A controversial topic/story written well. All sides are portrayed respectfully through endearing characters. A timely and recommended read for 7th grade and up.

📚 Whew, meet the book that's going to be the most-banned book in no time! A SHOT AT NORMAL looks antivaxxers in the eye and doesn't back down.
📚 I loved Juniper and how curious and smart she was - she took her parents' "think for yourself" ethos to heart.
📚 I'm having a hard time articulating it at the moment, but this book walks a fine line between not turning the parents into cartoon villains while also not taking a "let's hear both sides" approach.
📚 Though, sometimes, when Juniper is arguing with her parents, she does so in paragraphs of talking points that don't sound like the real words of a teenager.

ended up digging into this book and reading it in a day. Admittedly, it was a day where I was mostly lying in bed because of cramps and I could read on my phone, but still - I stayed awake and focused enough to read a whole book in a day.

The writing wasn't great, honestly. It was a lot of telling and it got kind of repetitive. Most of the book felt very surface level to me, like I was reading a summary of a book. While not something that's generally a positive, it did make it easier for me to keep going because things were moving quickly. It didn't feel like I was reading a whole book in a sitting. So, the writing is kind of hit or miss.

One of the shining spots for me was the romance. It's not an overwhelming part of the plot, but it is a big step for Juniper's quest to be a "normal" teen. Juniper is incredibly naive because she's been so isolated, but it made for a very sweet, adorable romance. Nico was lovely, even if I wish we'd gotten to know him better. He also had a friend group that he brought Juniper into, so we got to make friends with other people. I would've loved more of that.

Juniper was fairly well rounded as a narrator, but everyone else wasn't fleshed out enough. Her two younger siblings are sort of after thoughts - more evidence for her that vaccines are good. Her parents were almost caricatures of hippies. All organic, no TV, no school, they went to the second Woodstock. But there's not any kind of examination as to why they're like this and what their motivations are - even though we meet some of Juniper's grandparents and they're perfectly normal people who let Juniper watch TV and eat Oreos. I feel like if we had a better understanding of how her parents came to hold the beliefs they have, it could've been a more interesting read. Instead, they just kept saying that there were too many chemicals in vaccines.

Overall, this was a pretty average book to me. Maybe it would've hit harder if I was younger or if my parents were anti-vaxxers, but as is, it didn't do much for me. I'd probably recommend going to the library for this one.

3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a quick, easy read. Juniper lives the life of homeschooling, organic food, homemade hygiene and more. Most of it she’s ok with but when she contracts measles, she infects another person with terrible consequences. From here she is determined to get vaccinated and fight for what she believes.

She’s met with admiration from her friends and disappointment from her parents. Her parents actually act very immature and it was very disappointing to read.

While the book is definitely for vaccinations, it argued both sides decently. There were small debates throughout about homeschooling, organic food and more where once again, both sides were represented.

The story is written well and kept me entertained, however, it’s not a subject I would typically read about and therefore was not as invested.


Content Summary: The romance was mild and sweet with nothing more than brief kissing. Language was at a minimum with 1 F word. There were some intense moments of fighting between kids and parents and sicknesses with an infant death.

Interesting premise. Likable/hated characters. Cool plot. I would recommend this story to others. Some spots I found that didn't hold my attention, but overall, I still liked it.

A Shot At Normal is one of those books that pops up on the shelves at a weirdly appropriate time, seeing as we’re in the middle of a global pandemic and surrounded by anti-vaxers. I loved the sibling dynamic between Juniper, Sequoia, and Poppy and how it allowed us to see how different people deal with living a life that is full dictated for them. Heartbreaking and nuanced, this is a story that’ll stick with you!

