Wesley King

- Broad cast of likable characters. Believable middle schoolers, but not obnoxious to read about. The main characters were well-rounded.
- Excellent handling of feeling isolated by mental illness and finding ways to describe scary, familiar sensations. And the relief that comes from finding a name, even combined with the disappointment that a name doesn't automatically make it go away.
- I just liked it. As a college student I won't usually be interested in stories about middle schoolers, but this is good for anyone- enjoyable at different ages and to different people for different reasons. But a really good novel to breeze through in a day. Made me laugh out loud many times.… (more)

This was a good one -- liked the alternating viewpoints between Cedar and Green, and particularly liked that Green is a very distinct personality, who is clearly differently bothered by the events of the book than his brother, Cedar, is. I loved the bonds between brothers, the humor, the characters and relationships. I like that this is based on Wesley King's family and brothers. I did not care for the coach being such a volatile and hateful character -- he really jumps to conclusions, and it did not seem like the school was at all willing to consider reigning him in. That may be a typical experience for neurodivergent people, and I hate it. Really enjoyed reading this!… (more)

King has penned a touching and engaging story of a young teen who wrestles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He sheds light on a difficult and relevant topic in a way that will surely resonate with young readers (and those of us who aren’t so young). I would have preferred a story that spent a bit less time on the crime-solving angle and the teen romance, and a bit more time exploring the challenges of OCD. But authors who cater to a young audience must embrace tools that help to sustain interest. In the end, King spins a delightful yarn, builds awareness, and dispels some misconceptions about people who live with OCD.… (more)