Janet Tashjian

Every time I load laundry into the dryer, I turn my head away from the machine before pressing the start button. This is so if the machine explodes, my face won't be burned and my head will instead hit the laundry room door hard. Somehow, this will protect me. I don't know why. I If I don't do it, I have to distract myself until the cycle is done. Every time I start a new load of laundry in the wash, I have to look down to check for flooding. Something might pop loose. Please don't ask about my thoughts on the hot water heater. I don't heat up water on the stove past nine pm unless I've opened the window. I don't open up the window in the daytime, for reasons even sillier than the ones I've listed.

I have the same mental illness that Monica, this book's protagonist, has. I'm in therapy, and I'm not open about having OCD. People just figure it out somehow. I don't read books about characters that have mental illnesses that I have. I have a few. I live with them. I don't need to see them in fiction. But I remembered this book, and bought myself a copy. Janet Tashjian deserves a ton of awards for her portrayal of an illness that is seen as both setup and punchline to society at large. It was a choice both clever and moving to have Monica not yet be in high school. A ton of people don't think kids can have this. -Diagnosis- usually doesn't happen until the age of eighteen, but that's not the issue. I had to set this book down a few times while reading it. As a tween, my thinking was: I know I'm weird like Monica, but I can't do anagrams so I don't have whatever she has. I was diagnosed with OCD as an adult and given much clearer information: anagrams aren't part of it. Here, they're a clever device used as chapter transitions, characterization, and even plot points. I'm glad magical thinking was shown. I liked how the book was written.… (més)

Derek and his friends want to be ninjas. They start going to a dojo where all they do is stand and be still. Not their idea of fun but Derek does begin to learn to be quiet. Murals have been popping up around town of a Minotaur. Derek sees clues everywhere and suspects many people. But is he right? Also Carly is directing the school play and is using the American Revolution as the theme. Derek "volunteers" then unvolunteers when he learns that John Adams was married to Abigail Adams which part is being played by Carly. Will the play ever happen?

I love this series. It is funny. The characters are great. This can be read as a standalone but it is better to read in order of the series especially important to learn about Frank. I laughed when Derek and Matt dyed their ninja clothes. I also chuckled when Derek learns his part will be reading letters with Carly which were written by John and Abigail Adams, including the love letter parts. I enjoyed seeing Frank again. I also liked when Derek's dad goes with him to spy as ninjas.

This is such a fun series. Perfect for girls and boys over 8.… (més)

Derek Fallon gets the opportunity of a lifetime―to be a stunt boy in a major movie featuring a pretty teen starlet. After accepting the job he learns that he is the star's stunt double and must wear a wig! His friends are never going to let him live this down. If that weren't his only problem, his parents are threatening to give away his pet monkey, and his best friend just posted an embarrassing video of him on Youtube. Can life get any worse? Still the irrepressible Derek takes it all in stride and even manages to save the day.… (més)

Maybe I'm especially fond of this because I love the period of music For What It's Worth centers around. I don't think that you have to love the 70s and the music of its time to pick up Janet Tashjian's very engaging read, though.

There's a vibe here that is just lovely and great writing, too. One of my favorite sentences is: "I know it doesn't make any sense, but there's something cool about Caroline being so uncool."

The author clearly understands how deeply music touches our souls and the neat facts and playlists Quinn, a fourteen-year-old walking "encyclopedia" of music, shares are fascinating.

His zeal for buying albums is wonderful nostalgia for those of us who loved record stores as a teenager. This will go on my to-be-read-again list and is definitely "feel good."… (més)