter 37: Omigods: Speech Day in Ms. Farrell’s Second Period English Class
Chapter 38: Loch Ness Monster
Chapter 39: Underworld
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
