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Don't Touch
A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good.
Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together... which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin.
It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn't sure she's brave enough to let herself fall.
Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, this debut novel from Rachel M. Wilson is a moving story of a talented girl who's fighting an increasingly severe anxiety disorder, and the friends and family who stand by her.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good.
Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together... which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin.
It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn't sure she's brave enough to let herself fall.
Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, this debut novel from Rachel M. Wilson is a moving story of a talented girl who's fighting an increasingly severe anxiety disorder, and the friends and family who stand by her.
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
25 people are currently reading
6607 people want to read
About the author
Rachel M. Wilson
7books57followersRachel M. Wilson is the author of the contemporary YA, DON'T TOUCH, forthcoming from HarperTeen, Sep. 2, 2014.
She graduated from Northwestern University and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Rachel grew up in Birmingham, AL, and she currently writes, acts, and teaches in Chicago, IL.
Rachel's all over the Interwebs:
On Twitter @byRachelMWilson
On Instagram: @byRachelMWilson
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On Tumblr:
She graduated from Northwestern University and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Rachel grew up in Birmingham, AL, and she currently writes, acts, and teaches in Chicago, IL.
Rachel's all over the Interwebs:
On Twitter @byRachelMWilson
On Instagram: @byRachelMWilson
On Facebook:
On Tumblr:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
April 27, 2017
This book was totally unexpected. The words at the back of the cover were kind of misleading so when I picked the book up, I was ready for something paranormal but what I got was a story about mental illness. Instead of being disappointed though, I was actually surprised to end up liking the overall theme of the story. I also quite enjoyed the major setting- a theater school. It set up the direction of the plot and gave the entire story more color and intrigue because of course, Shakespeare!
I appreciate how the novel presents a general picture of a teenage girl going through a kind of mental illness and how she tries to cope with it- live life, deal with family and friends and even fall for a boy through her defense mantra, .
What I especially liked about the novel is the story of true friendship and how it emphasizes that by bringing up your issues with those you love is one major step to facing up to almost anything you’re dealing with. It may not be enough, but it’s definitely something.
“People want to help you and love you, but you have to open up and let them.�
It’s nobody’s fault a person is suffering mental illness and the book is a wonderful reminder that it isn’t something you could simply brush off or cure by telling the person to just suck it in. Like any illness, it requires professional attention which really isn’t about curing it. It’s about helping the person cope with it. Through the author’s fluid writing, well developed characters and even cute romance, I think she was able to give justice to the themes of the story and come up with a pretty good debut novel.
I appreciate how the novel presents a general picture of a teenage girl going through a kind of mental illness and how she tries to cope with it- live life, deal with family and friends and even fall for a boy through her defense mantra, .
What I especially liked about the novel is the story of true friendship and how it emphasizes that by bringing up your issues with those you love is one major step to facing up to almost anything you’re dealing with. It may not be enough, but it’s definitely something.
“People want to help you and love you, but you have to open up and let them.�
It’s nobody’s fault a person is suffering mental illness and the book is a wonderful reminder that it isn’t something you could simply brush off or cure by telling the person to just suck it in. Like any illness, it requires professional attention which really isn’t about curing it. It’s about helping the person cope with it. Through the author’s fluid writing, well developed characters and even cute romance, I think she was able to give justice to the themes of the story and come up with a pretty good debut novel.
October 12, 2014
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4.5 stars
Books that deal with mental illnesses are hard to get right. Either they are completely unrealistic and overdone or they just show blatantly, how little the author knows about that mental illness. Don’t Touch, gets it right. Don’t Touch transcended my expectations and hit all the right notes.
Our main character, Caddie, suffers from OCD and anxiety. She made this game with herself that if she doesn’t touch anyone, her family will come back together, that nothing bad would happen. That her father will come back to her mother and her brother and herself. So the game goes on. Don’t touch. And then the game gets in the way of her goal to become an actress. She wants to be Ophelia in the school production of Hamlet, but she can’t play the part if she can’t touch anyone.
