Absolutely Normal Chaos [Paperback]

Sharon Creech (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 1995 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

A prequel to the 1995 Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons, Absolutely Normal Chaos proves that Sharon Creech is not the kind of author you meet once and forget -- she writes with a memorable voice that speaks directly to the thoughts and feelings of her readers. Absolutely Normal Chaos chronicles the daily life of 13-year-old Mary Lou Finney during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever.

Sharon Creech fans will recognize Mary Lou Finney and her infamous summer journal from their appearance in Walk Two Moons.

Mary Lou's journal opens with a plea, "Here it is: my summer journal . . But please PLEEEASSSE DON'T READ IT!"

What begins grudgingly as a dreaded assignment for school becomes a hilarious chronicle of the circle of people and events that make her summer. There is Carl Ray, the mysterious and troublesome cousin that comes to visit; Beth Ann Bartels, the best friend who's recently gone boy crazy; Alex Cheevy, the boy that makes Mary Lou's brains "mushy" and, of course, the Finney clan, her "normally strange family." What follows is a story of a summer filled with lessons and observations on love, death, friendship and family.

Mary Lou Finney grudgingly begins writing a journal as an assignment for school--would anything interesting ever happen to her? What follows is the story of a wildly chaotic and romantic summer. How could she have known about Carl Ray and the little black car? Or what would happen on Booger Hill? Or about the permanently pink Alex Cheevy? Mary Lou's tale is filled with hilarious observations on love, death, and the confusing mechanics of holding hands.

Sharon Creech's new fans will be thrilled to recognize Mary Lou Finney and her infamous summer journal from their appearance in Walk Two Moons. Here is the very journal that began the inquiry into whether kisses taste like chicken!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In what by now must be a subgenre in YA fiction-the novel cast as a journal written for an English assignment-Newbery Medalist Creech (Walk Two Moons) spins an affable if formulaic tale about one pivotal summer. Narrator Mary Lou, 13, the second of the five Finney children, is quite put out when she has to play maid for her uncommunicative cousin Carl Ray, 17, who comes to stay while he looks for a job. He gets one, to Mary Lou's surprise, at the hardware store owned by their new neighbor Mr. Furtz, who shortly afterward dies of a heart attack. Not only does Carl Ray remain in his new job, but an anonymous benefactor leaves him money-just like in Great Expectations, as Mary Lou points out. There the resemblance to Dickens ends: the astute reader will early on figure out the mystery behind Carl Ray's inheritance. Mary Lou is also slow to pick up clues about why her cute classmate Alex is always hanging around. Despite the occasionally creaky plot, Mary Lou's bouncy entries are still a lot of fun. Readers will enjoy her wry commentary on The Odyssey (on the school reading list), and girls especially will identify with Mary Lou's disgust at the giddy behavior of boy-crazy best friend Beth Ann and her own giggly rhapsodies on her first romance ("I am sooooo happeeeeee I can hardly stand it!"). Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9?Creech's newest story is told as a summer journal begrudgingly started as an English assignment. Mary Lou, 13, wonders if kisses with boys really taste like chicken; if her best friend will ever shut up about her new boyfriend; and how her visiting cousin, Carl Ray, can be such a silent clod, especially when someone has anonymously given him $5000. Later, when he is in a coma following a car accident, she rereads her journal and wonders how she could have been so unseeing. Mary Lou is a typical teen whose acquaintance with the sadder parts of life is cushioned by a warm and energetic family. Her entertaining musings on Homer, Shakespeare, and Robert Frost are drawn in nifty parallels to what is happening in her own life. When forbidden by her mother to say "God," "stupid," and "stuff," she makes a trek to the thesaurus to create some innovative interjections. Creech's dialogue is right on target. Her characterization is nicely done also. By comparison, this book is differently voiced than Walk Two Moons (HarperCollins, 1994), lacks that book's masterful imagery, and is more superficial in theme; but appropriately so. Creech has remained true to Mary Lou, who is a different narrator, and one who will win many fans of her own. Those in search of a light, humorous read will find it; those in search of something a little deeper will also be rewarded.?Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 29, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060269898
• ISBN-13: 978-0060269890
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,678,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sharon Creech is the author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and the Newbery Honor Book The Wanderer. Her other work includes the novels Hate That Cat, The Castle Corona, Replay, Heartbeat, Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, Ruby Holler, Love That Dog, Bloomability, Absolutely Normal Chaos, Chasing Redbird, and Pleasing the Ghost, as well as three picture books: A Fine, Fine School; Fishing in the Air; and Who's That Baby? Ms. Creech and her husband live in upstate New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alpha and Omega!, January 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Absolutely Normal Chaos (rpkg) (Paperback)

