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Growing Pangs
Katie, the protagonist of this fictionalized graphic memoir, attends class at a co-op once per week with other homeschooled kids, including her best friend, Kacey. In the summer, Katie and Kacey attend sleepaway camp together. When Katie makes a new friend at camp, Kacey’s jealous side comes out, and their friendship eventually comes to a painful end. As she faces additional stressors, like braces and minor oral surgery, Katie becomes more aware of persistent, unwelcome thoughts that compel her to tap or count or perform a certain task. If she doesn’t do so, she believes that something bad will happen. As she tries out for a local theater production, makes new friends, and goes about her life, Katie tries to keep her thoughts secret. But soon her compulsions consume so much time and energy that she reaches out to her parents for help; comfortingly, her father reveals that he, too, had OCD as a child, and it can be treated. “Our thoughts aren’t us,” he tells her. “They’re just thoughts … They don’t make us who we are.” Colorful, clean illustrations depict Katie, a white girl, often swarmed by the buzzing bees that represent her compulsive thoughts. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Molly Brooks
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 8-12
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Formats:
Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
Graphic Novel
Subjects:
Acting and Actors
Autobiography/Memoir
Friendship
Mental Health and Illness
Worry
Diversity subject:
Psychiatric Disability/Condition
Publisher:
Random House
Publish Year: 2022
Pages: 249
ISBN: 9780593301289
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 741.5 Ormsbee