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OCDaniel
OCDaniel
Daniel is the back-up punter for the Erie Hills Elephants. Which really means he’s the water boy. He spends football practice perfectly arranging water cups—and hoping no one notices. Actually, he spends most of his time hoping no one notices his strange habits—he calls them Zaps: avoiding writing the number four, for example, or flipping a light switch on and off dozens of times over. He hopes no one notices that he’s crazy, especially his best friend Max, and Raya, the prettiest girl in school. His life gets weirder when another girl at school, who is unkindly nicknamed Psycho Sara, notices him for the first time. She doesn’t just notice him: she seems to peer through him.
Then Daniel gets a note: “I need your help,” it says, signed, Fellow Star Child—whatever that means. And suddenly Daniel, a total no one at school, is swept up in a mystery that might change everything for him.
With great voice and grand adventure, this book is about feeling different and finding those who understand.
Then Daniel gets a note: “I need your help,” it says, signed, Fellow Star Child—whatever that means. And suddenly Daniel, a total no one at school, is swept up in a mystery that might change everything for him.
With great voice and grand adventure, this book is about feeling different and finding those who understand.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2016
354 people are currently reading
5768 people want to read
About the author
Wesley King
36 books392 followersThe author of fourteen novels and counting, Wesley King has received over twenty literary awards and seen his books published worldwide, optioned for film and television, and translated into numerous languages. King is best known for his collaboration with Kobe Bryant on the #1 New York Times Bestselling Wizenard Series, as well as the Edgar Award-winning OCDaniel, which was also a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and Silver Birch winner. The follow-up, Sara and the Search for Normal, won both the Violet Downey and Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Awards. He also co-authored the YA romantic fiction novel Hello (from here) with New York Times bestselling author Chandler Baker. His next novel, Benny on the Case, will be released in April 2025. It is a JLG Gold Selection, has a Starred Review from PW and will be released simultaneously with an audiobook from Dreamscape. His adult debut novel is going to be announced soon.
He lives on a windy seaside bluff in Western Newfoundland, Canada.
He lives on a windy seaside bluff in Western Newfoundland, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,325 reviews
May 20, 2016
I wish there were more stars to give to “OCDaniel.” It’s a wonderful and emotional read that I think any middle or high schooler (or adult) will enjoy.
Daniel is 13 years old and has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), but he doesn’t know what it is. Written in the first person, he tells how his rituals affect his life and when the first symptoms began. While OCD is the main subject, Daniel also describes feeling like an inferior sibling and being bullied for other reasons, making it a good look inside the overall hell we know as middle school. There is a bonus mystery to be solved to add even more reason to keep turning the pages.
I’m going to get personal for a moment. I have OCD, but it is the result of a bad accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury. This book had me absolutely sobbing during many of the chapters. The descriptions of the torment were almost too realistic. OCD is bad enough as an adult, but to go through it as a kid must be horrible. I hope those who have it, whether or not they know what it is, are able to find this book. It has the potential to help many people.
“OCDaniel” is a book I recommend to anyone, even younger children who are able to read at a middle grade level. It’s a fast read, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. There are many opportunities for discussion for parents or teachers who wish to read it with their children or class.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Daniel is 13 years old and has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), but he doesn’t know what it is. Written in the first person, he tells how his rituals affect his life and when the first symptoms began. While OCD is the main subject, Daniel also describes feeling like an inferior sibling and being bullied for other reasons, making it a good look inside the overall hell we know as middle school. There is a bonus mystery to be solved to add even more reason to keep turning the pages.
I’m going to get personal for a moment. I have OCD, but it is the result of a bad accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury. This book had me absolutely sobbing during many of the chapters. The descriptions of the torment were almost too realistic. OCD is bad enough as an adult, but to go through it as a kid must be horrible. I hope those who have it, whether or not they know what it is, are able to find this book. It has the potential to help many people.
“OCDaniel” is a book I recommend to anyone, even younger children who are able to read at a middle grade level. It’s a fast read, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. There are many opportunities for discussion for parents or teachers who wish to read it with their children or class.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2017
(I just realized that the cover shows a q-tip stick figure! Both hilarious, and also kind of sad.)
OCDaniel is the story of a 13 year old boy who doesn’t realize that he has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, he believes he’s just going crazy. He hides his ‘zaps’ or compulsions from his friends and his family, and he has horrible panic attacks. As a mother, who’s daughter is 12, my heart hurt for Daniel. I just kept wishing that he would tell someone, or someone would find out, something so he could start getting help. He needed help.
On top of the story of Daniel’s OCD, you were also reading him awkwardly trying to live up to the rest of the football team. In the beginning, Daniel is just a backup Kicker, or a glorified water-boy. However, he winds up playing, and being pressured to perform. He is also helping Psycho Sara to solve a mystery. His little 13 year old life is quite busy.
What I liked: I really enjoyed the way Daniel talked about his disorder, that he called Zaps. Everything he said struck me as being so sincere. His own terms fit the symptom well, and even though it occasionally made me chuckle it was never without heartache. (Not too surprising, as the author explains having written the story from personal experience.) I also loved how Daniel coped by writing, and that the story he wrote was one that helped him make sense of what was going on with him. I loved that in a sense Daniel learns to accept his eccentricities, and even in some ways embrace the unusual. I liked Daniel’s friendship with Max, his best friend. I loved that even though they were so different, Max never seemed to treat Daniel like he wasn’t ‘cool’. In that way their friendship reminded me of Shawn and Corey from Boy Meets World.
What I found harder to swallow: As I said before, I kept waiting for everyone to find out but apparently it wasn’t that type of book. That’s alright, I suppose. It’s just, for me, I was waiting to see how Max was going to react to finding out Daniel’s truth. Daniel’s parents weren’t horrible, but it killed me every time they came close to the truth only to willingly accept his cover-ups. I understand that Daniel was coming to terms with it in his own heart, but at the same time he was just a little boy and he was fighting a battle that I just can’t believe he would win on his own. (I also found all the ‘football’ stuff just a little outside reality.)
At the end, while it was my urge to rate OCDaniel with one less star, I decided to go with four. I liked more than I disliked, and I also have to take into account that this is a book for the Middle Grade level. Should the message be about talking to your parents? As a parent myself, I think so. However, sometimes the story is more about finding acceptance in your own skin which is also important.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing a copy of his book, in exchange for an honest review.
To read this review and more, visit us at Badass Book Reviews
OCDaniel is the story of a 13 year old boy who doesn’t realize that he has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, he believes he’s just going crazy. He hides his ‘zaps’ or compulsions from his friends and his family, and he has horrible panic attacks. As a mother, who’s daughter is 12, my heart hurt for Daniel. I just kept wishing that he would tell someone, or someone would find out, something so he could start getting help. He needed help.
On top of the story of Daniel’s OCD, you were also reading him awkwardly trying to live up to the rest of the football team. In the beginning, Daniel is just a backup Kicker, or a glorified water-boy. However, he winds up playing, and being pressured to perform. He is also helping Psycho Sara to solve a mystery. His little 13 year old life is quite busy.
What I liked: I really enjoyed the way Daniel talked about his disorder, that he called Zaps. Everything he said struck me as being so sincere. His own terms fit the symptom well, and even though it occasionally made me chuckle it was never without heartache. (Not too surprising, as the author explains having written the story from personal experience.) I also loved how Daniel coped by writing, and that the story he wrote was one that helped him make sense of what was going on with him. I loved that in a sense Daniel learns to accept his eccentricities, and even in some ways embrace the unusual. I liked Daniel’s friendship with Max, his best friend. I loved that even though they were so different, Max never seemed to treat Daniel like he wasn’t ‘cool’. In that way their friendship reminded me of Shawn and Corey from Boy Meets World.
