Waiting for Fitz

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with the isolation of obsessive-compulsive disorder or other mental health challenges that feel invisible to the outside world. This story follows Addie, a girl living with severe OCD, as she navigates life within a residential treatment facility. Through her connection with Fitz, a boy dealing with schizophrenia, the book explores the deep need for companionship among those who feel 'broken.' It is a realistic, compassionate look at mental illness that avoids easy fixes, making it appropriate for mature middle schoolers and high school students. Parents might choose this to validate their child's feelings of being different and to provide a hopeful perspective on finding community in unexpected places.