I loved a Shot at Normal by Marsa Reichardt. It is very timely. I enjoyed that Juniper had siblings, Poppy and Sequoia. That dynamic was able to give you how different people react when they are forced into the same circumstances, such as being unvaccinated children.. I did not like the parents in this book which is good because you really aren't supposed to like them. The mother is especially awful, saying she only cares about her children. Even though she seems upset later on you really can't redeem that unless they broke down and had the kids vaccinated rather than Juniper having to go to court about her vaccines.They like to preach free thought and then force all of their opinions and way of life on their children. The younger kids I understand but once she hit 16 they should have loosened up a bit. It's interesting to see how much not having a vaccine affects every part of your life. From not being able to go to school or get a job. It's very isolating. I was actually surprised she was allowed on school property at all for the football game and the film club.
As soon as Juniper goes near the baby you know where the book will head. I am glad that that isn't forgotten about and that she is grieving even though she didn't know the family. The fact that she feels guilty about who she may have infected before she even knew makes her a great character. the small details like her noticing the woman who ended up being her lawyer with the flip flops made you feel more connected with the characters. Nico was a great character because he was not afraid of Juniper even though he freaked out a little, he liked the lifestyle she was being raised in.
The small town aspect adds to the story as well. How the one lady in the urgent care waiting room leaks that she has the measles to the town and their lives are ruined from then on is really true of small towns. I enjoyed this book a lot and will recommend it.

Pros
Timely Narrative: A very topic-driven novel, this book is perhaps no more timely than it is right at this moment, with a world in the midst of pandemic and a vaccine newly arrived on the scene. Having the perspective of an unvaccinated child represented in this book is both new and important--especially when that child loves and respects her parents, even if she doesn't agree with their choices. It is nice to see a character taking a stand for herself and her rights even while she still loves those who would deny her.

New Twist on Old Plot: A lot of contemporary YA revolves around some sort of "normal" drama. It seems that a lot of the adults writing for teenagers assume that "I want to be normal" is one of the strongest motivators for teenage drama, and so the plotline is undoubtedly a trope. Here, however, Juniper is not some geeky girl looking to fit in with the "It" crowd at school. She is, decidedly, not normal as far as her upbringing is concerned. To have a character who, by general consensus, falls outside of the range of "normal" brings new life to a tried-and-true YA plot.

Mob Mentality: Not only does Marisa Reichardt tackle a timely topic, she weaves into the narrative the imminent danger of mob mentality. With the ongoing global pandemic, it has been more and more common to see public shaming from all sides--shaming of those who don't comply with restrictions, shaming of those who do comply with restrictions, et cetera. The world climate at the moment is divisive, and seeing how this sort of mob mentality can be taken out on the wrong people--and irrevocably injure the victims at hand--is a startling reminder to pull back from the emotion and the drama every now and again to take stock and focus on the issue really at hand.


Cons
Quick Turnaround: Juniper's turnaround is too quick. Sure, she starts out already dissatisfied with the hippie-dippie lifestyle of her parents, but I don't think that should lead to her immediate rage upon getting sick. This novel doesn't leave time for Juniper to wrestle with what happened to her. She doesn't process. She doesn't evolve from dissatisfaction to rage. She simply jumps from one to the other, and this dramatic emotional leap makes the plot feel a little too melodramatic and agenda-driven.

Movie Club: As much as I like the idea, the movie club in this book just doesn't feel realistic. It is a fun way to introduce Juniper to other teenagers, other opinions, and pop culture, but it seems unlikely that someone outside of the school could just casually waltz in for a movie club meeting. I guess that's necessary for the plot, however, and perhaps ultimately forgivable. What isn't forgivable, as far as realism goes, is the fact that the club seems to watch movies indiscriminately. What high school would be allowed to show Stand By Me at all, let alone without a permission slip? This movie is rated R--that is, generally advisable for ages 17+, an age group that excludes most high schoolers. I understand that the film-buff-pop-culture dynamic is important to the plot, but this doesn't seem realistic at all.

