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Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser

Kissing Doorknobs

Terry Spencer Hesser

Random House Children's Books · Print & ebook · November 9, 1999

A Young Adult pick for readers exploring Kissing Doorknobs.

Mental Illness for TeensYA Illness & Disease StoriesEmotions & Feelings for Teensgirls
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Who it’s for
A close, uneasy look at how childhood fears can gather force in ordinary moments.
Themes
Anxiety, Compulsive rituals, Fear of harm
Genres
Mental Illness for Teens, YA Illness & Disease Stories, Emotions & Feelings for Teens

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About this book

During her preschool years, Tara Sullivan lived in terror that something bad would happen to her mother while they were apart. In grade school, she panicked during the practice fire drills. Practice for what?, Tara asked. For the upcoming disaster that was bound to happen? Then, at the age of 11, it happened. Tara heard the phrase that changed her life: Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Before Tara knew it, she was counting every crack in the sidewalk.

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Over time, Tara's "quirks" grew and developed: arranging her meals on plates, nonstop prayer rituals, until she developed a new ritual wherin she kissed her fingers and touched doorknobs....

Small Rituals, Big Fears

A close, uneasy look at how childhood fears can gather force in ordinary moments.

Come here for

  • The tension of a child bracing for disasters others consider unlikely
  • A personal story centered on fear, counting, and rituals

Expect

  • Tara’s fears unfold from preschool through age eleven
  • Specific rituals involving sidewalk cracks, meals, prayer, and doorknobs

Where it sits

Mental Illness for Teens97%
Emotions & Feelings for Teens33%
YA Illness & Disease Stories31%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA Illness & Disease Stories
  • Disabilities & Special Needs for Teens
  • Mental Illness for Teens
Authors
Terry Spencer Hesser
Publisher
Random House Children's Books
Published
November 9, 1999
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Anxiety · Compulsive rituals · Fear of harm
Reading lane
YA Illness & Disease Stories