The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten (Walker Books)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 9781406362992

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

In a support group for young people with OCD, fourteen year old Adam, short and thin, falls in love at first sight with the gorgeous goddess Robyn.

Encouraged by their therapist to leave their selves outside the door and resume a new identity within the group, they all choose a Superhero. Adam becomes Batman and Robyn, Robin.

Rituals rule the life of every group member. They share common goals towards therapy, and with their new persona, become new identities.

Adam with his series of counting is also threatened by thresholds. He keeps secrets; especially about what goes on beyond the door of his house. His father has built a new family and his half-brother, four year-old Sweetie, also suffers from a form of OCD. The two boys are extremely close and Adam is always available to love and support his brother when his fears strike.

Thresholds play a large role in this novel. New beginnings and crossings herald for Adam a metamorphosis and pure illumination through friendships and love.

This superb book, ideal for an 11+ years’ readership, has many themes. Its characters sizzle and spit on the pages within complex relationship situations which showcase the difficulties faced when living with OCD. Tension and surprise hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end. It’s a moving story about self esteem, courage, struggle, coping with a broken family, and overcoming life’s disorders.

Zelah Green

Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis. (Hardie Grant Egmont)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 978-1-4052-5505 -9

Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

Zelah Green is the teenager with an unusual name and very real problems. She is a full-charactered girl, facing modern problems of a deceased mother, an alcoholic father and a new and selfish stepmother. Her way of trying to implement control gets out of control as OCD takes over her life. Zelah believes her rituals and cleaning habits means she has things under control although in a turn of events she ends up in an institution.

It’s a small private institution for teenagers only so readers are kept within a warm loving environment. We are introduced to one girl who has anorexia, one who cuts herself and a boy who is selective mute. The house hosts/doctors are loving caring and relaxed people. Despite the situation Zelah is in there is good quality humour in this story. Zelah is ultimately likeable, with a witty sense of humour. She comes across as a very normal teenager who is facing big issues. I found myself liking her a lot.

I enjoyed reading about a humorous and real teenager and that the book covers a range of very real issues. I feel teenagers will get a valuable insight into various mental health conditions. The book offers solutions and we travel with characters as they find their way towards recovery.

This is a re-release of Zelah Green, a second book Zelah Green, One more little problem is also available.

The book is advertised as 11 years and above and I highly recommend youth read this book. It is a great story with a very likeable character. It can also serve as a good conversation starter on some very real problems in our community.