I remember when I got this book in my Easter basket two years ago. I picked it up, and didn't stop reading until I was finished. Since then I've read it about 65 times, and I still read it almost every day. "Absolutely Normal Chaos" led me to read "The Odyssey," which is another one of my favourites, and I've also taken up Mary Lou's expressions such as Omnipotent, cabbageheaded and all that other sum and substance. It is also my inspiration for journaling. I recommend "Absolutely Normal" to absolutely everyone I meet. And they all tell me I'm exactly like Mary Lou... har har har. Anyway, I guess I should go ahead and review the book.

Absolutely Normal Chaos is about a 13-year-old girl named Mary Lou Finney who is assigned by her English teacher, Mrs. Zollar, to keep a journal over the summer. Mary Lou has no idea what a journal really is, so she decides to just write away and hope she's doing it right. Over the summer, Mary Lou's cousin, Carl Ray, comes to stay with her family. She also becomes involved with Alex Cheevey, a boy from school. What happens next is an odyssey in itself, and I don't want to give away the ending to this wonderful book.

For my final sentence, two words: READ IT!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mary Lou Tells It Like It Is!, October 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Absolutely Normal Chaos (rpkg) (Paperback)

The book Absolutely Normal Chaos was written by Sharon Creech and is realistic fiction. It is about Mary Lou Finney whose English teacher asks her to write in a journal over the summer. The thirteen year old tells about her ups and downs with family and friends, and her first boyfriend, Alex. Her cousin, Carl Ray, comes to live with them and slowly they become good friends and share many secrets.

I liked the book because it was about a girl that was my age and I could relate to the things that she writes about in her journal. I didn't like that her best friend, Beth Ann, left her out and started to ignore her when she got her first boyfriend and when some girls at school started a new club and wanted her to join but they never did include Mary Lou. They made her feel jealous and left out when they would get together for their "secret" sleepovers. Mary Lou Finney was my favorite character in this book because she is a typical thirteen year old who treats everyone nicely, even her odd cousin, Carl Ray.

My favorite scene is when Carl Ray tells Mary Lou who his real father was and why his parents sent him to live with the Finneys. This is my favorite scene because my parents are very important to me and Carl Ray finally realized who his real father was. I would encourage any middle school age girl to read this book because it is written in diary form, it is easy to read, and it includes many funny incidents that happen in a girl's life. How would I feel it I was adopted, finally met my father and he dies shortly thereafter, is one question that I ased myself after reading this book. My strongest reason for recommending this book is that you never know what is going to happen next!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very intersting book!, July 23, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Absolutely Normal Chaos (rpkg) (Paperback)

This might be on my top 5 best books Iv'e ever read. This is about a girl named Mary Lou Finney that has to keep and record a journal over the summer. But the thing that she didn't know that all the intersting things would happen that summer. She got carried away, that she wrote 6 journals. Some of the things that are intersting are that her cousin Carl Ray (boring cousin) comes down to stay at their house. But at their suprise Carl Ray was hiding something and Mary Lou has to figure out. And her friend Beth Ann thats crazy over boys. Then she goes over to Carl Ray's house in West Virginia which doesn't have electricity or plumbing. She has a very fun adventure when she goes there. This book I thought was much better then "Walk Two Moons". This had much more action than Walk Two Moons. This book was very funny at times and this book had drama and fighting. It had most of all genres. I would reccommend this book to anyone. It was a great book!! Ü