Books like Kissing doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser
Fourteen‑year‑old Tara narrates the unsettling rise of her obsessive‑compulsive behaviors, which increasingly dominate her daily life and strain her relationships with family and friends. As her actions become more erratic, Tara must confront the emotional and practical challenges of living with a mental illness that threatens to consume her and destabilize the supportive network around her.
Through Tara’s perspective, the novel explores the impact of obsessive‑compulsive disorder on adolescent identity, family dynamics, and interpersonal bonds, inviting readers to empathize with the subtle complexities of living with a chronic condition.
Written for middle‑grade to early high‑school readers, the story offers an accessible look at mental health, fostering understanding and encouraging dialogue about coping strategies and the importance of community support.
First publish date: 1998
Genre: Children's Fiction/Early Readers
Authors: Terry Spencer Hesser
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