Most people think that people with ocd are just neat freaks, but this book shows you that its much more, and much harder to live with. Terry spencer hesser fourteenyearold tara describes how her increasingly strange compulsions begin to take over her life and affect her relationships with her family and friends. Her devotion to these activities leads to the exclusion of friends and the alienation of family. Click to read more about kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser goodreads. All it took for her to be completely consumed by one thought was that one phrase, step on a crack. I you are looking for something intense and at times unusual read kissing doorknobs. Can you please tell me all the charachters in the book. The main character tara starts being afraid of losing her parents. Oct 27, 2009 an art project based on the book, kissing doorknobs.
In her first novel, kissing doorknobs, terry spencer hesser has written an inspiring, often humorous novel about obsessive compulsive disorder, a topic that merits discussion and compassion. Kissing doorknobs, is the story of tara sullivan who at the tender age of 11 hears the phrase step on a crack, break your mothers back and then cannot stop counting cracks in the sidewalk even if there are 495 of them. Fourteenyearold tara sullivan has always been a worrier. Its an incredible story and gives a lot of information on ocd obsessive compulsive disorder. There were strengths and weaknesses that effected her life along wi. I wanted to tell everyone a little more about the book kissing doorknobs, a story about a young girl named tara and her battle with ocd. Tara sullivan is a girl with obsessivecompulsive disorder ocd. With a trenchant portrait of tara sullivan from ages 1114, hessers first novel puts obsessivecompulsive disorder under the microscope. A firsttime author portrays the thoughts and behaviors of an 11yearold girl. During her preschool years, tara sullivan lived in terror that s.
I am a soon to be teacher and it gave me a new light on some things. Kissing doorknobs is one to make you cry in sadness, anger and frustration. Kissing doorknobs, is the story of tara sullivan who at the tender age of 11 hears the phrase step on a crack, break your mothers back and then cannot stop counting cracks in the sidewalk. It was a little bit hard to read, because it was like talking to a worry wart. Tara sullivan has been fighting againsed what was then known as quirks. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. Tara counts sidewalk cracks, kisses her fingers before she touches the doorknob, and recites prayers to calm herself. About kissing doorknobs during her preschool years, tara sullivan lived in terror that something bad would happen to her mother while they were apart.
She learns the meaning of a new term called obsessivecompulsive disorder on her journey toward wholeness. When tara first started getting the symptoms of ocd she did not understand what was happening to her. Tara, who prays, counts cracks, organizes her food, and kisses doorknobs, wonders if she is crazy like her family thinks she is. Tara, the young heroine, is a believably written young. An art project based on the book, kissing doorknobs. Terry spencer hesser when tara was eleven years old, she heard the phrase that changed her life.
It is the story of a young girl growing up with obsessive compulsive disorder ocd. Kissing doorknobs laurelleaf books by terry spencer hesser. Immediately download the kissing doorknobs summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching kissing doorknobs. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser librarything. Despite recent media attention, obsessivecompulsive disorder remains. For a relatively short book then, kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser is a good choice to read if youre looking for a fictional novel about a character with ocd. Fourteenyearold tara describes how her increasingly strange compulsions begin to take over her life and affect her relationships with her family and friends. In chapter 5, keesha does not let tara walk alone to catechism class, and calls her count taracula to make fun. Terry spencer hesser is a screenwriter and a documentary filmmaker. In the book, kissing doorknobs, fourteenyear old tara sullivan tells about how ocd ended up coming into her life and taking over for a time. If youre looking for a little quiet read, dont read this book.
Like many children with ocd, the narrators symptoms develop and change over time. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser scholastic. The book is about an eleven yearold girl that has ocd but is oublivious to it. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
Kissing doorknobs, by terry spencer hesser, is an amazing book about a girl who struggles with ocd obsessive compulsive disorder. Kissing doorknobs download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Tara, the young heroine, is a believably written young character, and this book handles the experience of having symptoms without knowing what is wrong with you very sensitively. Finally, a concerned teacher identifies a doorknob kissing ritual as a symptom of ocd and steers her toward help. But kissing doorknobs, by terry spencer hesser opened up a whole new world.
Read this book, and you will have gained knowlege that will last a lifetime. Kissing doorknobs laurelleaf books by terry spencer hesser and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It carries a great storyline thatll keep you hooked. Tara sullivan, the narrator of kissing doorknobs, is a young girl who feels like she is taken over by tyrants. Kissing doorknobs is an amazing book about a young girls struggles againsed ocd. Read this book, and it will change your perspective of people. Therefore it need a free signup process to obtain the book. Can you please tell me all the charachters in the book kissing doorknobs. The first novel for young adults that addresses obsessive compulsive disorder ocd. Buy a cheap copy of kissing doorknobs laurelleaf books by terry spencer hesser. For tara, avoiding cracks in the sidewalk became just the first of many. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser book cover, description, publication history. This book is about a girl named tara who discovers she is paying more attention to the cracks on the sidewalk after she hears the rhyme, step on a crack and break your mothers back. Kissing doorknobs summary tara sullivan, the narrator of kissing doorknobs, is a young girl who feels like she is taken over by tyrants who make her think thoughts she cant control.
Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser 2,830 ratings. The art of books tag we were tagged by the original creators megan and allesandra from brushing bookends. Find books like kissing doorknobs from the worlds largest community of readers. Since it is older though, tara is misdiagnosed a few times which in a way is positive because sometimes it takes time before you can be diagnosed correctly. It starts with the singsong step on a crack, break your mothers back, which repeats endlessly, no matter what she is doing. It is also one to make you laugh and smile in happiness. Chlamydia cannot be spread by kissing, toilet seats, bed linens, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, sharing clothes, or eating utensils. Tara had major problems in the novel, kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser. Kissing doorknobs ebook by terry spencer hesser rakuten kobo. Terry spencer hesser is the author of kissing doorknobs 3. Ya fiction age appropriateness interest level the story begins when the protagonist is 10 years old and ends when she is fourteen.
The book does not end with an instant or perfect cure, but tara at 14 does have reason to hope for a life free from the tyrants in her head. Young adult, fiction, mental health, mental illness, realistic fiction, psychology, childrens, middle grade, health, academic, school. Her parents try to help he with the ocd plot summary. Kissing doorknobs by hesser, terry spencer author mass market paperbound on 09nov1999. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser overdrive. And before tara knew what was happening, she was counting the cracks in the. Both characters were dealing with things inside of their heads, things that other people couldnt understand, and things that they couldnt control. Its all about a girl who suffers from ocd obsessive compulsive disorder and her struggles of overcoming it.
It started when she was 11 years old and involved the popular rhyme, step on a crack, break your mothers back. Kissing doorknobs is based on her personal experience with obsessive compulsive disorder. She gets mad easily and frustrated at the same time when people mess her up when she like kissing a doorknob. Kissing doorknobs is a novel by chicago writer and playwright terry spencer hesser. This is a symbol of the main characters brain, very dark and messy, but in the end she learns to be happy with it. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser, hardcover.
About the author terry spencer hesser is a screenwriter and a documentary filmmaker. I felt like the writing in kissing doorknobs was very similar to mythirteenth winter, by samantha abeel. Tara sullivan has been fighting againsed what was then known as quirks since she was a little girl, but they have grown and grown until her family and friends were sick of them and her. Having been home with a nasty little fluish thing, i read two books for young adult readers about ocd kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser and total constant order by crissajean chappell. In grade school, she panicked during the practice fire drills.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Letting kindness get that near to pain is like giving fire some oxygen. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser fantastic fiction. Click download or read online button to get kissing doorknobs book now. Kissing doorknobs is the more overtly explanatory of the two, but it is still a good story. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser, hardcover barnes. S affected, ocd is a pertinent issue to young readers. This is a symbol of the main characters brain, very dark.
She heard a phrase step on a crack, and break your mothers back, which haunted her for most of her childhood life. In her first novel, kissing doorknobs, terry spencer hesser has written an inspiring, often humorous novel about obsessive compulsive disorder, a topic that. Subjectcontent maturity this book is definitely for a mature audience. See her if youre interested in borrowing her book, or at it to your wish list. Terry spencer hesser really does a great job with the characters in this book, they all show real depth and genuality. On the surface, she has been able to behave like a normal girl. You hear all of their irrational fears that are out of their control. Books similar to kissing doorknobs goodreads share book. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser, 97804404141, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
This study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of kissing doorknobs. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. One of them was when she developed a new ritual, which was kissing her fingers and touching a doorknob. Kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser gets free book. Tara sullivan, the narrator of kissing doorknobs, is a young girl who feels like she is taken over by tyrants who make her think thoughts she cant control. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about kissing doorknobs by terry spencer hesser. Hessers unusually polished debut novel brings a singularly compassionate wit to a singularly painful topic.