The story: Adam has OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), which makes the life of a 15-year-old teen--already complicated enough--even tougher. When Robyn walks into his support group one afternoon, Adam falls instantly in love with her, and vows that he's going to make himself better so he can help her...but that's a pretty tall order, especially as his own life is getting ready to spiral out of control. Half the people around him are "disordered" too, and the other half, though meaning well, just can't help. But if Adam counts odd numbers, walks in circles, and performs all the other rituals correctly, things will work out. Right?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG-13 (plenty of implied erections here, although younger readers might not get it); Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; Adult themes (mental illness, parental neglect and mental health issues) PG-13; overall rating PG-13. (The reader is asked to figure things out, and this takes a higher level of thinking, making the book overall better for HS readers than for MS.)
Liz's comments: I originally passed this one by, but once I got going on it, I thought it was fascinating, disturbing, and sad. Adam has so many issues, and so many people pressing on him for so many different things, that it's amazing he's able to do anything about any of it. As mentioned above, readers are asked to puzzle out what's going on inside Adam's head, and those who make the effort are rewarded with a much greater insight into how a disorder like this can take over a person's life--but that kind of interest in someone else's problems is fairly rare among MS readers. This will appeal to a limited audience--but is an important book when it comes to that specific group. Recommended.
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