Relationships

Family

Emotions & Behavior

Grief

Health & Wellness

Mental Illness

Book Events

National Suicide Prevention Month

Awards

Pulitzer Prize Fiction Awardees & Honorees

Brian Yorkey

Adult

Play

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Book Brief

Explore Next to Normal reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

About Next to Normal

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Next to Normal and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Next to Normal Summary

contentWarning

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, gender discrimination, illness, mental illness, substance use, and sexual content.

Background

Next to Normal Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Act Summaries & Analyses

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, sexual content, mental illness, ableism, substance use, and child death.

Act I, Pages 7-32

Next to Normal Act I, Pages 7-32

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, substance use, child death, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

Act I, Pages 33-58

Next to Normal Act I, Pages 33-58

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, mental illness, emotional abuse, illness, and child death.

Act II, Pages 59-84

Next to Normal Act II, Pages 59-84

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, illness, and child death.

Act II, Pages 85-110

Next to Normal Act II, Pages 85-110

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

character

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, child death, and substance use.

Character Analysis

Next to Normal Character Analysis

theme

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, ableism, substance use, and child death.

Themes

Next to Normal Themes

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child death, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and mental illness.

Symbols & Motifs

Next to Normal Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, cursing, ableism, child death, suicidal ideation, and substance use.