OCDaniel by Wesley King

Daniel is doing his best to navigate the complicated world of middle school. Friends, girls, and football (which he doesn’t even really like) are confusing enough for an average kid.  But Daniel also has to deal with the zaps, those moments when he HAS to do something to prevent catastrophe. For example, he has to do his pre-bed routine exactly right; the correct number of steps from bedroom to bathroom, the exact number of swipes with the toothbrush, correct number of steps to the toilet; if any step is not correct, Daniel has to start all over. And perfection is hard.

Life gets harder when he gets a note from an unusual girl asking for his help.  She believes her father has been murdered and she needs someone special to help her get to the bottom of his disappearance. Daniel finds himself in the middle of a friendship, and an adventure, he never imagined (or wanted) and, in the process, discovers a name for the anxiety and actions that have ruled his life for so long; OCD.

_____________________________________

OCDaniel does a beautiful job of illuminating the inner turmoil and frustration of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, thanks to the author’s own experiences. It is a book that will make others with OCD feel they are not alone while giving others an insight into the struggles and frustration felt by those with OCD. The mix of adolescent concerns and Daniel’s zaps make him a character I was rooting for, even when he wasn’t making the best choices. The ending is satisfying without being what I had expected. This is a book I can see being read in middle school classrooms to engage students in discussion of mental health issues and would also be an excellent book for bibliotherapy for students dealing with mental health issues (their own or those of a loved one).

Themes:
Mental Health

Friendship

Growing Up

Age Appropriateness:
Any, but truly resonates for middle grades

Areas of concern (content):

Foul Language: none

Nudity/Adult Content: none

Violence: none, but there is mention of murder and suicide