Light and dark

It's interesting to read a light and enjoyable book about what is really quite a dark topic. Zelah Green, Queen of Clean is a 14-year-old girl with obsessive compulsive disorder. She thinks she copes with her 'rituals' quite well (lots of hand washing and avoidance of any germs or dirt). Her stepmother who she lives with has other ideas, and Zelah finds herself packed off to a place that will help her deal with her 'little problem'.

Vanessa Curtis has created a really feisty and likeable character. Other youngsters with mental health issues are introduced - anorexia and self harm among them - but they also are real rounded characters, never stereotyped. There's no definite 'happy ever after' at the end, but Zelah is more positive and is managing her rituals much better. I would say that this is aimed at the lower end of the teenage reading market, perhaps ages 11-14, and as such, this humorous story is probably the best way to deal with a serious subject.