School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-After the death of his grandfather, 11-year-old Cooper Cameron develops a complicated relationship with "That Boy," the voice inside of him that compels him to complete elaborate counting and washing rituals that he feels he must do to prevent terrible things from happening to his family. When medication and therapy fail Cooper, his mother moves him and his 15-year-old sister Caddie to their grandfather's cabin for the summer, away from his angry and abusive father, who does not understand his compulsions. With the assistance of his sister; his new friend Mike; Mr. Bell, a nonagenarian who loves ice cream as much as Cooper does; and the daily observations he records in his notebook, Cooper learns that "sometimes you have to let go" and be brave. The novel provides a heartfelt portrayal of one boy's experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Cooper is helped by a cast of supporting characters, who shine almost as brightly as he does. -VERDICT An unforgettable, much-needed story; a strong purchase for all collections.-Jessica Holland, University of Kentucky, Lexington © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
The summer after fifth grade, Cooper, his mother, and his older sister go to the lakeside cabin where he witnessed his grandpa's death two years ago. Traumatized by that experience, Cooper heeds a voice inside him that worries about those around him and often compels him to protect them through repeated, irrational actions. Though intellectually precocious, he often seems much younger than his years. His life is constricted by anxiety and the need to hide his coping mechanisms, particularly from his father, who is scared and angered by their strangeness. At the lake, Cooper makes some tentative progress until his father stops in for an unexpected visit and tensions mount. While first person is assumed to be the most intimate voice for fiction, this third-person story takes readers into the mind of a character affected by OCD. Written in short sentences, the style features a fine economy of expression. The book's jacket art is lovely but suggests a relatively lighthearted adventure story. Readers who persevere will find a perceptive character study within a quiet, involving novel.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist
