The World of Normal Boys

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The World of Normal Boys
Author	Karl Soehnlein
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Kensington Books
Publication date	2000
Media type	Print (Paperback & Hardback)
Pages	282 pp (United States paperback first edition)
ISBN	ISBN 1-57566-661-8

The World of Normal Boys, published in 2000, is the first novel by Karl Soehnlein. The coming-of-age story centers on 13-year-old Robin MacKenzie, who discovers that he is unlike most other adolescent males.

[edit] Plot summary

MacKenzie develops a fascination for 17-year-old neighbour Todd Spicer who, despite often teasing MacKenzie, initiates a sexual relationship with the younger boy, whom Spicer invites to a party after which they go swimming on a golf course and Spicer performs oral sex on MacKenzie. MacKenzie further forms a close bond with freshman Scott Schatz, with whom MacKenzie engages in drug use, kissing, and mutual masturbation. MacKenzie learns that, two years earlier, Spicer and Schatz were involved in a sexual relationship, when Todd was aged fifteen and Scott was twelve. MacKenzie is troubled by this, but his relationship with Schatz is ultimately unaffected.

During the novel, MacKenzie's younger brother Jackson dies some time after falling from a slide and breaking his neck, an incident Robin blames himself for although it is not anyone's fault. As a result Robin's family begins to break down: his father becomes violent towards Robin, and Robin's longstanding bond with his mother begins to be affected. His younger sister Ruby becomes religious and also closer to Robin.