No Hard Stance: With a plot ultimately driven by a controversial topic, this is the type of book where one would expect the author to take a stance. In fact, the author needs to take a stance for the book to be compelling, even if not everyone agrees with the conclusion. Though Juniper takes a stance for vaccines, the authorial voice does not. The parents, as far as vaccination goes, are entirely too sympathetic. Though they are portrayed as the "bad guys," they are only portrayed thus as far as rejecting Juniper's decisions for her body. They don't respect Juniper's desire to live differently, and that makes them bad parents. Their stance on vaccines isn't in question. They are also so extremely against Juniper branching out that they seem unreasonable. They don't take the time to discuss and listen (and ultimately disagree), and that just doesn't feel believable. Parents who would give their child the silent treatment for any reason feel immature in the extreme. They are comically hyperbolic. On a related note, naming a petition-signing pro-vaxxer "Karen" feels like it might be an authorial stance in the wrong direction. Nobody wants to associate with a "Karen," even if the reason her Karen Klaws are out ends up being pro-vaccine.


Rating
⭐⭐⭐
3/10

Fans of Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper will be interested in this new fight for medical emancipation. Those who enjoy diving into unfortunately "alternative" lifestyles such as the one in Amy Christine Parker's Gated should take a look at this slightly-less-than-cult-y way of living.

Okay, so I'm a huge Marisa Reinhardt fan. Her stories are always the perfect mix of brilliant, thought-provoking, and relevant. This one COMPLETELY captured my heart. Timely and gorgeously written (HELLO, swoon!), A Shot at Normal is an absolute must-read!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This novel was a contemporary YA novel about a 16ywar old girl who wants to be vaccinated against her parents wishes. This was a very thought provoking novel and I appreciated that the author portrayed love on both sides of the argument. It was a fast read and the main characters , juniper and Nico, had a clean side romance as well. This would be a great novel for a HS english class reading group.

TW: infant death (off page), anti-vax parents (and their horrible arguments)

I was only about a day post-surgery when I got the chance to read an ARC of A Shot at Normal, but despite the brain fog I immediately jumped on the chance! My brain is complete mush, so I apologize if this makes no sense. I plan to write a longer review for a blog post (and hopefully do something with the author)! Long story short, I really enjoyed the book! There were a few ideas/subplots that I think could have been explored more, but it was a solid contemporary dealing with important issues (vaccines). This book will be incredibly timely when it releases. Right around when it comes out in February more and more people will be getting their COVID-19 vaccines. A Shot at Normal explores the experience of one teen girl who decides to go against her anti-vaccine parents in an effort to get vaccinated. In some ways I was surprised at how Juniper does and doesn't react to her parents. It creates an interesting tension that could have been expanded on. While the book is a whole story, I felt like it left the door open enough to have a sequel, possibly exploring the consequences of Juniper's actions farther down the line (especially in regards to her siblings). A Shot at Normal depicts the harrowing reality of many teens who come to realize their parents are wrong. While this deals specifically with the recent issue of vaccination, any teen will relate to the frustration of arguing with a parent who is determined to be right, at any cost.

I like the idea of this book. It's an important topic and I think it started out well. It does get a bit didactic which tends to happen when YA and middle grade books are trying to impress a point upon their readers.

One thing I do think is a bit off is that Juniper's parents would let her continue to spend time with Nico after they find out his mom helped her get a lawyer. The author relied heavily on "well I guess she makes her own rules now" as a way to make that seem plausible. I don't think they'd let her continue to be influenced by him.

Not a strong read but an interesting one. I'd recommend to someone interested in the topic

Juniper and her family have always been an unusual family. Juniper's family grows most of their own food, use home made deoderant, and despite living directly across the street from a school, Juniper and her siblings are homeschooled. They are homeschooled not because they choose to turn their backs on consumerism and live off the land, but because Juniper's parent's don't believe in vaxinations. When Juniper catches the measles and accidently passes it along to a baby who dies, she becomes desperate to be vaccinated. As the knowledge of Juniper's status flows through the community and her want for vaccinations begins to tear their family apart,  she gets an unexpected taste of the "normal" world as she develops a relationship with Nico, the cute boy who goes to school across the street, and his beloved film club friends.

For some reason when I read the description of this book Ithought Juniper was middle school age, I was prepared for something very a la My Sisters Keeper but I was very wrong. What I liked about this book was also what I wanted more of. I wish there had been more of a conversation between Juniper and her parents. Let me preface this by saying, I am in support of vaccinations. I don't have kids, I don't plan to have kids, but if I did have kids, they would absolutely be vaccinated. I've heard a few of the same reasons people choose not to support vaccinations. I've heard people say vaccines cause autism (false by the way. I'm a librarian. I'm overly trained in obtaining accurate information), I've heard people say that a child's immune system is enough to fight these illnesses and/or they want to strengthen their child's immune system. I've also heard folks say that they didn't want to fill their child's body with foreign chemicals. Fine I guess. These were the same arguments that Juniper's parents used when they were willing to talk about their decision not to vaccinate at all, which... often they weren't. There may not be any additional reasons for white parents to choose not to vaccinate, but I wish there were. I wish I was satisfied but I wasn't. I liked this book. I liked this girl who knew that she could legally get an abortion without her parents consent and demanded answers to why she couldn't get vaccinations without their consent (good question by the way). 

Now some of my readers (all 2 of you) might wonder why I specified white parents, and that's because the only "excuse" for non vaccinations that I heard, that I couldn't immediately respond to, was from a black woman. A black friend of mine with two kids said she was choosing not to vaccinate her children because her family was directly affected by the Tuskegee Experiment, they were being compensated to this day, and she couldn't bring herself to risk her children with doctors that we have data to verify their prejudice against black families. She was right. I had no response. Heck I don't go to doctors until HEP forces me too because of negative experiences, such as the time I was told I didn't look sick enough to have the flu. Not only did I have the flu, SURPRISE,  I had mono too, but because I didn't "look sick enough" I had to beg for a test. I don't blame my friend.

I liked this book. I actually plan to buy it for my library collection, but I wish we saw more interaction between Juniper and her parents. I think it would have invigorated the story.

Concert is SO needed. Story didn’t feel as in depth as a YA tale could be. I am a HS librarian and I think this would fit better in a middle school library.

Juniper Jade live does not necessarily look like every other teenager's. For instance, her classroom is her kitchen table. Her classmates are her little brother and sister. Her teacher is her Dad. She can remember having had one friend outside her family, and with a recent move that number is down to zero. She dreams of attending the public school that she gazes at across the street from her house. Maybe making a new friend or meeting a cute boy. Her parents say no. She disagrees. Eventually their arguments begin to involved something much more serious.
This read had me torn. The concept is great, interesting, and something that will generate important conversation. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question for many parents today. This novel suggests who choosing not to vaccinate may look like for the parent's baby when they become a teenager. Juniper is at an age where she is trying to self identify and she doesn't feel that her parent's choices are measuring up. She is lacking independence, and now, she sees the problem as deadly. My issue with the book is that it was a bit one-sided. To the point her parents are nearly made out to be villains, or kooks. I think the debate could have used a little more finessing in the narrative. Still, I would recommend the book. Especially, with the timeliness of this Covid world.

Juniper is just like every other teen. She wants to have friends, frappuccinos, and freedom. Unlike most teens Juniper's parents have some extreme views. The most extreme among them is their stance on vaccines. None of their children received any immunizations and now must face some dark consequences.
This was a quick read, but it really leaves you thinking. The perspective of an unvaccinated teen is one not many people consider. I love how the book examines the argument from all angles and doesn't villainize the parents.

Juniper has grown up in a family where her hippie parents put their children’s health first... except when it comes to vaccinations. Will she be able to have a fight to make the choice for her own body’s well-being? There are the joys of a swoony Nico, impassioned arguments, and the sorrow of a tragic loss within this book. At times, it seems to push more of the agenda of the importance of vaccination rather than a story line, and Juniper’s parents can read as villainous, but overall this is a great book to address the topic. Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I was going to wait and write this review Monday morning, but I literally could not wait to share this book with people. A Shot at Normal by Marisa Reichardt is one of my new favorite books. It is so poignant during this uncertain time in our lives.

This book does not come out until February of 2021 and I cannot wait- like publishers, get this out AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It is that good- lighthearted, romantic, and important to understanding each other during a time like COVID-19.

