Author: Jane O'Reilly
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: All the Answers by Kate Messner
OCDaniel by Wesley King
Rating:
 |
| intensely emotional |
Summary (provided by publisher): Eleven-year-old Cooper Cameron likes things to be in order. When he eats, he chews every bite three times on each side. Sometimes he washes his hands in the air with invisible water. He invented these rituals after the death of his beloved grandfather to protect others he loves from terrible harm.
But when Cooper's strange behavior drives a wedge between his parents, and his relationship with his older sister, Caddie, begins to fray, his mother's only solution is to take Cooper and Caddie to the family cabin for the summer.
My opinion: The thing about OCD is we all have an idea of what it looks like, usually involving an inexplicable need to wash one's hands. So most portrayals are essentially the same. This one stands out because of the emotions. In particular, desperation. All of Cooper's actions have a desperate air about them. He's terribly unhappy but that mental stumbling block won't let go of him. Now, I will say Cooper is the only character that has much in the way of depth but that's okay in this case because it also reflects Cooper's increasing distance from those around him. It's not a comfortable book, certainly not one I'd recommend to an emotionally fragile child. But if you're willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone you're in for a treat.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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