Caddie’s such a realistic character. She is at war with herself and this game of her’s that has been going on for years. She wears gloves to school, long sleeves. All covered up so no skin shows. So no one can touch her. I felt a strong connection with Caddie because she was thoroughly developed and I was seriously freaking out and stressing with Caddie about her anxiety and don’t touch mantra. I actually did tear up around ¾ of the way in because damn, I felt so sorry for her. Moreover, I loved Caddie’s growth as a character. Throughout the novel, just watching her battle with her mental illness was truly spectacular and moving. I was rooting for her at every page.
I think what makes this book special is how the author doesn’t forget to make the secondary characters shine just as bright as Caddie. Mandy used to be really close with Caddie during primary school, but they drifted apart after Caddie got weird. But now, Mandy comes back really enthusiastic and nice. I adored her vibrant nature and how kind she was to Caddie despite her odd behaviour. As for Mandy’s friends that welcomed Caddie with equal amounts of openness—I loved them all. Oscar could always leave a grin on my face with his arrogant but humourous remarks, and that hug at the end! T’was so sweet. Peter, of course, was the best. He was so sweet and honest to Caddie. Their romance is a slow one—the type I love—and *fangirls* ALL THE SQUEALS. He’s also rather flawed and has a tough and touchy history and it was nice to delve deeper into that.
I have never been a fan of Shakespeare, but after reading this, I am really excited about picking up Hamlet. I loved how the play was incorporated into this novel—not just for the purpose of it being a play that Caddie wants to audition for—but also because how it draws parallels with the characters in this debut. Ophelia and Caddie actually have a lot in common as it turns out, and the play is also used well as something that helps Caddie through her journey to battle her demons.
Don’t Touch is a riveting novel that I devoured in no time. It’s powerful plot line and fantastically drawn characters just make it even better. I haven’t read anything like this and I seriously don’t think any other mental illness book can top this. Highly recommended!
4.5 stars
Books that deal with mental illnesses are hard to get right. Either they are completely unrealistic and overdone or they just show blatantly, how little the author knows about that mental illness. Don’t Touch, gets it right. Don’t Touch transcended my expectations and hit all the right notes.
Our main character, Caddie, suffers from OCD and anxiety. She made this game with herself that if she doesn’t touch anyone, her family will come back together, that nothing bad would happen. That her father will come back to her mother and her brother and herself. So the game goes on. Don’t touch. And then the game gets in the way of her goal to become an actress. She wants to be Ophelia in the school production of Hamlet, but she can’t play the part if she can’t touch anyone.
I’m all covered up, but our cheeks might touch, our hands brush, and that’s not allowed.
Caddie’s such a realistic character. She is at war with herself and this game of her’s that has been going on for years. She wears gloves to school, long sleeves. All covered up so no skin shows. So no one can touch her. I felt a strong connection with Caddie because she was thoroughly developed and I was seriously freaking out and stressing with Caddie about her anxiety and don’t touch mantra. I actually did tear up around ¾ of the way in because damn, I felt so sorry for her. Moreover, I loved Caddie’s growth as a character. Throughout the novel, just watching her battle with her mental illness was truly spectacular and moving. I was rooting for her at every page.
I think what makes this book special is how the author doesn’t forget to make the secondary characters shine just as bright as Caddie. Mandy used to be really close with Caddie during primary school, but they drifted apart after Caddie got weird. But now, Mandy comes back really enthusiastic and nice. I adored her vibrant nature and how kind she was to Caddie despite her odd behaviour. As for Mandy’s friends that welcomed Caddie with equal amounts of openness—I loved them all. Oscar could always leave a grin on my face with his arrogant but humourous remarks, and that hug at the end! T’was so sweet. Peter, of course, was the best. He was so sweet and honest to Caddie. Their romance is a slow one—the type I love—and *fangirls* ALL THE SQUEALS. He’s also rather flawed and has a tough and touchy history and it was nice to delve deeper into that.
I have never been a fan of Shakespeare, but after reading this, I am really excited about picking up Hamlet. I loved how the play was incorporated into this novel—not just for the purpose of it being a play that Caddie wants to audition for—but also because how it draws parallels with the characters in this debut. Ophelia and Caddie actually have a lot in common as it turns out, and the play is also used well as something that helps Caddie through her journey to battle her demons.
Don’t Touch is a riveting novel that I devoured in no time. It’s powerful plot line and fantastically drawn characters just make it even better. I haven’t read anything like this and I seriously don’t think any other mental illness book can top this. Highly recommended!
May 13, 2016
Review and Playlist also posted at
Listen to my on 8tracks.
I was blown away.
I wasn’t planning on picking this up and when I finally did I didn’t expect to fall madly in love with Don’t Touch.
There are some misconceptions, to be clear, there are no magical, superpowers involved, or any lethal touch going on in this book.
Don’t Touch Me follows the story of Caddie who has this idea drilled inside her head that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together� which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin. What started as a harmless thought suddenly grew into an obsession, that is now starting to affect her ambition as an actress, making friends and kissing the boy she likes.
Truth be told this is the first book that I’ve read about OCD. It delivers this disorder realistically. It’s not your usual funny and quirky subplot. It’s actually a drastic behavior that can affect not only the patient’s life, but also the people around her.
Don’t Touch provided supplementary details that helped me understand OCD in an intimate way. It also established Caddie’s character, and her restriction and privacy. I find myself Icatching my breath slowly processing everything. I was hooked from the very first page.
Caddie is such a great protagonist. I can empathize with her struggles. No one should fault her for feeling that way. It was certainly liberating reading her point of view and perception about her anxiety. I can’t stress enough how much I love and appreciate her.
The supporting characters are all great additions. They are one of my favorite things about this book! They keep the story going with great banter, heartwarming understanding for Caddie and her OCD. We need more people like them in the real world. Everyone is well-developed and written. I’m so sad this is just a stand-alone book. I want to read more about them.
The romance is cute, adorable and perfect in every sense. Their relationship falls into the insta-love category and while I usually despise that, Wilson perfectly crafts the progress and development of their friendship.
Words would not be enough to convey all my feelings about Don’t Touch. This is the book of my soul. It tells a fantastic story about a girl who have OCD. There is no filter..it is utterly brave, sweet and hilarious. It is so beautiful and unforgettable. It’s one of those powerful books that you should read.
Listen to my on 8tracks.
I was blown away.
I wasn’t planning on picking this up and when I finally did I didn’t expect to fall madly in love with Don’t Touch.
There are some misconceptions, to be clear, there are no magical, superpowers involved, or any lethal touch going on in this book.
Don’t Touch Me follows the story of Caddie who has this idea drilled inside her head that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together� which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin. What started as a harmless thought suddenly grew into an obsession, that is now starting to affect her ambition as an actress, making friends and kissing the boy she likes.
Truth be told this is the first book that I’ve read about OCD. It delivers this disorder realistically. It’s not your usual funny and quirky subplot. It’s actually a drastic behavior that can affect not only the patient’s life, but also the people around her.
Don’t Touch provided supplementary details that helped me understand OCD in an intimate way. It also established Caddie’s character, and her restriction and privacy. I find myself Icatching my breath slowly processing everything. I was hooked from the very first page.
Caddie is such a great protagonist. I can empathize with her struggles. No one should fault her for feeling that way. It was certainly liberating reading her point of view and perception about her anxiety. I can’t stress enough how much I love and appreciate her.
The supporting characters are all great additions. They are one of my favorite things about this book! They keep the story going with great banter, heartwarming understanding for Caddie and her OCD. We need more people like them in the real world. Everyone is well-developed and written. I’m so sad this is just a stand-alone book. I want to read more about them.
The romance is cute, adorable and perfect in every sense. Their relationship falls into the insta-love category and while I usually despise that, Wilson perfectly crafts the progress and development of their friendship.
Words would not be enough to convey all my feelings about Don’t Touch. This is the book of my soul. It tells a fantastic story about a girl who have OCD. There is no filter..it is utterly brave, sweet and hilarious. It is so beautiful and unforgettable. It’s one of those powerful books that you should read.
October 2, 2014
Reading this book felt like walking on glass. Any wrong move could make the glass shatter--any little thing can make me completely love or hate the book. Until this moment of writing this review, I could suddenly realize little things and lower or raise my rating. This book's a fragile read for me, if you can call it that.
One positive thing about the book was the theatrical aspect. I loved all the theater-talk and scenes related to the characters' roles in their school play, and all the those things. I myself want to try out theater some day (in fact I plan to join our drama club next year), so I really enjoyed these scenes from the book.
Another thing I liked was the realistic involvement of parents in the novel.Caddie's parents were practically oblivious to hersituation, since they were caught up in their own problems. Both also had ambitions they wanted to fulfill, hence their short attention span. Caddie also had a little brother who, at first, was kind of cold to her but ended up being really supportive. He reminds me of my own brother.
Each character also had a distinct personality, although it's sad to say that I was more invested in the minor characters' stories than in the main characters'. Caddie and Peter weren't bad characters, but I guess the elegant writing made me feel uninterested in them. There was also the problem that I don't know what it feels like to have OCD, so sometimes Caddie was creeping me out.
Caddie had a great group of friends who I just loved. They were there for her when she needed them, but they also got into fights like real friends would. They also had a great passion for acting, which I wish more people in the world had as well. Olivia was especially endearing.
The romance was okay. Sometimes I just wanted Caddie and Peter to just KISS ALREADY, and sometimes I wanted to tear my eyeballs out since I was getting annoyed and/or frustrated with how hot-and-cold the two of them were. But overall, I liked Peter as an individual. He made decisions for himself and was a really good friend to Caddie.
Overall, Don't Touchmight appeal to fans of Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern (which I enjoyed), or even Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (which I thought was fine). It was a heavy read made lighter by the adorable side characters and very friendly love interest.
Read
September 20, 2014Easily one of the best depictions of OCD I've read in YA, with a killer author's note at the end to boot. That's noteworthy in and of itself because sometimes they can feel like they're explaining the point; this one does not.
Caddie's relationship with Peter is sweet and satisfying throughout the entire book, and the ending they got was what was deserved. More, it was so REALISTIC to teen romances.
Though this book tackles mental health, it's perfectly fine for younger YA readers. There's theater in here, and the way Wilson weaves in Hamlet and Ophelia is smart, savvy, and not cliched nor a reach.
Longer review to come but this book is really worthwhile.
Caddie's relationship with Peter is sweet and satisfying throughout the entire book, and the ending they got was what was deserved. More, it was so REALISTIC to teen romances.
Though this book tackles mental health, it's perfectly fine for younger YA readers. There's theater in here, and the way Wilson weaves in Hamlet and Ophelia is smart, savvy, and not cliched nor a reach.
Longer review to come but this book is really worthwhile.
October 28, 2015
Everything about this book is amazing even the authors note.
January 13, 2015
I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
3.5 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below. As someone with anxiety, I definitely was a little hesitant to request and to read a book that deals with a mental illness that I suffer. I am so glad that I did read Don't Touch. Not only has Rachel M. Wilson written about the reality of severe anxiety, but she has also written/created one of the most lively and entertaining cast of characters that I've ever read about. I love the protagonist Caddie, but I loved the supporting characters even more. They all made me giddy and hysterical, especially Oscar. I also really liked the relationship between Caddie and Peter that developed throughout the novel. I especially liked how careful Peter was about being near Caddie, and how he helped her overcome her anxiety. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Don't Touch. I loved how it could make me feel all emotions, and I would definitely recommend to readers who are looking for a less "fluffy" contemporary.
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
December 7, 2014
Powerful and gripping, Don't Touch was virtually a favorite of mine simply from the concept itself as it follows two things that I find fascinating: theatre and psychology. Luckily, the execution itself is just as well-done as the synopsis, and Rachel M. Wilson creates a story that both lingers and provokes thought.
Ever since her parents divorced, Caddie has been afraid of being touched or touching someone else; believing that if she does, something horrible will happen to her family.
Don't touch protects me from pain. Like an overzealous bodyguard whose last client died shaking hands. There are so many things in the world that can make you hurt, and people - people do it best. If I can't touch them, they can't hurt me.But when Caddie signs up for drama class, she realizes that if she wants to play the role of Ophelia, she'll have to touch Peter, who is auditioning for Hamlet. Part of her would like nothing better than to touch him, but the other side of her just can't ignore the consequences of what might happen if she does...
Caddie herself is a wonderful character that you can't help but sympathize for. Her fear is illogical and nonsensical to us, and there are times when you will admittedly just want to kick her for not being able to see the obvious. But, mostly, you'll feel sorry for how badly she's been blinded by this fear; and you'll find yourself rooting for her to overcome it step by step.
The supporting characters are impressively developed as well. From Caddie's fabulous group of friends that take her for who she is, to her parents, to her younger brother - the development in them is not lacking one bit. They each have their own distinct personalities and backstories that make them incredible and intriguing in their own rights; and it just makes the story that much more vibrant and intriguing.
The romance is a big part of the story here, and, in my opinion, it absolutely delivered. The romance between Caddie and Peter is slow-burning, but once it hits, it doesn't stop coming. The chemistry between the two is absolutely fantastic, and I found Peter to be a fabulous and supportive love interest that complimented Caddie perfectly.
Few authors in the YA genre have the guts to write about a topic as personal and as distinct as OCD, but I found that Rachel M. Wilson handled it absolutely wonderfully. You really get a hand's on look at what it's like for people who have to live with this condition on an everyday basis, and it really gets you thinking.
I cannot recommend this enough - especially to those who suffer from anxiety or OCD themselves. This really changes your outlook on what these individuals have to go through, and you'll find Caddie's journey both inspiring and thought-provoking.
People talk about stage fright, but life is what’s scary. In a play, you know where to stand, what to say, and the ending’s already been written. I’ve played crazy characters, emotional wrecks, but no one of them ever stopped breathing.
April 29, 2014
Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars
Don’t Touch is a story about a young girl named Caddie who has ambitions to be an actress but suffers from severe anxiety and has a fear about touching anyone. She created ‘games� such as Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good as a way to justify why she doesn’t touch.
The characters - Caddie was an MC I unfortunately found lacklustre, I definitely felt sorry for the way she suffered but she wasn’t honest or forthcoming with anyone at all, especially with her family and her childhood best-friend Mandy who I thought was a wonderful support and Peter who despite his own personal struggles was fabulous; she was surrounded by a great group of new friends at the academy who were all developed well and likable.
The plot was interesting and relatively slow paced as we watch Caddie face her fears, yearn for touch, play Ophelia in her favourite play, grow close to her peers and find love � Caddie had not only her OCD to deal with but also moving to a new school and her parents separation. I liked seeing the progress Caddie would make; the author wrote her issues and reactions perfectly and with kindness,
Rachel M. Wilson’s writing is engaging and sympathetic, she knew her subject matter extremely well and wrote with compassion; as a sufferer of anxiety myself I found myself nodding along to Caddie’s reactions on numerous occasions - her writing is personal and gets right inside the MC’s mind. It is a wonderful debut.
What I liked:
� Don’t Touch is a standalone! We need more of these.
� The romance was done very well and wasn’t at the forefront of the story.
� The acting and Shakespeare scenes.
� I want a best friend like Mandy!
� I liked that Caddie was seeking professional help to deal with her problem; it wasn’t brushed off and ignored.
� The authors note at the end.
What I wasn’t a huge fan of:
� The MC came across as flat, her anxiety was the main focus and her passion for acting I didn’t feel was fully portrayed in her actions, I would have liked to have seen more of her personality shine through.
Overall, despite struggling with the main character, I did enjoy Don’t Touch and the overall storyline which I feel the author wrote extremely well.
Thank-you kindly to HarperTeen for the opportunity to read and review Don’t Touch.
Don’t Touch is a story about a young girl named Caddie who has ambitions to be an actress but suffers from severe anxiety and has a fear about touching anyone. She created ‘games� such as Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good as a way to justify why she doesn’t touch.
The characters - Caddie was an MC I unfortunately found lacklustre, I definitely felt sorry for the way she suffered but she wasn’t honest or forthcoming with anyone at all, especially with her family and her childhood best-friend Mandy who I thought was a wonderful support and Peter who despite his own personal struggles was fabulous; she was surrounded by a great group of new friends at the academy who were all developed well and likable.
The plot was interesting and relatively slow paced as we watch Caddie face her fears, yearn for touch, play Ophelia in her favourite play, grow close to her peers and find love � Caddie had not only her OCD to deal with but also moving to a new school and her parents separation. I liked seeing the progress Caddie would make; the author wrote her issues and reactions perfectly and with kindness,
Rachel M. Wilson’s writing is engaging and sympathetic, she knew her subject matter extremely well and wrote with compassion; as a sufferer of anxiety myself I found myself nodding along to Caddie’s reactions on numerous occasions - her writing is personal and gets right inside the MC’s mind. It is a wonderful debut.
What I liked:
� Don’t Touch is a standalone! We need more of these.
� The romance was done very well and wasn’t at the forefront of the story.
� The acting and Shakespeare scenes.
� I want a best friend like Mandy!
� I liked that Caddie was seeking professional help to deal with her problem; it wasn’t brushed off and ignored.
� The authors note at the end.
What I wasn’t a huge fan of:
� The MC came across as flat, her anxiety was the main focus and her passion for acting I didn’t feel was fully portrayed in her actions, I would have liked to have seen more of her personality shine through.
Overall, despite struggling with the main character, I did enjoy Don’t Touch and the overall storyline which I feel the author wrote extremely well.
Thank-you kindly to HarperTeen for the opportunity to read and review Don’t Touch.
June 19, 2014
5 amazing, undoubtedly well deserved stars.
"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.� - William Shakespeare, Hamlet "
I loved this book, I loved absolutely everything about it! I remember seeing this title pop up on the Epic Reads Fall Cover Reveals blog post and was immediately intrigued not only by the gorgeousness that is that cover, but the plot summary itself. Hence when I saw this baby pop up on Edelweiss I could not help requesting it and squealed like the fangirl I unabashedly am when I saw I had been approved. I'll try to keep my gushing to a minimum in this review, but before I go into anything just let it be known that this was such an enjoyable read for me and I loved every second of it.
Initially going into this book I did not know what to expect. Truth be told the second I saw the words Hamlet and Ophelia in the synopsis I was sold. I adored when I read it back in Grade 11 English and this book just reignited that love and made me remember everything I felt about it in the first place. But the play aside, this is not a book about Hamlet .
The Plot :
Don't Touch is the story of our main character Caddie, who as the synopsis suggests, comes to a new school for the arts and finds herself auditioning for the role of Ophelia. However while overcoming the challenges of arriving at a new school, Caddie is facing an incredibly rough patch in her home life as well. Her parents are separating and this drastic change is not an easy one for her brother nor her to accept. Caddie's parent's problems began years ago while she was in middle school, the same time that she invented the game, born from the depths of her anxiety called Don't Touch .
Don't touch protects me from pain. Like an overzealous bodyguard whose last client died shaking hands. There are so many things in the world that can make you hurt, and people - people do it best. If I can't touch them, they can't hurt me. There's a flaw in that logic... But my games have never been logical."
