Don't Touch

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

Wilson shines a light on anxiety disorders, magical thinking and ways to face fears in this debut. Caddie has always kept her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) behaviors hidden from family and friends except when life becomes too stressful. Her symptoms revolving around not being touched and being clean become more pronounced as she begins to attend high school at Birmingham Arts Academy and her parents divorce. Being cast as Ophelia in the school's production of Hamlet and growing closer to her male lead slowly brings Caddie to the point of seeking professional help and sharing her struggles with her new friends. There is some parent supported underage drinking. Although the author may have used the device to instill an understanding to the reader, Caddie's continual mantra of "don't touch" becomes a barrier to investing in her character. For those who persevere, the second half of this novel is a theater-focused love story that juxtaposes Ophelia with Caddie's dilemma. Theater enthusiasts will enjoy. In the author's note, Wilson explains her own history with OCD and provides a brief question and answer for teens about seeking mental health support.

Overall Book Score: good