What I found harder to swallow: As I said before, I kept waiting for everyone to find out but apparently it wasn’t that type of book. That’s alright, I suppose. It’s just, for me, I was waiting to see how Max was going to react to finding out Daniel’s truth. Daniel’s parents weren’t horrible, but it killed me every time they came close to the truth only to willingly accept his cover-ups. I understand that Daniel was coming to terms with it in his own heart, but at the same time he was just a little boy and he was fighting a battle that I just can’t believe he would win on his own. (I also found all the ‘football’ stuff just a little outside reality.)
At the end, while it was my urge to rate OCDaniel with one less star, I decided to go with four. I liked more than I disliked, and I also have to take into account that this is a book for the Middle Grade level. Should the message be about talking to your parents? As a parent myself, I think so. However, sometimes the story is more about finding acceptance in your own skin which is also important.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing a copy of his book, in exchange for an honest review.
To read this review and more, visit us at Badass Book Reviews
February 13, 2024
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“We were only crazy when we thought we were alone. Now there were two of us, and we were both perfectly normal in each other’s eyes.
And to me, there in the dark, that meant everything.”
We all have these obsessive compulsives that compel us to behave differently than what would be considered normal. They could be the smallest of things - lacing a table mat at exactly the right angle, making sure to time something down to the even dial, because odd numbers aren't your strong suit, avoiding cracks in the sidewalk like your life depends on it. In OCDaniel thirteen-year-old Daniel's life does very much revolve on trying to hide his obsessive compulsive disorders, despite how life-threatening they really are - to the point of sleepless nights and bloody-scrubbed hands and momentary zaps or compulsions that lead to blackouts till he can reel himself back to reality. 😢 'But then my rational brain started to fade again, and I couldn’t think about anything except that I was going to die. And I didn’t want to die. I had to fix this.' It's not until he attracts the unwarranted attention of Psycho Sara, a girl at his school, and receives a mysterious note, does his life suddenly start to change. Through a whirlwind of friendships, football, first crushes and fatherhood, Daniel slowly realizes how very much not alone he is through his emotional and mental health struggles. ❤️🩹
“I’m not sure I like the idea of fate. It kind of means you don’t have a choice. Or you can make choices, but they’ll still bring you to the same place. I like the idea of choice, because I don’t get to do it much.”
The way the author described Daniel's ocd, uff, it was so jarring and so very raw, I felt his emotions on every level. I felt so seen, even though I am nowhere near the level of anxiety and depression Daniel, but as he was compiling his lists of his troubles and woes, I was nodding my head alongside him. 🥺 'It’s funny to be a prisoner of yourself. Like you’re being bullied by your own mind and you’re afraid of it, but it’s also you and it’s extremely confusing.' Those intense feelings of trying to hide how different he is from others, the sheer panic of being called out for it, that intense feeling of helplessness was so perfectly captured. It is always an incredible feeling when a middle grade book portrays emotions so much more vividly than any fiction targeted for older audiences could. 👌🏻👌🏻
Daniel was a very brave and kind-hearted boy, who was trying so very hard not to stand out and just be normal with just the right balance of humor and sincerity that made him a believable, if not relatable character. His approach to his struggles was done with a very honest and heart-felt touch that made me immediately empathize with him. When he was describing the feeling of how heartaches and panic attacks almost felt as one and the same, my heart ached for him - 'then your mind says you don’t control your own happiness and that is scary.' 😥 After all, what defines normal? Normal is how we perceive others that leads us to believe that it's the only way to behave - what is only acceptable. But, even in the company of others, we can find those few people who will recognize you for who you are and not see any fault or shame in it. Be it a best friend or a new friend, there's someone out there to remind you that you're not alone in that dark place you've hidden yourself in. 😔
“It’s us against the world. We’re not alone anymore.”
Sara frowned. “What would we do?”
“Anything,” Daniel replied. “We don’t need anyone else. We can take on the monsters.”
As much as I enjoyed watching Daniel embrace the typical normal problems that any growing adolescence faces - from his ever-growing crush on Raya, the prettiest girl in school, to fearing that his best friend, Max, may not wholly understand the problems he faces, even though perhaps he may be the only one, while also living up to the potential aspirations that his father and older brother hope for him, it's his newfound friendship with Psycho Sara, that really took center stage of his life - 'like she was the only person who had ever actually seen me.' 😢 Sara, the first ever Star Child, who recognized in Daniel a kinship that made him the ideal candidate to assist her in her pursuit in finding out the truth about her father. I liked that she was there to help Daniel realize that whatever he was experiencing, he was not alone in feeling that way. That scene when he comforted her through her own panic attack - 'I don’t know why, but watching someone else break made me feel a lot less broken' was so gentle, so very tender. 👏🏻👏🏻
While I did appreciate the take on mental health through a youthful perspective, I wasn't quite fond of the fictional short story excerpts that were included throughout the narrative. I know it was in a way to capture their own troubles in a fantasy world, but I would have preferred if that portion had been excluded and focused more on the realistic world. And as much as I liked how the mystery played a major part in the story, I didn't like the outcome. 🙁 Sara deserved better, despite whatever people may have thought, because sometimes you can't keep things like this quiet. It made the premise a dark and bleak one and left me feeling even sadder than when I started reading, despite how many may think it came from a place of love. 💔💔 It was heart-breaking, and the way the tension mounted till the final reveal was even so well done that you get that foreboding feeling that something is about to happen that neither of their clues could have led them to. It was at that moment where Daniel really had to let go of his own crazed notions and fears and step up to be the friend for her, when she desperately needed him. 😞
“It’s called faith,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what you think. Only what you do.”
Daniel didn't have a clear understanding of his OCD, till he met Sara; it was a painful thought, but when she handed him the book OCD: How Compulsions Can Take over Our Lives - he had never felt more seen than at that moment - never felt less alone and understood. It is that hopeful comfort that can give anyone the reassurance that despite how they may feel they're the only ones who are experiencing this, there will be someone else out there who will not only understand what you're going through, but not hesitate to lend a helping hand. 🙏🏻🫂🙏🏻
“We were only crazy when we thought we were alone. Now there were two of us, and we were both perfectly normal in each other’s eyes.
And to me, there in the dark, that meant everything.”
We all have these obsessive compulsives that compel us to behave differently than what would be considered normal. They could be the smallest of things - lacing a table mat at exactly the right angle, making sure to time something down to the even dial, because odd numbers aren't your strong suit, avoiding cracks in the sidewalk like your life depends on it. In OCDaniel thirteen-year-old Daniel's life does very much revolve on trying to hide his obsessive compulsive disorders, despite how life-threatening they really are - to the point of sleepless nights and bloody-scrubbed hands and momentary zaps or compulsions that lead to blackouts till he can reel himself back to reality. 😢 'But then my rational brain started to fade again, and I couldn’t think about anything except that I was going to die. And I didn’t want to die. I had to fix this.' It's not until he attracts the unwarranted attention of Psycho Sara, a girl at his school, and receives a mysterious note, does his life suddenly start to change. Through a whirlwind of friendships, football, first crushes and fatherhood, Daniel slowly realizes how very much not alone he is through his emotional and mental health struggles. ❤️🩹
“I’m not sure I like the idea of fate. It kind of means you don’t have a choice. Or you can make choices, but they’ll still bring you to the same place. I like the idea of choice, because I don’t get to do it much.”
