Searching for Normal review

About the Book:

They thought she was going to die. At three-and-a-half years old, bed-ridden shivering in a cold sweat, Alison Neuman's tiny fingers wrap around her mother's for strength. But even at this age, Alison is determined to beat the odds.

When years of hospitalization robs her of most of her childhood, she finds joy.

When children and adults avoid her like the plague, she finds friendship.

When she cracks her skull in a playground accident, when her math teacher holds her back a grade, and when she is mistreated by the medical professionals that were entrusted to help her, she finds strength.

And even when it becomes clear that the painful disease she has, dermatomyositis, will leave her wheel-chair bound for the rest of her life, Alison does not let it defeat her.

She will conquer it, she will achieve her greatest dreams and along her journey to finding normal, she will find joy, humor, passion and music.

In this inspirational true story, Alison Neuman tells of her daily mission to triumph over pain, to prove wrong the naysayers that say she "cannot", and become a reminder to us all that can't is only a mindset and happiness is a choice.

For More Information


Searching for Normal: A Memoir is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Watch the book video at YouTube. 

My Review

4/5

At 3 1/2 Alison becomes sick. She spends her life being treated differently by others. Though she does not let this bring her down. She finds happiness and friendship. The creativeness that she has does not go away with this diagnoses. 

I normally do not read Memoirs but I am glad I did. This book was sad at times but you could see her fighting spirit. Nothing was going to keep her from being happy. 

Mainly you could see how amazing her mother was. I loved how she seemed to dedicate this to her strong and amazing mother.

The book took its time but it was deliberate. It gave you time to really understand and think about what she went through. It made you laugh and feel for her. I loved it and it was such a great book.

It is a definite read if you love memoirs.

About the Author

No one ever expected Alison Neuman to live past the age of three, let alone become a successful author and performer.

Now, an inspirational figure, Neuman has never let the painful disease she suffers with, dermatomyositis, dictate what she can and cannot achieve in her life.

An award-winning singer, Neuman has even done dance performances with the iDance and Cripsie Groups in her native Edmonton, Alberta, Canadian hometown. Along the way, she has become a college graduate, earning a degree in creative writing from MacEwen College, despite being told she'd never amount to anything.

Searching for Normal is her memoir and anthem to anyone who is suffering through sickness or obstacles that seem too impossible to overcome.

"You can and will achieve life's greatest dreams," Neuman says, "if you take it one step at a time; even if that step is while you navigate via a wheelchair."

For More Information

Visit Alison Neuman’s website.
Connect with Alison on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit Alison’s blog.
More books by Alison Neuman.
Contact Alison.