A Drop in the Ocean

by Léa Taranto

Sixteen-year-old Mira Durand has just been checked into the Residency Adolescent Treatment Centre for obsessive compulsive and comorbid disorders. Four years of being passed around different psych wards like a hot potato have only worsened her OCD and anorexia. Her brutal, religious compulsions, which she believes keep her mom safe, make her less of a clean freak and more of a freak freak. No wonder her only friend is her journal.

At the Residency's Ward 2, Mira discovers that her shrink is a fellow fantasy nerd and that her wardmates have enough of their own high-risk behaviours to tolerate hers. The complex friendships she forms with them (including a first love), the slow trust she builds with her treatment team, and the outside and family visits she earns give her things to look forward to beyond the drudgery of her compulsions. But it takes visiting Gung Gung, her dying maternal grandfather, for her to realize that to truly live, she must fight the cognitive distortions at the heart of her compulsions.

Genres: Young Adult, Disability, Fiction, Mental Health, Contemporary

296 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2025

About the author

Léa Taranto (she/her) is a disabled, Chinese Jewish Canadian writer who spent her childhood reading fantasy. Her adolescence was much the same, except certified in various inpatient facilities for life-threatening OCD and comorbid disorders. She writes stories where neurodivergent readers see themselves in her characters while also acknowledging mental health's intersectionalities, including race, ability, gender and sexuality. Based on lived experience, her debut novel is A Drop in the Ocean. A University of British Columbia MFA graduate and Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio alumnus, find her beachcombing on the traditional, unceded land of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Halkomelem) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) speaking peoples in BC.

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A drop in the ocean" is about a teenager named Mira who has severe OCD. She lives in a psych ward, where she goes to school. The book is about her experiences on the ward, her friendships and a romantic relationship.
Mira also has many sessions with the nurses and with her psychiatrist, Dr. Grant. Her OCD involves a lot of rituals, but one of the worst is banging her head against walls. Reading about this was very difficult for me.

I think the author did a great job at explaining mental illnesses and things that happen in a psych ward. She was able to describe terms like PRN and safety plan, to make it more accessible for readers.

All in all, this was a thought-provoking book.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an advanced copy . This is a very gritty, realistic view of what goes on in a teen treatment facility and how challenging life can be for kids with mental health issues, and way less than idyllic lives. Mia struggles to fit in anywhere and yet creates a place of healing for herself and discovers some fairly important truths along the way. The book allows one to step in and experience A world that hopefully they never have to really experience. Graphic and honest and filled with some pretty raw emotions. Loved it.

[Elizabeth JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cant describe how beautiful, touching and real this story is! Wishing I could give young Mira the biggest of hugs ❤️

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry. Full review soon
Thank you to the author for my ARC!

[Chelsey Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, beautiful book

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s really no other way to say it. I loved this book so much. Sixteen-year-old Mira is spunky and fiercely spirited—also, she is held in a vice-like grip by her OCD compulsions. After a series of rehabilitation programs, Mira lands at the Residency Adolescent Treatment Center, where she finds community, healing, and love in the unlikely group of wardmates and staff, along with the courage to face her compulsions.

A DROP IN THE OCEAN is full of compassion and heart, but it is also unflinchingly direct in its depiction of mental illness, complex as it is. Mira’s story resists ableist narratives of overcoming illness, rejects the unrealistic fantasy of oversimplified self-acceptance as well. Even as Mira finds friendship and support, Taranto is careful, too, to point to the histories and ongoing presents of control, abuse, and cruelty within psychiatric institutions and “care.” I couldn’t help but think of care, though, as I read through Taranto’s content warnings and author’s notes—there is clear care for the reader in this book, care for the characters based lovingly on friends and past wardmates, and the care Taranto must have had for the past version of herself that became Mira 💛 An incredible debut and a must-read for AANHPI month. Thank you, Léa, for sharing Mira’s story with us, and I’m so happy that this book will make its way into the hands of readers next week.

