Normal Child

Fourteen-year-old Agnes is suddenly moved from Pilsen to the middle of nowhere. She has an anxiety disorder, and her parents, especially her mother, want her to be a 'normal' child. They believe a calm environment, homemade jams, a regular routine, and drinking goat's milk will help.

But what if the anxiety keeps coming back, literally making Agnes weak at the knees, even though she follows all the rules? What triggers her fears? And why do they disappear precisely when she's near William, the most restless, least organised person Agnes has ever met?

In her new book, Tereza Kopecká returns to the theme of anxiety, which she already explored in the comic book Naprostá šílenost (Absolute Madness). Once again, she shows that she can tackle a serious topic convincingly, yet with creative lightness. This time, she has dedicated her novel to all readers aged 11 and up.

Tereza Kopecká (1984) has a passion for stories. She has published several children's books, and her long-held dream was to write a comic book script inspired by real life. She achieved this in 2021 with Naprostá šílenost (Absolute Madness) (Paseka & Pasparta), for which she received a Muriel Award. Paseka also published Ještěrky (Lizards) (2023), a holiday story about the friendship between Agnes, Kiki, and Klára, and Dorka (2025), about a curious little girl and a summer adventure.