The Unlikely Hero of Room 13b by Teresa Toten

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51olNH42HNL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Bibliographic Information:

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13b By Teresa Toten

ISBN: 978-0553507867

2015 Delacorte Press New York, NY

Plot Summary:

This novel opens with Adam Ross joining a counseling group for teens with OCD. Across from him sits a girl who he instantly becomes infatuated with. The group all pick pseudonyms for their sessions, mostly settling on superhero names. When Robyn choses to be Robin, Adam picks the pseudonym Batman.

As time goes on, we learn that Adam’s parents are divorced and his father is remarried with a 5 year old son who they all call Sweetie. Adam’s mother is a successful nurse, but her veneer cracks in her home life. Their home has become so bad that Adam is not allowed to invite anyone in.

Adam is relied on by his step mother to calm Sweetie down when he is upset. Adam’s mother cannot seem to say no and lets Adam go to his father’s house whenever he is called.

Adam begins a farce of following Robyn out of the group therapy sessions. He discovers that she stops at a gravestone in the cemetery every time. Robyn notices Adam headed in her direction and they begin walking together, even though Adam cannot admit that his home is on the other side of town.

As Adam and Robyn’s relationship becomes closer, Adams OCD symptoms escalate. He feels pressure to save his mother, help Robyn recover, and keep Sweetie on an even keel. This pressure brings Adam to a breaking point and he has to rely on other’s to help him recover.

Critical Evaluation:

The foreshadowing in Adam’s story begins when he talks about not letting people into his mother’s house. He overhears his stepmother talking about how dangerous the house is and that he would be safer living with his father, step-mother, and brother.

Meanwhile, Adam’s mother keeps receiving apparently threatening letters, but she will not share them with Adam and he only knows about their arrival because of her agitated behavior.

The ominous action escalates as Adam’s OCD does. He has increasing problems with crossing thresholds and it becomes impossible to open his own front door.

Adam’s neighbor takes him in and comforts him, while he decides to go to his father’s house until he can resolve this OCD behavior.

While Adam is staying with his father, his symptoms are alleviated. He does less counting and is less stressed out. He comes to the conclusion that his OCD is holding Robyn back from her life in remission. This is a tough turning point.

Adam decides to go back to his mom’s house and all the pieces that have led here become crystal clear. Adam breaks through his threshold issue with the help of a friend and that also moves his mother on to the road to healing.

Reader’s Annotation:

Batman is a superhero who cannot save himself.

Author Information:

TERESA TOTEN is well known in her native Canada. She is the author of the acclaimed Blondes series, as well as The Game, The Onlyhouse, and, with Eric Walters, The Taming. Winner of the Governor General's Award for THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B, she has also won or been nominated for numerous other awards. Teresa Toten lives in Toronto. For more information, visit her website at www.teresatoten.com or follow her on Twitter @TTotenAuthor

Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Hero-Room-13B/dp/0553507869/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438840417&sr=1-1&keywords=the+unlikely+hero+of+room+13b on 8/5/2015

Genre(s):

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Mental Health

Booktalk Ideas:

Booktalks surrounding mental health topics, as many YA novels deal with different aspects of mental health.

Reading level: Grade 7+

Interest age: Age 12+

Challenge Issues: 

Issues may arise with fleeting drug references and references to bulimia and cutting. 

Challenge Defense File

Why I chose this book:

This is a relatively new book which has great reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly and many others. This book was recommended by a patron of the library as a fantastic YA read for this year. I heartily agree and am happy to include it in my collection.