Karo,
Aaron. Lexapros
and Cons. Macmillan/Farrar Strauss 230p $16.99 978-0-374-34396-5 hs VG Realistic Fiction
Chuck suffers from OCD, and in his
senior year of high school he finally finds a way to deal with it, but not
before his life starts spinning out of control. I started
out determined not to like this book, which begins with ample use of the “F”
word and the main character keeping track of the number of times he
masterbates. It seemed so ... crude. But Aaron Karo knows how to tell a story, and
keep the reader laughing and interested throughout.
Chuck is a 17-year-old high-school
senior with OCD. He counts the number of
times he masterbates, washes his hands numerous times each day, and tries to
keep a low profile. One day his parents
convince him to start seeing a psychiatrist, and at first Chuck resists, while recognizing
that his life is not fulfilling and he hates high school. When a new girl enters his math class, and
his friend Steve needs help in dealing with a bully, Chuck’s life takes a turn
for the worse, and he decides that something needs to be done about his OCD.
This book is full of chuckles, but more
importantly, it draws the reader into really caring about Chuck and the other
characters. His relationships with his
sister, his parents, Steve, the shrink, and Amy, the new girl, are all drawn
expertly, and the plot moves along at a perfect pace.
Kudos to Aaron Karo for winning me
over! Caution: very strong language!
--Carol
Kennedy
