The World of Normal Boys

Infobox Book
name = The World of Normal Boys
author = Karl Soehnlein
country = United States
language = English
genre = Young-adult fiction
Gay teen fiction
publisher = Kensington Books
release_date = August 1, 2001
media_type = Print (Paperback and Hardback)
pages = 282 pp (United States paperback first edition)
isbn = ISBN 1-57566-661-8

"The World of Normal Boys", published in 2001, 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.

Plot

It's 1978, New Jersey: "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" are big. 13-year-old Robin MacKenzie is caught in a triangular relationship with next-door neighbor Todd Spicer and classmate Scott Schatz.

Robin develops a fascination for 17-year-old neighbor Todd who, despite often teasing him, initiates a sexual relationship with the younger boy, whom Todd invites to a party after which they go swimming on a golf course and Todd performs oral sex on Robin. Robin further forms a close bond with freshman Scott, with whom Robin engages in drug use, kissing, and mutual masturbation. Robin learns that, 2 years earlier, Todd and Scott were involved in a sexual relationship, when Todd was 15 and Scott was 12. Robin is troubled by this, but his relationship with Scott is ultimately unaffected.

During the novel, Robin'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.

Characters

* Robin MacKenzie - A 13-year-old trying to put his life back together after starting relationships with two boys who have been in a relationship themselves 2 years before.
* Todd Spicer - Robin's neurotic 17-year-old next-door neighbor and Victoria's older brother.
* Scott Schatz - A gay high school freshman who becomes infatuated with Robin. Scott lives with his abusive father.
* Jackson MacKenzie - Robin's adventurous younger brother who falls from a slide, breaking his neck.
* Ruby MacKenzie - Robin's shy 12-year-old sister, after the accident, she becomes religious and closer to her brother as he protects her from their rotten cousin Larry.
* Dorothy and Clark MacKenzie - Robin, Jackson, and Ruby's chronically dissatisfied mom and salesman dad.
* Victoria Spicer - Todd's cute younger sister, whom Robin shares a friendship.
* Larry MacKenzie - Robin's oafish cousin, who loves teasing Ruby.
* Corinne and Stan MacKenzie - Robin, Ruby, and Jackson's kindly aunt and crude uncle.