Thanks again to Léa and Arsenal Pulp Press for the gifted copy! Out May 20.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting this book, I primed myself for the content that would be contained in these pages, thanks to the content warning. As a mental health professional and care provider to outpatient individuals, seeing things from Mira’s perspective was absolutely incredible and essential for all people who are providing care for the young people of our society. I laughed with Mira, cried with her, and celebrated her small wins (even when she couldn’t see them). I was absolutely blown away by this novel and will be recommending it for people in and out of the mental health spaces. I’m so proud of the author for detailing her experiences in such an authentic way and being vulnerable enough to share it with the world.

[Paul Lemcke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lea Taranto tells the story of Mira, though she freely states that this is "autobiographical fiction". Really a terrific debut novel about the extremely difficult and personal topic of mental illness/disability. Her pain and her struggles with OCD, self-harm, anorexia and other disorders is always a challenging experience for her readers, but it was her reality. The relationships she developed with the other residents in the facility was mostly one of support, which was shown in many forms. Sometimes it was difficult to hold back my tears. The relationships with staff, and especially her psychiatrist, gave me hope that the character of Mira might eventually learn to cope in the outside world. I was pleased to meet Lea at a writer's festival, and I wish her well.

[Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure of knowing Léa through our writing circles for several years. She graciously gifted me an ARC—and what a privilege it was to read this story.

We rarely hear first-hand accounts of what it's like to live in a psychiatric residency, especially from youth. But this book gives these young people a much-needed voice, and what a strong voice it has! Mira is an unforgettable character who will challenge preconceived notions of mental illness with her wit, spunk, and (sometimes heartbreaking) self-awareness.

This book contains so. much. Joy and grief. Failure and success. Tenderness and strength. Family and isolation. As someone who has experienced OCD and anxiety—who also speaks Cantonese—this book felt like a warm, compassionate, and empathetic embrace. I felt so seen, and I'll be recommending this book to as many people as I can! I won't be surprised if it sweeps the prizes.

Prepare to get your heartstrings played like an electric guitar.

5/5

[Erin]

There's a content warning at the beginning of this book, but I think it would be helpful to add that there are some slurs actually said in the text (including the r-word being said three times).

This book is hard to rate because it has such an important perspective represented, but I didn't find the plot super interesting. The story is based on the author's first hand experience with OCD and an ED. It's difficult to read at times because of how descriptive the self-harm is. The writing really immerses the reader in the mind of the protagonist and her struggles, which can be intense to read at times.

I think part of the reason I can't say I "liked" reading this book is because it felt so real and was so painful to read. I'm definitely not saying I disliked it, it was just hard to read about Mira's experience, especially having gone through different but similar mental health challenges throughout my life.

Overall, it's a very real feeling story representing a unique and important perspective, but it's not incredibly eventful as a work of fiction.

[Sarika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Drop in the Ocean is a jewel. The novel, coming from a fresh voice in YA fiction, gives an unforgettable glimpse into one young woman's experience living with OCD and comorbid disorders while working through the agony of adolescence, from mercurial friendships and awkward family interactions to nursing a broken heart. Paired with Mira's voice and the details of her life--from the west coast waters lapping at her legs to her bejewelled jeans-A Drop in the Ocean is transportive. As someone who wouldn't want to relive my teenage years, Mira's wry humour, strength of character, and honesty made me wish I had met her when I was a teenager.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I hoped for more. It just wasn’t what I expected it to be. Sorry.

[Brenda van E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Léa wrote with courage and eloquence. It’s a heartbreaking journey of pain, shame & trauma sprinkled with adolescence angst and humour.

Definitely worth reading…

[Emily Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful - sometimes difficult, ultimately hopeful — book. The characters had so much heart and nuance. I really cared for them and found myself thinking about Mira’s story even when I wasn’t actively reading.

To be transparent, I met Léa through The Writers Studio program at SFU and think of her as a friend. Knowing that A Drop in the Ocean story draws on her life experiences and relationships makes this book even more moving and memorable.

I am so glad this book exists.