About This Book
This compelling young adult novel offers an honest and riveting portrait of Jake Martin, a high school soccer prodigy grappling with severe, undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Jake believes his intricate rituals, centered around prime numbers, are a 'magic' that protects his family and guarantees his team's success. As the high-stakes state championship approaches, Jake's internal struggle intensifies, threatening to unravel his carefully constructed world and expose his secret to his family, friends, and college recruiters. The book delves deeply into the isolating and debilitating nature of OCD, exploring themes of anxiety, shame, the pressure to conform, and the search for self-acceptance. It's a powerful read for parents and teens seeking to understand mental health challenges.
Poised to lead his high school soccer team to its third straight state championship, seventeen-year-old star player Jake Martin struggles to keep hidden his nearly debilitating obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Discussion Prompts
1
How does Jake's 'magic' both help and hurt him throughout the story?
2
What are some of the pressures Jake faces, both from within himself and from external sources like his family and team?
3
How do Jake's relationships with his sister, father, and friend Luc reflect his struggle with OCD?
4
What does this book teach us about mental health and the importance of seeking help?
5
If you were Jake's friend, what signs might you notice, and how might you try to support him?
6
How does the setting of a high-stakes soccer championship amplify Jake's internal struggles?
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