Juniper James has always known she was different and just wanted to be normal. The problem was that she was born to some "hippies" who went to the 'wannabe Woodstock'. Her parents have very important moral convictions- no sugar, all organic, reuse, recycle, life and experience is the best educator. So as a sixteen year old you would expect some teenage rebellion from Juniper, but it is focused on the fact that her parents are anti-vaxxers. She and her siblings are not vaccinated. After Juniper and her siblings get sick with the Measles and Juniper ends up in the hospital, she realizes how dire her situation is.

There are a lot of key factors in this- similar to My Sisters Keeper- she is going to have to go through the legal system to get rights that should automatically be hers in the first place. She struggles with family issues as her parents do not listen to her very reasonable arguments because they do not align with their views. This story is very timely- focusing on how vaccines protect her, but more importantly protect others who are more at risk. I loved Juniper, Nico (her love interest who always supports her needs), and her family. The ending is open enough that Marisa could even follow up with a sequel, if she wanted or there was enough demand for it. There will definitely be demand for this book!.

A Shot at Normal by Marisa Reichardt is available February 2021. I know it will be in my library as son as I can get a physical copy. http://kaitlynrcarpenter.weebly.com/blog/a-shot-at-normal-by-marisa-reichardt-a-timely-novel

We hear and have thoughts on anti vaxers, but I don’t know if any of us tho k about the kids and how they feel. I enjoyed the commons themes of high school and love and belonging in this very different light. There were a few cliches and I had a small issue with a spoiler, but otherwise, pretty good. This will definitely go in my classroom library.

Works a lot better as a novel for a YA audience than as one read by an adult who likes YA. I wanted to read this based on the back cover copy, where a teenager with new age, organic, hippie parents catches measles and goes on a battle for medical emancipation. There's not much legal battle here, it focuses much more on her meeting a boy and forming a relationship with him and friendships amongst a peer group, while also exploring the tension of what Juniper wants for herself versus what her parents want for her. All great YA novel stuff.

For me, the first hurdle is right on the back of the book, that she catches measles and there are disastrous consequences. [ So there is an infant death pretty quickly in the book, and once I realized it was the baby, like the moment the baby was introduced, I read quickly through that because I am just not emotionally set for that. (hide spoiler)] Then, I truly have an issue with how the parents were portrayed. They are extremely sympathetic. Like, even for parents in a YA book, where often reasonable parenting is treated as draconian. In some circumstances, it would be considered skillful for an author to make us sympathize with characters who are villains, but here it feels sort of irresponsible? Sadly, in the US today there are more and more people who agree with the Jade's viewpoints and this "both sides" stuff is dangerous. The criticism of Juniper's parents is pretty much confined to being stubborn and not listening to their kids. Not even a discussion of how they want the kids to "think for themselves" and then throw tantrums as soon as Juniper has differing opinions than them.

Criticizing mob mentality, especially against children, is important, but this is a YA novel that could reach so many suburban children whose parents sell MLM essential oils and diffuse in a dangerous way around pets and babies, who put oils directly on skin without a carrier oil, and even ingest them (because MLM oils are "so pure!" they think this is safe, despite the medical evidence otherwise) and they really could use something that says parents are not infallible and them doing things because they love you and want to protect you doesn't make them automatically right.

Nico's peanut allergy and bee sting allergy are slightly interesting because Juniper recognizes how wonderful the medical technology of an epipen is, but I wonder what the story would look like if there was a cancer survivor in the film club, so she couldn't be welcomed in as easily? Or someone who had a rare vaccine reaction and couldn't be up to date and truly needed herd immunity to protect them?

The book ends pretty abruptly, with the court decision, and the promise that there will be ramifications in Juniper's relationships, but then the consequences don't get to be explored. The toddler-like tantrums of her parents ignoring her and not speaking to her and not setting a place at the dinner table for her is straight up emotional abuse and I found it difficult for the book to not have a hard stance that this is wrong, even if it is mostly from Juniper's point of view. This all could make for some great discussion in a teen book group, but I'm wary of a teen reading it on their own without someone to discuss it critically with.