Lauren Roedy Vaughn

At first, I wondered if this author knew any 17 year olds. Danielle stuck me as immature and a bit sheltered and I wondered if this is all there was to the story. Eventually, Danielle grew and there was mention of something that happened that brought her to where she is. I liked Danielle, whatever it was (you eventually find out), I wanted Danielle to work through it. The Big Lebowski doesn't come into play until the last quarter or so of the book.

The books isn't bad, but I wish there was more of the later half and less of the beginning.… (plus d'informations)

OCD, The Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn is a realistic fiction novel for mature readers. This novel made the 2015 Taysha List, which is the "high school" level suggested reading list put out by the Texas Library Association, but it is reviewed for grades 7+.

Danielle Levine moved and started a new school her 9th grade year after an event left her with some mental issues. The novel is completely from Danielle's point of view through her 12th grade year. She writes in her "me-moire" about her life, so the reader really sees her obsessions--hence, the OCD. She believes she is 20 pounds overweight with red curly (frizzy) hair and a hat thing. She wears different hats to deal with life along with her writing. Throughout this senior year, we learn that the other students see Danielle as who she is--rather strange but ok. She, however, obsesses about their opinion of her. They, as well as we the reader, come to know why Danielle writes and wears her hats and no longer consider her strange. We understand, which is one of the lessons of the novel: what happens to people isn't known so accept people as they are instead of judging.

Senior year is an interesting year of life because you're still in school and dependent on your parents and your hometown while at the same time you are planning for the future, which hopefully is 70 years long. Planning how to set the foundation for an entire life can be daunting. Danielle can't even think about college because she is mired in the past. At the beginning of the novel, you see her severe OCD. She's barely functioning--there's no way she could be on her own making decisions and dealing with the punches that life throws. As the novel progresses, Danielle asks people--her teacher, her counselor, and her friends--about life. By the end of the year, she's a functioning member of society. Was the journey easy? No.

What I like about the novel are the messages--there are a lot of them, which the author could have saved for future books, but they are good nonetheless. If you like to write quotes from books, you'll be writing a lot from this one! There's one main message that pulls the book together at the end, making the book worth reading. I think a lot of you may start the book and stop because Danielle seems so selfish and the first person point of view is overwhelming from this OCD mental case. Yes, you do find out what happened that caused the OCD, but it's not important until the end. It is worth finishing and contemplating how you want to abide life.… (plus d'informations)

In Danielle’s senior year archive is made up of her school papers with teacher commentary, emails, and letters all containing her hilarious musings on being adopted, her red hair and size 10 body, and her growing obsession with Jacob, the stereotypical popular high school boy. Danielle is determined that her last year at her alternative high school will be no different than all the others, and she is especially dreading the class trip to England. Her attitude begins to change after her school counselor forces her to attend a social skills group where she meets Daniel, a gay boy who introduces her to The Big Lebowski. More than anyone else, Daniel is able to understand Danielle’s quirks and how she has been shaped by the traumatic loss in her past. By the time she graduates, Danielle’s life is radically transformed through new friendships and strengthened relationships with family and mentors. A unique and surprising story told through the voice of a high school misfit whose delightful eccentricities and foibles will be relatable for many students who have struggled to fit in. The hodge-podge journal-entry style of the writing will be inviting to reluctant readers as well. Highly recommended. Ages 14 & up.… (plus d'informations)