Wesley King's "Sara and the Search for Normal"

Wesley King

Wesley King is the author of the Edgar Award–winning OCDaniel, which Booklist praised as “complex and satisfying” in a starred review. It was also named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and received Canada’s Silver Birch Award. King’s first middle grade novel, The Incredible Space Raiders from Space!, was called “a well-drafted coming-of-age story” by Publishers Weekly. King is also the author of The Vindico and its sequel, The Feros, which were both Junior Library Guild selections, and Kobe Bryant’s New York Times bestselling Wizenard series.

Here King dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, Sara and the Search for Normal:

I always enjoy this game. And, in fact, the companion book OCDaniel is currently being developed for a film by the amazing team at Ley Line Entertainment. That one is still in screenplay production, but I am sure all authors at least think about adaptations at every stage. For myself, I prioritize directors and subsequently the style. Sara and the Search for Normal is very voice-y and sarcastic and dry...it relies so much on her singular voice and her changing view of the world. Getting Sara right would be a critical. I don't know a ton of young actresses (Sara is twelve), but definitely someone who can master that droll delivery, but is evocative enough to portray our inner demons in an external way. No small order. Well, enough pretext. Here is my list: 

Director: Taika Watiti (he can balance humor an heart so well) 

Sara: Siena Agudong 

Erin: Whoever is the current teen Emma Stone 

Her troubled father: Tom Hardy (why not?) 

Mother: Rachel McAdams (I needed a Canadian) 

Random extra walking in the background: Me

Visit Wesley King's website.

Q&A with Wesley King.

--Marshal Zeringue