The way the author described Daniel's ocd, uff, it was so jarring and so very raw, I felt his emotions on every level. I felt so seen, even though I am nowhere near the level of anxiety and depression Daniel, but as he was compiling his lists of his troubles and woes, I was nodding my head alongside him. 🥺 'It’s funny to be a prisoner of yourself. Like you’re being bullied by your own mind and you’re afraid of it, but it’s also you and it’s extremely confusing.' Those intense feelings of trying to hide how different he is from others, the sheer panic of being called out for it, that intense feeling of helplessness was so perfectly captured. It is always an incredible feeling when a middle grade book portrays emotions so much more vividly than any fiction targeted for older audiences could. 👌🏻👌🏻
Daniel was a very brave and kind-hearted boy, who was trying so very hard not to stand out and just be normal with just the right balance of humor and sincerity that made him a believable, if not relatable character. His approach to his struggles was done with a very honest and heart-felt touch that made me immediately empathize with him. When he was describing the feeling of how heartaches and panic attacks almost felt as one and the same, my heart ached for him - 'then your mind says you don’t control your own happiness and that is scary.' 😥 After all, what defines normal? Normal is how we perceive others that leads us to believe that it's the only way to behave - what is only acceptable. But, even in the company of others, we can find those few people who will recognize you for who you are and not see any fault or shame in it. Be it a best friend or a new friend, there's someone out there to remind you that you're not alone in that dark place you've hidden yourself in. 😔
“It’s us against the world. We’re not alone anymore.”
Sara frowned. “What would we do?”
“Anything,” Daniel replied. “We don’t need anyone else. We can take on the monsters.”
As much as I enjoyed watching Daniel embrace the typical normal problems that any growing adolescence faces - from his ever-growing crush on Raya, the prettiest girl in school, to fearing that his best friend, Max, may not wholly understand the problems he faces, even though perhaps he may be the only one, while also living up to the potential aspirations that his father and older brother hope for him, it's his newfound friendship with Psycho Sara, that really took center stage of his life - 'like she was the only person who had ever actually seen me.' 😢 Sara, the first ever Star Child, who recognized in Daniel a kinship that made him the ideal candidate to assist her in her pursuit in finding out the truth about her father. I liked that she was there to help Daniel realize that whatever he was experiencing, he was not alone in feeling that way. That scene when he comforted her through her own panic attack - 'I don’t know why, but watching someone else break made me feel a lot less broken' was so gentle, so very tender. 👏🏻👏🏻
While I did appreciate the take on mental health through a youthful perspective, I wasn't quite fond of the fictional short story excerpts that were included throughout the narrative. I know it was in a way to capture their own troubles in a fantasy world, but I would have preferred if that portion had been excluded and focused more on the realistic world. And as much as I liked how the mystery played a major part in the story, I didn't like the outcome. 🙁 Sara deserved better, despite whatever people may have thought, because sometimes you can't keep things like this quiet. It made the premise a dark and bleak one and left me feeling even sadder than when I started reading, despite how many may think it came from a place of love. 💔💔 It was heart-breaking, and the way the tension mounted till the final reveal was even so well done that you get that foreboding feeling that something is about to happen that neither of their clues could have led them to. It was at that moment where Daniel really had to let go of his own crazed notions and fears and step up to be the friend for her, when she desperately needed him. 😞
“It’s called faith,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what you think. Only what you do.”
Daniel didn't have a clear understanding of his OCD, till he met Sara; it was a painful thought, but when she handed him the book OCD: How Compulsions Can Take over Our Lives - he had never felt more seen than at that moment - never felt less alone and understood. It is that hopeful comfort that can give anyone the reassurance that despite how they may feel they're the only ones who are experiencing this, there will be someone else out there who will not only understand what you're going through, but not hesitate to lend a helping hand. 🙏🏻🫂🙏🏻
April 4, 2024
Thirteen year old Daniel (who is the back up punter for his high school football team) mostly spends his days and even his nights trying to hide and disguise his self-described mental and emotional "zaps" (actually his obsessive-compulsive tendencies) from everyone (his friends, his family, his teachers), until one day, a fellow student with the unfortunate and saddening nickname of Psycho-Sara sees both through and into him, offering Daniel her friendship, understanding and support.
OCDaniel is recounted from Daniel's perspective and his first person narrative voice speaks not only loudly and clearly, but also realistically and authentically (and that author Wesley King struggles with OCD himself does, in my opinion, even further cement this feeling of realism, as Daniel's issues and the description of his obsessive-compulsive symptoms and so-called routines do always seem both plausible and probable). OCDaniel thus presents a heartfelt and at times heart wrenching textual plea for respect and acceptance for everyone, including those individuals experiencing and dealing with mental health and neurological challenges (tempered with and by a good and necessary dose of humour and wittiness so as not to turn the text, the story, into a maudlin tear-fest).
But OCDaniel is also (and imaginatively) featured as a bit of a narrative frame novel, as embedded in Daniel's narrative musings, his first person account of his school time and at home struggles with OCD (as well as his emerging and blossoming friendship with Sara), there also exists a short work of fiction (that is presented as having been penned by Daniel himself), in which both Daniel and Sara appear as characters and are forced to battle monsters and general global mayhem. And Daniel's creative writing (featured, appearing in a different font in OCDaniel) become his place of solace and refuge, and are presented by Wesley King as being the only place where he is ever truly free and released from his obsessions and compulsions (the only place Daniel always feels at home and not so much a stranger in a strange and incomprehensible world).
Now while the main thematics and plot lines of OCDaniel read both realistically and plausibly, OCDaniel does unfortunately also feature a certain tendency towards over-exaggeration and artificiality. Because for me personally, the supposed mystery regarding Sara's father's "disappearance" and the fact that Sara and Daniel act like private detectives, even breaking into the house of a man Sara thinks might have murdered her biological father, in addition to Sara at first considering herself a New Age "star child" do tend to feel a bit contrived and somewhat less than realistic (especially considering that both Sara and Daniel are also continuously being described as being very smart). Therefore, the mystery disappearance scenario in OCDaniel, this does feel both distracting and for me also somewhat annoying, as frankly, that entire "cloak and dagger" sequence feels rather superimposed, almost as if author Wesley King has as an afterthought added it to somehow satisfy a totally unnecessary requirement for adventure and subterfuge. Still recommended, and I do realise that the intended audience might, that middle grade readers might in fact, enjoy the adventure and mystery aspect of OCDaniel considerably more than I have.
OCDaniel is recounted from Daniel's perspective and his first person narrative voice speaks not only loudly and clearly, but also realistically and authentically (and that author Wesley King struggles with OCD himself does, in my opinion, even further cement this feeling of realism, as Daniel's issues and the description of his obsessive-compulsive symptoms and so-called routines do always seem both plausible and probable). OCDaniel thus presents a heartfelt and at times heart wrenching textual plea for respect and acceptance for everyone, including those individuals experiencing and dealing with mental health and neurological challenges (tempered with and by a good and necessary dose of humour and wittiness so as not to turn the text, the story, into a maudlin tear-fest).
But OCDaniel is also (and imaginatively) featured as a bit of a narrative frame novel, as embedded in Daniel's narrative musings, his first person account of his school time and at home struggles with OCD (as well as his emerging and blossoming friendship with Sara), there also exists a short work of fiction (that is presented as having been penned by Daniel himself), in which both Daniel and Sara appear as characters and are forced to battle monsters and general global mayhem. And Daniel's creative writing (featured, appearing in a different font in OCDaniel) become his place of solace and refuge, and are presented by Wesley King as being the only place where he is ever truly free and released from his obsessions and compulsions (the only place Daniel always feels at home and not so much a stranger in a strange and incomprehensible world).
Now while the main thematics and plot lines of OCDaniel read both realistically and plausibly, OCDaniel does unfortunately also feature a certain tendency towards over-exaggeration and artificiality. Because for me personally, the supposed mystery regarding Sara's father's "disappearance" and the fact that Sara and Daniel act like private detectives, even breaking into the house of a man Sara thinks might have murdered her biological father, in addition to Sara at first considering herself a New Age "star child" do tend to feel a bit contrived and somewhat less than realistic (especially considering that both Sara and Daniel are also continuously being described as being very smart). Therefore, the mystery disappearance scenario in OCDaniel, this does feel both distracting and for me also somewhat annoying, as frankly, that entire "cloak and dagger" sequence feels rather superimposed, almost as if author Wesley King has as an afterthought added it to somehow satisfy a totally unnecessary requirement for adventure and subterfuge. Still recommended, and I do realise that the intended audience might, that middle grade readers might in fact, enjoy the adventure and mystery aspect of OCDaniel considerably more than I have.
January 6, 2020
Sempre que eu encontro um livro que mostra ao leitor o que realmente é ter TOC, tenho uma mistura de felicidade com coração um pouco apertado. Estranho, eu sei!
Fico feliz porque sei que essa é uma ótima forma de mostrar para as pessoas que TOC não é simplesmente gostar de ver as coisas arrumadas e organizadas. Não, TOC é um transtorno que traz muito sofrimento para a pessoa que muitas vezes sofre em silêncio. Seja por não entender o que está acontecendo, seja por medo de como os outros vão reagir ou por qualquer outro motivo.
Mas, como disse ali no começo, ao mesmo tempo que fico feliz lendo esses livros, fico com o coração apertado e acabo me emocionando porque me vejo naquelas páginas. Sei o quanto o personagem está sofrendo. Sei o que é sentir a necessidade de fazer o que o seu cérebro te manda - por exemplo levantar x vezes, dar y passos, reler a mesma linha 20 vezes, se machucar propositalmente exatamente no lado oposto a um machucado que você fez sem querer etc. - por mais que no fundo você saiba que aquilo "não faz sentido". Que não é fazer aquele ritual que vai impedir que alguém morra ou que um acidente aconteça. Mas mesmo assim, você sabe que fazer aquilo vai te trazer um alívio momentâneo.
Enfim, minha intenção não era me prolongar muito nessa resenha nem torná-la tão pessoal, mas simplesmente precisava escrever aqui o quanto estou feliz por ter lido esse livro e o quanto quero que mais e mais pessoas tenham contato com ele.
Fico feliz porque sei que essa é uma ótima forma de mostrar para as pessoas que TOC não é simplesmente gostar de ver as coisas arrumadas e organizadas. Não, TOC é um transtorno que traz muito sofrimento para a pessoa que muitas vezes sofre em silêncio. Seja por não entender o que está acontecendo, seja por medo de como os outros vão reagir ou por qualquer outro motivo.
Mas, como disse ali no começo, ao mesmo tempo que fico feliz lendo esses livros, fico com o coração apertado e acabo me emocionando porque me vejo naquelas páginas. Sei o quanto o personagem está sofrendo. Sei o que é sentir a necessidade de fazer o que o seu cérebro te manda - por exemplo levantar x vezes, dar y passos, reler a mesma linha 20 vezes, se machucar propositalmente exatamente no lado oposto a um machucado que você fez sem querer etc. - por mais que no fundo você saiba que aquilo "não faz sentido". Que não é fazer aquele ritual que vai impedir que alguém morra ou que um acidente aconteça. Mas mesmo assim, você sabe que fazer aquilo vai te trazer um alívio momentâneo.
Enfim, minha intenção não era me prolongar muito nessa resenha nem torná-la tão pessoal, mas simplesmente precisava escrever aqui o quanto estou feliz por ter lido esse livro e o quanto quero que mais e mais pessoas tenham contato com ele.
October 30, 2022
Such a beautifully written yet raw and eye opening look into OCD. Daniel is such a beautiful soul and a wonderful character. His character development by the end of the story was such a beautiful turn of events. I absolutely loved this read and seeing the realness of OCD through the character's voice. Such a powerful read!
May 18, 2022
Such a fabulous middlegrade read!
This has the most honest and relatable representation of OCD I have ever read.
I adored the characters and felt seen.
The author shows the scary, inconvenient and annoying side of OCD while still giving us a highly entertaining story.
I loved this!
This has the most honest and relatable representation of OCD I have ever read.
I adored the characters and felt seen.
The author shows the scary, inconvenient and annoying side of OCD while still giving us a highly entertaining story.
I loved this!
July 22, 2016
5 stars. Don't disregard this book just because it's in the Junior Fiction category. This would be a great bookclub book!! It takes on a tough subject and the characters are very well written and developed.
There are many topics to discuss, such as feeling alone and weird, when/how to divulge a suspected mental illness, how the parents could've not suspected, or how long a child can cover up their OCD, ways to ask kids hard questions, how a certain friend can make all the difference when a person is facing a personal crisis, and more.
I got choked up and teary at the end. It's not a sad ending. It's a loving ending. Important topic think about.
I changed my original rating of 4.5 stars to 5 stars because I'm still thinking about the story. That means it was an excellent book.
There are many topics to discuss, such as feeling alone and weird, when/how to divulge a suspected mental illness, how the parents could've not suspected, or how long a child can cover up their OCD, ways to ask kids hard questions, how a certain friend can make all the difference when a person is facing a personal crisis, and more.
I got choked up and teary at the end. It's not a sad ending. It's a loving ending. Important topic think about.
I changed my original rating of 4.5 stars to 5 stars because I'm still thinking about the story. That means it was an excellent book.
January 6, 2019
This book was such a thrilling story! It had heartbreak, joy and relief. The theme was "don't judge a book by its cover" the reason why i say that is because Sarah was this quiet psycho (thats what everyone called her) she turned out to be this girl going through heartbreak and pain. Overall i think this book was amazing and i definitely recommend it.
Read
February 1, 2017I loved this book. It took a sweet, nerdy, eighth grader desperately trying to figure out peer social behavior while surviving through his school day in one piece and layered on the extra hard stuff like sports and parties. Then if that wasn't difficult enough, our protagonist suffers from some additional difficulties that he doesn't want anyone to know about and that he never talks about; he creates his own names for these scary feelings that keep him up at night engaged in repetitive behaviors. One day a girl who has been silent since first grade actually speaks to him and seems to know something about his secret behaviors. She also thinks her father was murdered and needs help proving it. So amidst the craziness of 8th grade, these two extraordinary children set out on their detective work and in the process find themselves. There is relatively little actual info on OCD beyond the specifics of our hero's struggles, but for this age group that window is enough to kindle more interest if the spark is there. Kudos for a wonderful book. - Suzanne R.
March 2, 2016
For myself, this was an emotional read! Wesley King's OCdaniel is a powerful book of self awareness; realization, laughter and honesty. It is unlike ANY other book that I have ever read! There were times I saw myself reflected within the words, sentences and character of Daniel and his solidary inner struggles. Through out the book, Daniel is genuine, frank , sincere and unpretentious. His friendship with Max has him trying to be 'normal' and at the same time feeling alone and overwhelmed.
Daniel's poignant discovery when Sara tells him that he is not alone in his fears for his mental well being, strikes the reader with genuine openness that as King states at the end of the novel, is a reflection of his own continual and constant battle with OCD.
HIGHLY RECOMMEDED!!!
FIVE STARS
April 11, 2017
It isn't often I really enjoy a book that I don't find rings true, but this is one of those. Thirteen-year-old Daniel is in middle school (I think, or maybe he is in a K-8 school, this is not made clear and was confusing when he conveniently sees his sister at "recess") and he is struggling to keep his OCD a secret from everyone around him. He believes he is crazy until he is befriended by a mostly non-verbal classmate, "psycho Sara" who seeks his help in outing her father's assumed murderer (her mom's boyfriend). Q-tip shaped Daniel, at 120 pounds, is also the back-up kicker for his school's football team, even though he mainly hates playing football. Daniel perhaps plays football to appear more normal and to maintain his friendship with his bestie, Max, star of the football team.
I wondered as I read if some of the details were simply added as events that had taken place in the authors' life, particularly those that were dropped or added for no reason, with no backstory, or no followup. Daniel's voice in this story did sound real, but there were far too many details that felt convenient for the plot but quite implausible:
The school setting was very rangy and inconsistent. Is this a middle school? Is it a K-8 school? Daniel has one only teacher, Mr. Keats, right? But on occasion he would mention seeing someone in another class or passing in the hall as one would find in a middle school with multiple classes/teachers. The importance of the "big game" also seemed too prominent for middle school, (although I suppose there are schools in which a middle school football game is the most important event happening).
Taj was somewhat a close friend/teammate. Did he or did he not know that Daniel was crazy about Raya? Why was that dance invitation (conveniently right when Daniel was going to ask Raya to the dance) even included with no detail, backstory, or followup discussed.
Even minute details that should have been caught, perhaps, by King's editor. Did Raya and Clara share a lipstick flavor because after spin-the-bottle forced Daniel to kiss Clara ("Her lips were really soft and tasted like strawberries.") and Raya both, in his later reminiscence is it Clara or Raya he remembers because he muses "I kept getting hints of strawberry like she was still there." I know this might seem trivial, but for some middle graders reading this story that first kiss may be really a significant event in the plot. Gotta get the details of the first kiss right.
Facebook. Sorry, no middle schooler today does Facebook. (Did they ever?) It would have taken King's editor very little time to catch and fix this, just some other (any other!) app that kids today use.
Factoring in my own incomprehension: I have had students but lack any 24/7 personal experience with OCD; I found the fact that Daniel's parents wouldn't know he was awake until 4:00 a.m. flipping lights on and off sadly crazy, but, if the author says it's true, who am I to judge that? How sad the denial must be for all members of the family. I also found the juxtaposition of Sara's loquaciousness with Daniel and her mute behavior with every other person in her life, too extreme. Is this possible?
What I did like about this book was the friendship between Max and Daniel. Max's non-commitment to wanting ANY girlfriend was flawlessly delivered. (Side note: There actually ARE kids at this age who are inundated with romantic notions and hormones, but are just not ready for romance.) The dialogue between Max and Daniel was very realistic. Although I found no reason for Daniel's playing football, hating football but playing just to seem normal or, more importantly, as a tribute to his friendship with Max, works for me. I also felt the character of Daniel's dad was sadly believable. His dad wants to be a good dad and supportive, he wants to believe Daniel can play football well like his older brother; dad's forced game smiles were poignantly nuanced. I also thought Daniel's brother was perfectly played. His advice just what such a brother would give as he is a typical popular high schooler who cares about his offbeat brother but doesn't have time to take on what Daniel's parents should be noticing: his highly unusual behavior.
Having taught students of this age for 17 years, I found Daniel's sort-of romantic interest with Sara and his gaga crush on Raya so true: the perfect middle school emotional roller coaster.
I wondered as I read if some of the details were simply added as events that had taken place in the authors' life, particularly those that were dropped or added for no reason, with no backstory, or no followup. Daniel's voice in this story did sound real, but there were far too many details that felt convenient for the plot but quite implausible:
The school setting was very rangy and inconsistent. Is this a middle school? Is it a K-8 school? Daniel has one only teacher, Mr. Keats, right? But on occasion he would mention seeing someone in another class or passing in the hall as one would find in a middle school with multiple classes/teachers. The importance of the "big game" also seemed too prominent for middle school, (although I suppose there are schools in which a middle school football game is the most important event happening).
Taj was somewhat a close friend/teammate. Did he or did he not know that Daniel was crazy about Raya? Why was that dance invitation (conveniently right when Daniel was going to ask Raya to the dance) even included with no detail, backstory, or followup discussed.
Even minute details that should have been caught, perhaps, by King's editor. Did Raya and Clara share a lipstick flavor because after spin-the-bottle forced Daniel to kiss Clara ("Her lips were really soft and tasted like strawberries.") and Raya both, in his later reminiscence is it Clara or Raya he remembers because he muses "I kept getting hints of strawberry like she was still there." I know this might seem trivial, but for some middle graders reading this story that first kiss may be really a significant event in the plot. Gotta get the details of the first kiss right.
Facebook. Sorry, no middle schooler today does Facebook. (Did they ever?) It would have taken King's editor very little time to catch and fix this, just some other (any other!) app that kids today use.
Factoring in my own incomprehension: I have had students but lack any 24/7 personal experience with OCD; I found the fact that Daniel's parents wouldn't know he was awake until 4:00 a.m. flipping lights on and off sadly crazy, but, if the author says it's true, who am I to judge that? How sad the denial must be for all members of the family. I also found the juxtaposition of Sara's loquaciousness with Daniel and her mute behavior with every other person in her life, too extreme. Is this possible?
What I did like about this book was the friendship between Max and Daniel. Max's non-commitment to wanting ANY girlfriend was flawlessly delivered. (Side note: There actually ARE kids at this age who are inundated with romantic notions and hormones, but are just not ready for romance.) The dialogue between Max and Daniel was very realistic. Although I found no reason for Daniel's playing football, hating football but playing just to seem normal or, more importantly, as a tribute to his friendship with Max, works for me. I also felt the character of Daniel's dad was sadly believable. His dad wants to be a good dad and supportive, he wants to believe Daniel can play football well like his older brother; dad's forced game smiles were poignantly nuanced. I also thought Daniel's brother was perfectly played. His advice just what such a brother would give as he is a typical popular high schooler who cares about his offbeat brother but doesn't have time to take on what Daniel's parents should be noticing: his highly unusual behavior.
Having taught students of this age for 17 years, I found Daniel's sort-of romantic interest with Sara and his gaga crush on Raya so true: the perfect middle school emotional roller coaster.
August 24, 2016
This is a children's book about OCD.
It did not meet my expectations unfortunately. Despite OCDaniel being the title, i felt that the main premise was not about obsessive compulsive disorder. It focused more on the romance and "unsolved murder"? Yes it did mentioned the routines and rituals that the protagonist struggle on a daily basis, however i feel that it wasn't enough. It was just a very surface brush over. There wasn't enough emphasis on how much this illness is taking over his life and affecting those around him.
All in all was a disappointing read. Expected a lot better./
It did not meet my expectations unfortunately. Despite OCDaniel being the title, i felt that the main premise was not about obsessive compulsive disorder. It focused more on the romance and "unsolved murder"? Yes it did mentioned the routines and rituals that the protagonist struggle on a daily basis, however i feel that it wasn't enough. It was just a very surface brush over. There wasn't enough emphasis on how much this illness is taking over his life and affecting those around him.
All in all was a disappointing read. Expected a lot better./
April 13, 2016
Is it possible for something to try to be the OCD Stargirl?
Maybe so, as OCDaniel is about a boy who is the backup punter on his school football team. He struggles to keep his situation in line, having a lot of small OCD episodes, and meets a girl who intrigues him with a mystery and might be a good distraction for him.
There's a lot that's endearing about this book, but a lot that's kind of wrong about it. The girl, who signs a note "Fellow Star Child," feels like an attempt to subvert the whole Manic Pixie trope and just kind of falls flat, and Daniel's OCD is almost too stereotypical at times and the idea of him not having a clue as to what's going on until this point in his life defies believability. Especially when you have what is basically the seminal YA work on OCD in Kissing Doorknobs, a book like this doesn't necessarily have to surpass it, but it does have to go a little further in order to succeed, and this just didn't pull it off.
Ultimately, not really a recommendation except if you're seeking something specific from it. Closer to a 2.5.
Maybe so, as OCDaniel is about a boy who is the backup punter on his school football team. He struggles to keep his situation in line, having a lot of small OCD episodes, and meets a girl who intrigues him with a mystery and might be a good distraction for him.
There's a lot that's endearing about this book, but a lot that's kind of wrong about it. The girl, who signs a note "Fellow Star Child," feels like an attempt to subvert the whole Manic Pixie trope and just kind of falls flat, and Daniel's OCD is almost too stereotypical at times and the idea of him not having a clue as to what's going on until this point in his life defies believability. Especially when you have what is basically the seminal YA work on OCD in Kissing Doorknobs, a book like this doesn't necessarily have to surpass it, but it does have to go a little further in order to succeed, and this just didn't pull it off.
Ultimately, not really a recommendation except if you're seeking something specific from it. Closer to a 2.5.
May 4, 2018
OCDaniel by Wesley King was a good book. I liked the way the author gave the main character, Daniel, OCD and how Daniel has to deal with everyday struggles in school and with friends (and his tiny crush). I would recommend this book if you like social issues or realistic fiction.
October 17, 2017
Erster Satz: Es war an einem Dienstag, als mir zum ersten Mal klar wurde, dass ich verrückt war. Dieser erste Satz hat mich sofort angesprochen, genauso wie der Titel.
Das Cover finde ich sehr schön und passend. Man sieht jede menge zahlen, aber auch einen Football Helm und Ball. Durch den Schwarzweiß Stil, wirkt es trotz der vielen zahlen nicht zu durcheinander. Der blaue Schriftzug passt sehr schön zum Buchrücken. Jedes Kapitel fängt mit einer großen Zahl an, sowie man sie auf dem Cover antrifft.
Hast du dir schon mal gewünscht, alleine auf der Welt zu sein?
......Manchmal.......
Ich auch. Wenn man die Einzige ist, kann man nicht verrückt sein.
Seite 162
Zum Inhalt. Daniel is Different, der Titel ist ja schon sehr Aussagekräftig. Und ja, Daniel ist anders. Man könnte vermuten, er ist ein Zahlennerd, liebt Mathe und so. Aber nein, er hasst Mathe, den mit Zahlen hat er Probleme, manche sind gut und andere schlecht. So muss er einige Dinge immer wieder wiederholen, bis er die richtige Anzahl an Wiederholungen zusammen hat. Und es ist extrem wichtig, dass er sich genau daran hält. Sonst passiert etwas schlimmes. Niemand weiß von seinen Problemen, weder seine Familie, noch sein Freund Max. So ist er ganz alleine damit, bis er auf Sara trifft, oder eher gesagt, sie auf ihn.
Der Schreibstil von Wesley King ist sehr angenehm. Er schreibt sehr flüssig, aber auch mit ganz vielen Emotionen. Die Thematik des Buches ist ernst und macht bisweilen den Leser betroffen und traurig. Trotzdem schafft es der Autor, mit seinem Humor, das Buch nicht negativ wirken zu lassen. Erzählt wird aus der Ich- Perspektive von Daniel. So hat der Leser einen genauen Einblick in seine Gedankenwelt und diese ist oft erschreckend. Da Daniel einen Roman schreibt, wird auch dieser in das Buch eingebracht und wir Lesen immer mal wieder etwas aus seiner Kurzgeschichte.
Natürlich war ich anders, schließlich versuchen die wenigsten Kinder, am Leben zu bleiben, indem sie Lichtschalter ein- und ausschalten und bestimmte Zahlen vermeiden. Seite 96
Daniel ist der Hauptcharakter und war mir gleich sehr sympathisch. Er leidet unter Zaps, wie er sie selbst nennt. Er muss zum Beispiel den Lichtschalter so lange aus und an drücken, bis es sich richtig anfühlt. Wenn er dies nicht man, kommt die große Leere. Er ist erst 13 Jahre alt und fängt an sich für Mädchen zu interessieren. Außerdem spielt er Football, aber nicht für sich, sein bester Freund Max, sowie sein Vater stehen total auf diesen Sport. Er ist ein unheimlich lieber Charakter, den man gleich in sein Herz schließt. Er hat es mit seinen Zwängen so schwer, am liebsten würde ich ins Buch springen und ihm sagen, es ist ok, du musst dich nicht damit verstecken. Doch zum Glück taucht Sara auf, die dies für mich übernimmt. Sie ist auch 13 Jahre alt und wird Psycho-Sara genannt, schluckt jeden Abend 5 Pillen und hat so einige Diagnostizierte Erkrankungen. Auch sie ist ein toller Charakter. Beide wirken sehr Authentisch und liebevoll gezeichnet.
Die Geschichte lebt für mich vor allem durch die liebenswerten und starken Protagonisten, Daniel und Sara. Sara trifft auf ihn, weil sie seine Hilfe braucht. Sie ermittelt nämlich gegen den neuen Freund ihrer Mutter, da ihr Vater verschwunden ist. So bekommt die Geschichte noch eine ordentliche Portion Spannung. Ich fand die Entwicklung ihrer Freundschaft sehr interessant und wie sich dadurch auch die Kurzgeschichte verändert, die Daniel schreibt. Am Ende des Buches gibt es noch ein tolles Nachwort. Danach war ich erst mal etwas baff.
Fazit:
Daniel is Different macht mich betroffen.
Ein Jugendbuch mit Krimi Anteil, über einen sehr starken und sympathischen Jungen mit Zwangserkrankungen, der eine sehr humorvolle Art hat.
Für mich ein besonderes Buch, welches im Gedächtnis bleibt und sich von der Masse abhebt.
Das Cover finde ich sehr schön und passend. Man sieht jede menge zahlen, aber auch einen Football Helm und Ball. Durch den Schwarzweiß Stil, wirkt es trotz der vielen zahlen nicht zu durcheinander. Der blaue Schriftzug passt sehr schön zum Buchrücken. Jedes Kapitel fängt mit einer großen Zahl an, sowie man sie auf dem Cover antrifft.
Hast du dir schon mal gewünscht, alleine auf der Welt zu sein?
......Manchmal.......
Ich auch. Wenn man die Einzige ist, kann man nicht verrückt sein.
Seite 162
Zum Inhalt. Daniel is Different, der Titel ist ja schon sehr Aussagekräftig. Und ja, Daniel ist anders. Man könnte vermuten, er ist ein Zahlennerd, liebt Mathe und so. Aber nein, er hasst Mathe, den mit Zahlen hat er Probleme, manche sind gut und andere schlecht. So muss er einige Dinge immer wieder wiederholen, bis er die richtige Anzahl an Wiederholungen zusammen hat. Und es ist extrem wichtig, dass er sich genau daran hält. Sonst passiert etwas schlimmes. Niemand weiß von seinen Problemen, weder seine Familie, noch sein Freund Max. So ist er ganz alleine damit, bis er auf Sara trifft, oder eher gesagt, sie auf ihn.
Der Schreibstil von Wesley King ist sehr angenehm. Er schreibt sehr flüssig, aber auch mit ganz vielen Emotionen. Die Thematik des Buches ist ernst und macht bisweilen den Leser betroffen und traurig. Trotzdem schafft es der Autor, mit seinem Humor, das Buch nicht negativ wirken zu lassen. Erzählt wird aus der Ich- Perspektive von Daniel. So hat der Leser einen genauen Einblick in seine Gedankenwelt und diese ist oft erschreckend. Da Daniel einen Roman schreibt, wird auch dieser in das Buch eingebracht und wir Lesen immer mal wieder etwas aus seiner Kurzgeschichte.
Natürlich war ich anders, schließlich versuchen die wenigsten Kinder, am Leben zu bleiben, indem sie Lichtschalter ein- und ausschalten und bestimmte Zahlen vermeiden. Seite 96
Daniel ist der Hauptcharakter und war mir gleich sehr sympathisch. Er leidet unter Zaps, wie er sie selbst nennt. Er muss zum Beispiel den Lichtschalter so lange aus und an drücken, bis es sich richtig anfühlt. Wenn er dies nicht man, kommt die große Leere. Er ist erst 13 Jahre alt und fängt an sich für Mädchen zu interessieren. Außerdem spielt er Football, aber nicht für sich, sein bester Freund Max, sowie sein Vater stehen total auf diesen Sport. Er ist ein unheimlich lieber Charakter, den man gleich in sein Herz schließt. Er hat es mit seinen Zwängen so schwer, am liebsten würde ich ins Buch springen und ihm sagen, es ist ok, du musst dich nicht damit verstecken. Doch zum Glück taucht Sara auf, die dies für mich übernimmt. Sie ist auch 13 Jahre alt und wird Psycho-Sara genannt, schluckt jeden Abend 5 Pillen und hat so einige Diagnostizierte Erkrankungen. Auch sie ist ein toller Charakter. Beide wirken sehr Authentisch und liebevoll gezeichnet.
Die Geschichte lebt für mich vor allem durch die liebenswerten und starken Protagonisten, Daniel und Sara. Sara trifft auf ihn, weil sie seine Hilfe braucht. Sie ermittelt nämlich gegen den neuen Freund ihrer Mutter, da ihr Vater verschwunden ist. So bekommt die Geschichte noch eine ordentliche Portion Spannung. Ich fand die Entwicklung ihrer Freundschaft sehr interessant und wie sich dadurch auch die Kurzgeschichte verändert, die Daniel schreibt. Am Ende des Buches gibt es noch ein tolles Nachwort. Danach war ich erst mal etwas baff.
Fazit:
Daniel is Different macht mich betroffen.
Ein Jugendbuch mit Krimi Anteil, über einen sehr starken und sympathischen Jungen mit Zwangserkrankungen, der eine sehr humorvolle Art hat.
Für mich ein besonderes Buch, welches im Gedächtnis bleibt und sich von der Masse abhebt.
October 31, 2022
Read this duality out of order but still wonderful!! Daniel loves to write, loves big words, and hates football but plays to make his Dad happy. Sara is known in school as Psyco Sara because she rarely talks and is bipolar. She ask for Daniel help to find her father. Daniel doesn't want anyone to know he is suffers with mental issues as well. But as Sara and Daniel work together he discovers who he really is. Can Daniel ask for help for his OCD and can him and Sara find the truth about what happened to Sara Dad?
What a wonderful story. Like I said I read Sara and the Search for Normal first and I do love that one better but both worthy of praise. Wesley King writes mental illness so true to life that I don't think only children should read this book but adults as well. A great discussion book for your family. Pick this duality up, you won't be disappointed!!!!
What a wonderful story. Like I said I read Sara and the Search for Normal first and I do love that one better but both worthy of praise. Wesley King writes mental illness so true to life that I don't think only children should read this book but adults as well. A great discussion book for your family. Pick this duality up, you won't be disappointed!!!!
January 6, 2020
This book was great. I think the author did a great job showing the struggles that people with OCD face each day, and it was very interesting to see how everything played out. I definitely recommend this book to anyone 10+.
March 5, 2018
I first realized I was crazy on a Tuesday. I mean, I suspected it before, obviously, but I’d been hoping it was just a phase, like when I was three and I wanted to be a fire truck. But on that faithful October day she said hello after last bell, and it was official-I was completely bonkers.
This is the start of Daniel’s story, literally the first paragraph. I loved this book so much. I just wanted to hug him and squeeze him so tight. Daniel was showing signs of OCD and panic attacks because of the OCD. It was so heartbreaking to see his struggle and how alone he felt. The panic attacks came from not fitting in, he knew he was different and worse the other kids knew he was different. I was also touched by the parents. There’s one point that I remember where his dad asks him about the lights flickering on and off repeatedly and Daniel lies about it, saying it was because of a buzzing noise the lights were making and that it stopped after a while. Daniel then says that his dad looked relieved and he was happy his dad wasn’t worried anymore. My heart was breaking for him. He knows the truth will upset his dad so he’s lying. Seriously, I wanted to hug him and tell him he would be loved and accepted no matter what. Gah! Just thinking about it makes me tear up. There were so many parts like this. So many parts that Daniel was dealing with his OCD and covering up and worried because he wasn’t covering it up fast enough. Then would come the anxiety from all the worrying and not being good enough. It was definitely an emotional roller coasters.
There is a very good part to this story. A fellow Star Child named Sarah, labeled socially limited, who connects with Daniel because she has her own quirks. It was so good to see these two become friends. They got each other. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and like I mentioned before totally got teary eyed. I read it in class during silent reading time and my students were staring at me. It’s like they knew I wanted to cry so I didn’t full on cry but the tears were there. This was such a good read.
This is the start of Daniel’s story, literally the first paragraph. I loved this book so much. I just wanted to hug him and squeeze him so tight. Daniel was showing signs of OCD and panic attacks because of the OCD. It was so heartbreaking to see his struggle and how alone he felt. The panic attacks came from not fitting in, he knew he was different and worse the other kids knew he was different. I was also touched by the parents. There’s one point that I remember where his dad asks him about the lights flickering on and off repeatedly and Daniel lies about it, saying it was because of a buzzing noise the lights were making and that it stopped after a while. Daniel then says that his dad looked relieved and he was happy his dad wasn’t worried anymore. My heart was breaking for him. He knows the truth will upset his dad so he’s lying. Seriously, I wanted to hug him and tell him he would be loved and accepted no matter what. Gah! Just thinking about it makes me tear up. There were so many parts like this. So many parts that Daniel was dealing with his OCD and covering up and worried because he wasn’t covering it up fast enough. Then would come the anxiety from all the worrying and not being good enough. It was definitely an emotional roller coasters.
There is a very good part to this story. A fellow Star Child named Sarah, labeled socially limited, who connects with Daniel because she has her own quirks. It was so good to see these two become friends. They got each other. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and like I mentioned before totally got teary eyed. I read it in class during silent reading time and my students were staring at me. It’s like they knew I wanted to cry so I didn’t full on cry but the tears were there. This was such a good read.
October 7, 2021
Oh, my goodness...this book is just...this book is incredible.
TW: mental illness (graphic, but accurate, descriptions of OCD), mention of suicide
SOME BACKSTORY ON ME AND OCDANIEL:
I remember when this book first came out, back in 2016, and I saw it at Barnes & Noble, and I saw it, and I went: NOPE.
Fast forward 2 years later, and I saw it again at Barnes & Noble, and this time I was interested. I looked it up on Goodreads and read through some bad reviews to see if they brought up topics that I didn’t like reading about, and none of them did, so I gave it a read.
I’m so, so glad I did.
As someone with OCD, I feel like the representation in both Daniel and Sara was done very well. I think it also helps that the author struggles with an anxiety disorder as well.
Another thing I really liked about this book, was that it handled the main-protagonists-with-mental-disorders-and-a-romance very, very well. As I mentioned in this review, both Daniel and Sara suffer from mental disorders and there is a love story between them. But it wasn’t painted as THEY BOTH HAVE PROBLEMS AND THEN THEY MEET AND THEIR PROBLEMS ARE MAGICALLY GONE. No, they were both still struggling at the end of the book, but they were helping each other through it. THAT’S what I want from a romance between two characters with mental disorders.
I don't really know how to express my feelings about this book, other than the fact that I loved it.
TW: mental illness (graphic, but accurate, descriptions of OCD), mention of suicide
SOME BACKSTORY ON ME AND OCDANIEL:
I remember when this book first came out, back in 2016, and I saw it at Barnes & Noble, and I saw it, and I went: NOPE.
Fast forward 2 years later, and I saw it again at Barnes & Noble, and this time I was interested. I looked it up on Goodreads and read through some bad reviews to see if they brought up topics that I didn’t like reading about, and none of them did, so I gave it a read.
I’m so, so glad I did.
As someone with OCD, I feel like the representation in both Daniel and Sara was done very well. I think it also helps that the author struggles with an anxiety disorder as well.
Another thing I really liked about this book, was that it handled the main-protagonists-with-mental-disorders-and-a-romance very, very well. As I mentioned in this review, both Daniel and Sara suffer from mental disorders and there is a love story between them. But it wasn’t painted as THEY BOTH HAVE PROBLEMS AND THEN THEY MEET AND THEIR PROBLEMS ARE MAGICALLY GONE. No, they were both still struggling at the end of the book, but they were helping each other through it. THAT’S what I want from a romance between two characters with mental disorders.
I don't really know how to express my feelings about this book, other than the fact that I loved it.
April 6, 2016
“OCDaniel” is one of the best books I’ve encountered that specifically addresses mental health issues for middle grade readers . While mental health problems are a serious issue, “OCDaniel” never presents information about OCD in a dry, preachy, or condescending manner. Daniel is a typical middle grade student - playing sports, hanging out with his best friend, and meeting girls. Yet his OCD causes him to feel alone, crazy, and ashamed. He spends a great deal of time both engaging in and trying to hide behaviors that seem critical for him to perform, but that he thinks no one will understand. As the author indicates both in the forward and in the author’s note, hope is not usually found alone. And when Daniel meets Sara, who has her own mental health issues, he discovers he is not alone and that there is hope. “OCDaniel” provides a powerful message of acceptance, understanding, and hope, in a humorous and enlightening manner. I will be highly recommending this one to middle graders!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
September 30, 2020
Let me start off by saying that this is one of those tricky books -- novels that feature 8th graders are confounding. The characters seem babyish to the teen crowd and are a little too "advanced" for 6th graders. So...weirdness ensues when it comes to placement in a library.
Having got that out of the way--I enjoyed this book but understand the issues some have raised with it. I found the whole murder mystery thing interesting but completely unbelievable. Not sure if a kid would though.
I freely admit to skipping over all of Daniel's novel writing entries. Can I say I just didn't care?
The character of Sara is just a bit too much. Another one of those amazingly wise and wry thirteen year olds who are quick with the retort and fortune cookie advice. Pass.
The best bits are when King focuses on the social interactions between Daniel and his peers and his family which ring true. Your heart goes out to Daniel and I do think this book will help readers gain insight into OCD and perhaps help those who suffer from it speak out.
Having got that out of the way--I enjoyed this book but understand the issues some have raised with it. I found the whole murder mystery thing interesting but completely unbelievable. Not sure if a kid would though.
I freely admit to skipping over all of Daniel's novel writing entries. Can I say I just didn't care?
The character of Sara is just a bit too much. Another one of those amazingly wise and wry thirteen year olds who are quick with the retort and fortune cookie advice. Pass.
The best bits are when King focuses on the social interactions between Daniel and his peers and his family which ring true. Your heart goes out to Daniel and I do think this book will help readers gain insight into OCD and perhaps help those who suffer from it speak out.
February 1, 2019
OCDaniel is a book about Daniel, a 13-year-old boy with OCD. He has “Zaps” as he calls them; things like not writing the number 4, or flipping light switches on and off, until it feels right. He hopes no one sees through his outer shell, and thinks he is doing a good job. Until a girl nicknamed Psycho Sara, notices him. She speaks to him and seems to see right through his outer shell. Then, he gets a mysterious note saying “I need your help.” from Fellow Star Child. And just like that, Daniel is swept into a mystery that results in newfound friendships, and different views on the people around him.
This book is amazing! Throughout the story, Daniel finds friends who accept him for his differences. I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I think that anyone who is bullied because they are “different” or feels out of places because of their tendencies should read this book.
This book is amazing! Throughout the story, Daniel finds friends who accept him for his differences. I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I think that anyone who is bullied because they are “different” or feels out of places because of their tendencies should read this book.
March 31, 2019
This is a fantastic book! I learned a lot about OCD and mental illnesses in general. Daniel is a very loveable and relatable character for tweens and teens. He is honest about his daily struggles and his fear of sharing his true self with his friends and family.
There are several subplots to this story which I think would appeal to many different audiences: football playoffs, tweenage crushes, a crime investigation, a young author writing his first novel, and of course mental illness.
I would recommend this to any mature reader :)
Lastly, the cover art is amazing!! So many details I didn’t appreciate until I finished the book.
There are several subplots to this story which I think would appeal to many different audiences: football playoffs, tweenage crushes, a crime investigation, a young author writing his first novel, and of course mental illness.
I would recommend this to any mature reader :)
Lastly, the cover art is amazing!! So many details I didn’t appreciate until I finished the book.
September 20, 2017
I truly recommend OCDaniel! This book gets 5 stars in my perspective. Wesley King did an amazing job of show his readers what a kid with OCD can really go through. I love how Wesley gives all of the characters such great personalities. The cover didn't make sense at first but once you are done reading it you understand much more about it. This is a hilarious and sad book. But it is also a quick read.
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January 31, 2017Oh. My. Unicorns.
I need everyone reading this review to go buy a copy of this right. now.
This was a *super cool* *super sweet* *superbly written* book! It was *amazing* to read, and I couldn't put it down! I cannot praise it enough. I'd recommend it to ages 10+, though, because of a mention of suicide.
I need everyone reading this review to go buy a copy of this right. now.
This was a *super cool* *super sweet* *superbly written* book! It was *amazing* to read, and I couldn't put it down! I cannot praise it enough. I'd recommend it to ages 10+, though, because of a mention of suicide.
April 1, 2016
*I received an advanced copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. All quotes taken from a pre-published copy may be altered or omitted from the final version.*
** 4.5 Stars **!!
Full review will be post on April 13th as part of the blog tour.
** 4.5 Stars **!!
Full review will be post on April 13th as part of the blog tour.
July 4, 2019
Fantastic. Describes OCD feelings and thoughts so accurately. Don't mistake this for a kid's book - adults need to read it because OCD is often kept secret because of fear and guilt - even parents don't know. Excellent book all the way around. Bravo Wesley King!
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December 5, 2017this book was really good
March 13, 2019
What a wonderful way to combat the countless misconceptions people have about OCD.
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