Torn from Normal [Kindle Edition]

Martin Bartloff (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

There aren't many guys out there writing YA books, and those that do tend to favor humorous stories. Martin Bartloff isn't one of those guys. Torn From Normal is a book that shows how bleak the world can look to a young boy with no resources, and that resonates with the tragedy of what might have been. While not exactly a light read, it's a good reminder that childhood is not necessarily idyllic, and not everyone has their best times during youth. You may need a box of tissues close by, but it's worth the read.

Ophelia Julien --http://www.amazon.com/review/R2DW35SRZ4327T/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

I read this book and just bawled my eyes out. The story is so timely and so close to my heart. I have a teenage son and to think of what might happen if he were to go through the tragedies Andy faces in this book really shook me up. The writing is sensitive and develops the relationships between the fathers and sons in such a subtle way, it adds depth to an already deeply moving story.

Yeah, don't forget the hanky!

J.R. Turner --http://www.amazon.com/review/R39XMMKWA4BL02/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Martin Bartloff's debut novel Torn from Normal is a riveting tale that captivates readers of all ages. Set on the eastern seaboard of the United States, the book's main character, Andy Riley, takes you on a journey that will forever embed him into your heart. A series of heart-wrenching events sadly tear Andy away from all he has ever known. He finally finds the solace he intensely longs for when he befriends another boy and his father; characters who will also endear you as you travel with them through the course of a summer. As you read, you will find that the book ingeniously draws you into its pages and refuses to let you go until you have turned the very last page; and even then you will find yourself still thinking about Andy and the friends he grew to love.

Suzanne Schott M. Ed. --http://martinbartloff.blogspot.com/2009/07/torn-from-normal-recent-reviews.html

Martin Bartloff's debut novel Torn from Normal is a riveting tale that captivates readers of all ages. Set on the eastern seaboard of the United States, the book's main character, Andy Riley, takes you on a journey that will forever embed him into your heart. A series of heart-wrenching events sadly tear Andy away from all he has ever known. He finally finds the solace he intensely longs for when he befriends another boy and his father; characters who will also endear you as you travel with them through the course of a summer. As you read, you will find that the book ingeniously draws you into its pages and refuses to let you go until you have turned the very last page; and even then you will find yourself still thinking about Andy and the friends he grew to love.

Suzanne Schott M. Ed. --http://martinbartloff.blogspot.com

Product Description

Andy Riley has lost both of his parents in a very short time. With no family worth speaking of, he heads off in search of freedom. What he finds is a vagrant life with a gang of kids who get their kicks trying to rob people. One night, things go too far and Andy finds himself being rescued by a man driving a blue Porsche. He never would have imagined.

Danny knows his dad would never leave a kid bleeding alone in an alley. He's had quite a few foster brothers, and something in the way Andy looks tells Danny, the boy could use a friend.

Desperate to belong and to find the answers to questions that haunt him, Andy does everything he can to fit in with his new "family." Not quite sure of his own feelings, he grabs hold, terrified of losing everything again. But even though they say they want him around, Andy isn't sure they mean it. When Danny and his father make a trip abroad, the law won't allow Andy to go, and all of his feelings of despair and abandonment overwhelm him.

Despite the kindness and love Andy has found, he can't overcome the loss that drives him down a path with no way back.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 391 KB
• Publisher: Snowflake International (December 13, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0030MIUX4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,738 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Martin Bartloff

Born in Werl, a small town in the North Rhine-Westphalia province of Germany, Martin was the youngest of five boys. As a child he strived to better himself and entertain others. Anything that had wheels fascinated him and he organized and performed dare-devil bicycle events in his neighborhood.

Martin earned two European trade school diplomas before vacationing in the United States in August of 1991, a vacation he never returned from. He settled on the Virginia coastline where his fascination with all things vehicular led him to open his own European automotive business in 1994. To satisfy his need to entertain, Martin began his career as an author in 2007. Today he lives with his teenage son, in Hampton, Virginia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, August 27, 2010

By 

YZubarev - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Torn from Normal (Paperback)

Torn from Normal is simply one of the best teen short novels I have read since I was a teenager myself. Martin Bartloff thrusts you into a story that's so real you can almost see yourself present at every situation described in the book. Not only are the places relateable but the characters seem somewhat familiar, as if you've known them all along. The book is fast paced and reads like an adventure book, yet it maintains the visual imagery and detail that one would expect from a novel. However, having read through it I came to wonder about how much of it was fiction and how much of it was based on the authors own experience. Over all I would strongly suggest this book to lovers of young adult fiction. This was a wonderful book and a wonderful story. I hope that author has another one in the works as there is clearly a talent for writing and story telling. Keep writing Martin, and keep driving that Porsche! It really was a heck of a book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tender, Well Written Story, July 8, 2010

By 

Ryan Field "Ryan Field Romance Writer" (New Hope, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torn from Normal (Paperback)

Torn from Normal is one of those books you don't see very often. It tugs at the heart and makes you stop and think about the important things in life. It's well written and moves along at a nice pace. And when you're finished, the characters remain with you for a long time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Always Rainbows and Butterflies, June 2, 2010

By 

Lukas Schmidt - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torn from Normal (Paperback)

After reading Mr. Bartloff's 'Torn From Normal' I began to think about how so many writers of youth novels cater to the whim of their readers by creating a fantasy world where everything is okay. Mr. Bartloff however, refuses. Harkening back to my days as a teenager, I commend 'Torn From Normal' for its honesty. The Disney Channel is filled with programs where adolescents live wonderful lives and deal with trivial matters day in and day out. But making young people think that there will be no real, demoralizing struggles throughout there lives can have detrimental effects.

Andy, the protagonist in 'Torn From Normal', is never given the luxuries of life he so very much deserves. Yes, he deserves to be happy. He is a good kid with a kind heart and Mr. Bartloff conveys this very well. But just like in the real world, a world some don't like to explore, Andy finds himself trying to cope with painful experiences and difficult choices. His greatest fault is that he believes no one can understand his pain and he chooses to bottle it up inside. Andy is no different than the shy boy who sits in the back of the classroom who everyone ignores because they believe he wants to be.

It is my opinion that the overall message of the book is a positive one despite its harsh realities. There are so many characters throughout the book that truly care for Andy. I guess the point of this review and the point the book is trying to make is that no matter what you are going through in your life, you cannot assume that others don't understand. There is always someone, be it a friend, family member or a stranger on the other end of a helping hotline, that will listen.