Totally Normal

By Author / Illustrator

Emily Dempster, Laura Wood

Genre

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books

ISBN

9781529533330

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-07-2026

Synopsis

'Children are like pancakes - the first one is always a bit weird.
Well, the first pancake in my family is me.'

Ellie finds it hard to focus on boring stuff like homework and chores. She would much rather hang out with her BFFFL Arya or play improv games in drama class. Mum and Dad want Ellie to be more like her eight-year-old brother Stewart, or as Ellie likes to call him, Mr Perfect.

But Ellie has a truly excellent, fool-proof plan to get out of doing homework, chores and school for good: she's going to become a famous pop star!

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Reviews

Jenny

One of a kind, and the eldest child in the family, Ellie finds the boring stuff in life hard to handle - she struggles with small talk, can't focus on the dull, daily duties and feels like society, and her own family, don't really "get" her non-perfect weird and messy self. Demands and expectations leave her irate and emotionally overwhelmed and perfect younger brother Stewart's behaviour only highlights where Ellie feels she is a disappointment.

Ellie's latest plan is to harness her creative, drama-loving characteristics and eventually become a teenage pop star, just like her idol Billie Eilish. She just needs to focus enough to learn the piano from scratch, for a start . . .

Totally Normal is an early chapter book that is warm and funny and explores what "normal" looks like in a family. Ellie herself, is on a journey of self-discovery and finding her own identity. Author Emily Dempster doesn't refer directly to any neurodiversity that Ellie has, but she is a warm, endearing and positive representation of a young, female character, navigating school and home life whilst feeling set apart from how the world seems to expect her to behave, think and feel.

Refreshing relevant, relatable and contemporary – the book is fast-paced and perfectly pitched for a young, independent reader. Ellie's first person narrative means the reader experiences her thoughts and feelings right alongside her, with their highs, lows and moments of chaos and calm.

Totally Normal is an endearing story that celebrates finding your voice, being proud of your own uniqueness and learning how to stay connected with those you love.

224 pages / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher