OCD, the Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn

OCD, the Dude, and Me Goodreads summary:

With frizzy orange hair, a plus-sized body, sarcastic demeanor, and "unique learning profile," Danielle Levine doesn't fit in even at her alternative high school. While navigating her doomed social life, she writes scathing, self-aware, and sometimes downright raunchy essays for English class. As a result of her unfiltered writing style, she is forced to see the school psychologist and enroll in a "social skills" class. But when she meets Daniel, another social misfit who is obsessed with the cult classic film The Big Lebowski, Danielle's resolve to keep everyone at arm's length starts to crumble.

 

Stacey says:

Danielle chronicles her senior year of high school as a misfit.  She has OCD, anxiety issues, and no friends.  She does have family who love her; she sees them as perfect.  She wasn’t always the way she is today, but it’s quite a while into the story before we realize that and even further before we find out why she changed.  

In spite of all the angst that Danielle has, OCD, the Dude, and Me is hopeful. She makes friends with an older woman while on her school trip to London, and a boy from her “social skills” class.  It’s through Daniel, we get clues about Danielle’s past.  I’ve never seen The Big Lebowski, but it plays an important part in Danielle and Daniel’s bonding and healing.  

Those who feel alone will recognize Danielle as a kindred spirit.  Perhaps those same people will grow in acceptance of themselves as Danielle does.  Isn’t that why we read, to find others like ourselves, or to experience life through someone else’s eyes?  This is a good book for that purpose.  

Read July 27, 2014