Book Descriptions
for Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Katie, the protagonist of this fictionalized graphic memoir, attends class at a co-op once per week with other homeschooled kids, including her best friend, Kacey. In the summer, Katie and Kacey attend sleepaway camp together. When Katie makes a new friend at camp, Kacey’s jealous side comes out, and their friendship eventually comes to a painful end. As she faces additional stressors, like braces and minor oral surgery, Katie becomes more aware of persistent, unwelcome thoughts that compel her to tap or count or perform a certain task. If she doesn’t do so, she believes that something bad will happen. As she tries out for a local theater production, makes new friends, and goes about her life, Katie tries to keep her thoughts secret. But soon her compulsions consume so much time and energy that she reaches out to her parents for help; comfortingly, her father reveals that he, too, had OCD as a child, and it can be treated. “Our thoughts aren’t us,” he tells her. “They’re just thoughts … They don’t make us who we are.” Colorful, clean illustrations depict Katie, a white girl, often swarmed by the buzzing bees that represent her compulsive thoughts. (Ages 8-12)
CCBC Choices 2023. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2023. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR
A PARENTS MAGAZINE BEST BOOK
Inspired by a true story! Eleven-year old homeschooled Katie has always felt different . . . and now she can't stop worrying. Introducing an irresistibly relatable graphic novel about friendship, anxiety, and growing up.
"An excellent companion to Raina Telgemeier's Guts and Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends."—Booklist, Starred Review
New Friends. New grade. New worries?
Katie's always felt different. She's homeschooled, she has freckles, and her teeth are really crooked. But none of these things matter to Kacey. They’re best friends forever—just like their necklaces say. But when they go to summer camp, Kacey starts acting weird. What happened to the “forever”? And when Katie gets home, she can’t stop worrying. About getting braces. About 6th grade. About friends. She knows tapping three times or opening and closing a drawer won’t make everything better . . . but sometimes it helps stop the worrying. Is something wrong with her? And will anyone want to be friends with her if they find out?
A PARENTS MAGAZINE BEST BOOK
Inspired by a true story! Eleven-year old homeschooled Katie has always felt different . . . and now she can't stop worrying. Introducing an irresistibly relatable graphic novel about friendship, anxiety, and growing up.
"An excellent companion to Raina Telgemeier's Guts and Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends."—Booklist, Starred Review
New Friends. New grade. New worries?
Katie's always felt different. She's homeschooled, she has freckles, and her teeth are really crooked. But none of these things matter to Kacey. They’re best friends forever—just like their necklaces say. But when they go to summer camp, Kacey starts acting weird. What happened to the “forever”? And when Katie gets home, she can’t stop worrying. About getting braces. About 6th grade. About friends. She knows tapping three times or opening and closing a drawer won’t make everything better . . . but sometimes it helps stop the worrying. Is something wrong with her? And will anyone want to be friends with her if they find out?
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
