Normal

Starred review from November 11, 2019
In this touching debut, Newman relays the story of her teenage son, Nathaniel, who was born with Treachers Collins syndrome—a craniofacial condition characterized by undeveloped cheekbones and ears and severe respiratory problems. After an uneventful pregnancy, Newman and her husband, Russell, were excited to meet their new baby, but when he was delivered, the room went silent and Newman saw “every single person’s face change to the same mask of pure shock.” From that moment, normal took on a new meaning: Would Nathaniel be able to eat without the aid of a gastrointestinal tube? Would he be able to hear without ears? Treachers Collins Syndrome meant constant medical care and multiple surgeries to allow Nathaniel to breathe, as well as a major surgery to expand his face that required him to wear a “halo” with 16 screws mounted to his head. Nathaniel endured 67 surgeries before age 15; during this time, Newman battled two different types of lymphoma. Newman writes tenderly about these often heartbreaking events as her family, medical professionals, and friends all worked to support Nathaniel on his road to “normal.” Readers looking for an inspiring story about the power of the human spirit will find one here.

November 18, 2019
In alternating narratives, mother and son team Magdelena and Nathaniel, who is 16, tell the story of Nathaniel’s birth and young life with Treacher Collins syndrome. Magdelena describes the ways their lives have changed as awareness of Treacher Collins grew following the publication of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder; Nathaniel also notes that, while he’s glad for the growing attention and representation of Treacher Collins, his experiences are entirely his own. Educational and enlightening information about Nathaniel’s craniofacial differences (“My nose didn’t connect to my airway”), a planned year and a half of surgeries to give Nathaniel more autonomy, and milestones, such as coming home from the hospital more than a month after his birth, add structure to the narrative. But it’s the honest—sometimes joyful, sometimes painful, and occasionally unflattering—memories that prove most compelling. As Nathaniel and Magdelena share their family’s story, illustrating that “normal” is all about perspective, they demonstrate the ways in which the Newmans are imperfect individuals for whom Treacher Collins is one aspect of identity. Line drawings by Swaab (the Secrets to Ruling School series) depict significant passages, such as Nathaniel’s G-tube becoming dislodged, in accessible cartoons that add levity to the narrative. Also available: Normal: A Mother and Her Beautiful Son, for adults. Ages 10–up.