Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes ed. by Nora Shalaway Carpenter (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes ed. by Nora Shalaway Carpenter April Spisak Carpenter, Nora Shalaway, ed. Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes; edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callen. Candlewick, 2023 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781536224146 $24.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781536232950 $16.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 In this uniquely informed collection, sixteen authors with personal experiences with mental health conditions and struggles offer short fiction that challenges stereotypes of what it means to be "normal" in an unforgiving world that still stigmatizes people being, for example, anxious, depressed, or isolated while trying to navigate it. There is remarkable diversity within and beyond that shared theme: gender identity, sexuality, race, cultural identity, diagnoses and treatment, and varying access to support and resources are all elements that impact mental health. Some stories are glimpses into the supernatural, as a vampire must move beyond his introvert comfort zone and engage with people to save his town, or as a protagonist anxiously considers the implications a wish granted. Others feel searingly autobiographical, sharp anger or bruised melancholy laid bare for readers to potentially see themselves within one of these pieces. Hope in this collection is a tricky beast, sometimes right in front of a character in the form of a supportive [End Page 251] person or a coping mechanism that actually works, and other times tucked away in a shaded corner and difficult to spot. Vulnerable, personal author notes after each story, a compelling and urgent introduction, and a sturdy list of mental health resources provide context and support. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois