OCDaniel

By: Wesley King

Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo

From the author of Incredible Space Raiders from Space! comes a coming-of-age story about a boy whose life revolves around hiding his obsessive compulsive disorder - until he gets a mysterious note that changes everything.

Daniel is the backup 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 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. 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 audiobook is about feeling different and finding those who understand.

©2016 Wesley King (P)2018 Tantor

A book that truly understands what OCD is.

I’ve never read a book where I truly connected with and understood the character. As someone who has struggled with OCD since age 10, I could really see myself in Daniel. The story is fantastic and a must-read (or listen)!

Informative and entertaining

This was a great story of a young teen struggling with OCD and other normal teen issues. It is an engaging story, but is very insightful to what OCD felt like to the author. It approaches mental illness in a way that helps kids to see that it is something many struggle with, and that there is always someone who can be there for you, even when you think they won't. Read it with my preteen daughter and it gave a great opportunity for us to have some deep conversations.

Love the story.

I LOVED this book. Daniel is a lovable, relatable character. He's quirky, funny, good-hearted, and miserably stuck in OCD obsessions and compulsions. His story is funny at times, and painful at times, but oh so important.

The book is very clean. No language at all. So whether or not this book is appropriate for your young reader will be more based on the intense themes.

The ending of the book surprised me. I will say: Daniel's story doesn't give accurate information about how to get help and get better as someone with OCD. The story is more focused on giving readers a glimpse into what OCD is like and on showing readers that you don't have to be alone in your struggles.

*trigger warning (SPOILER ALERT):

...

...

...

Themes of suicide, depression, panic attacks, several mental illnesses besides OCD (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar, panic disorder).

Inspiring story

I loved this story! It was very helpful. Thanks Wesley King! Hope there’s another one!

Super awesome!

OCDainel was a really wonderful story and perfect for middle school to adult readers. Enjoy your read! :)

Unexpectedly Amazing!

This book caught me off guard. Read it with my 10 year old and I didn’t want to wait for him to finish it. It has cliffhanger after cliffhanger. Screaming out loud cheering and worrying. Most importantly, the author explains OCD for readers of all ages. Also, as a person who suffers from OCD, to be able to truly relate to a character with the honesty of what OCD looks and feels like instead of the “clean freak” image was a breath of fresh air and necessary for awareness.

Danial

Better than Gordon Korman best I ino I I I I tv f g v. v. h h n j if g. C cc by i jnn be j g