Buzzing by Samuel Sattin

 

I'm always impressed by the variety of representation in YA and kid's books now, for both queer and neurodivergent kids. I picked this one up in part because of the appealing art, but it also turned out to be a wonderful depiction of young teens dealing with mental health and queerness.

Isaac is struggling, in school and in life. He is constantly plagued by a swarm of invasive thoughts that buzz in his head like angry bees (a very effective visual depiction). He is never without them- not when he's trying to pay attention in class, not when he's drawing (and he's very good at drawing), and not even at bedtime as he tries to fall asleep.

He lives with his mother and big sister, and he doesn't have many friends, but he does have a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He does his homework, sees his therapist, and just tries to get through each day while the negative thoughts buzz, buzz buzz.

Then a classmate, Micah, invites Isaac to come play in their Swamps & Sorcery game (Look, D&D has an expensive copyright okay?). Turns out it's not just Micah, but a whole group of kids. They think Isaac's art is amazing. They think Isaac is amazing, and when he's submerged in the fantasy of the game, his invasive thoughts are a lot quieter. Suddenly he has friends, and he's trying new things, and everything is a little easier. Also Micah maybe really likes him, and Isaac likes them too.

But when Isaac gets a D on a test, he hides it- only for his sister to spot it and tell their mom. His mother decides the game and his new friends are a distraction. The therapist has warned that fantasy can be dangerous for obsessive thoughts, but different things work for different people and Isaac has found it to be helpful. Now cut off from both his new interests and his friends, the buzzing of negative thoughts returns full force. On top of that, he's convinced his sister hates him.

Isaac has to prove that he can both keep up his grades and that his new friends and their game are a help, not a hindrance. He may get help from an unexpected side.

I really loved the realism in the family interactions here, there's no black and white, no good or bad guys, and no cure for OCD. A lot of people have what's best for Isaac in mind but the conflict comes from the difference in their ideas of what that is. There's no easy answers here, just the real life struggle of working out what makes life a little better.