Caddie has built up this idea in her mind, though while to us as a reader can seem illogical of course, to her she believes in it fiercely. For Caddie "Don't Touch" is her way of protecting herself and her family. The belief began back in her middle school days, the early days of her parents fighting and this belief is that if she let herself be touched or touch anyone then her parents would split up. Later this becomes the fierce belief that if she lets herself be touched, her father will not come back to them, and her family falling apart will be completely her fault. Her mentality very much parallels the old superstition : Step on a crack, break your mother's back. .
This story follows Caddie as she deals with this belief and as one can gather, going through life as a teenage actress afraid of being touched is no easy task at all.
There were so many things I loved about this novel and I want to touch (haha touch.. "Don't Touch".. get it? Ok ok I'll stop) upon a few of the things I think are well deserving of praise the first of which is
Character / The Portrayal of Mental Illness .
At the end of this ARC I read the authors note from Rachel M. Wilson which offered a glimpse into her own personal experience with mental illness and the advice/thoughts she had to offer. To me that makes this book all the more special as it was written by someone who perhaps didn't experience the exact same issues as Caddie did, but from someone who had first hand insight into the complexities of something like a mental illness. In this novel Caddie suffers from extreme anxiety, and while I cannot say I have been in the same situation as she was, I was able to relate to her character immensely. The portrayal of anxiety was so believable and exceedingly well done - I cannot say enough good things about this and I think anybody even if you don't suffer from anxiety would be able to relate to and understand what life would be like in Caddie's shoes.
Then we have Caddie's character, oh Caddie. Her character development in this novel was fantastic and such a joy to read. Seeing her open up to her new friends and reconnect with Mandy warmed my heart. Her relationship with Peter was definitely a slow burner and there were times where I just wanted to shake her and yell "oh just KISS him already." But I always understood why she chose to make the decisions she did and how difficult those situations were for her. I loved seeing her grow in this book and slowly but surely overcome her illness and let go, releasing control of her life. My heart went out to her as she dealt with her parents divorce, she really had such a rough time with everything, but seeing her persevere through and come out stronger was beautiful and incredibly uplifting.
Other Tidbits of Awesomeness
Even though this book deals with a serious issue it is absolutely freaking adorable and laugh out loud hilarious. Seriously I had the widest grin on my face the entire time. Peter and Caddie's interactions were so cute and really reminded me of Schroeder and Heart's dynamic in , but even besides them I loved the entire cast of characters. I love the camaraderie that was felt between the members of the cast and the entire atmosphere of being in a play in general. I loved Oscar's cockiness, Livia's impulse gung ho life style and Mandy's snark and sass. This is such a vibrant group of characters and their interactions made this such a great read.
Besides the characters I thought this book was incredibly well written, the writing style is beautiful without ever coming across as flowery or overstated and was a very fitting narrative for the story as a whole. I LOVED (yikes I'm just realizing how much I keep saying the word love) the fact that the play they were performing was Hamlet and the parallels that were drawn between Ophelia and Caddie. It was so well done and just added another layer of complexity to Caddie's entire situation.
Final Thoughts
As if I haven't already said it enough, I loved this book. This was such a fantastic debut novel for Ms. Rachel Wilson and I will definitely be reading and eagerly anticipating anything else that she writes. This is definitely one of the best YA contemporaries that I have ever read - it was the perfect balance of cute and serious without ever coming across as nauseating or depressing. It is both light hearted and incredibly insightful and I'm so happy I got the chance to read it early. I highly HIGHLY recommend this to everyone, especially to those in search of a great contemporary :)
Disclaimer : All quotes were taken from an Advanced Uncorrected Proof and are subject to change. Advanced Reader's Copy was provided through edelweiss in exchange for an honest review .
"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.� - William Shakespeare, Hamlet "
I loved this book, I loved absolutely everything about it! I remember seeing this title pop up on the Epic Reads Fall Cover Reveals blog post and was immediately intrigued not only by the gorgeousness that is that cover, but the plot summary itself. Hence when I saw this baby pop up on Edelweiss I could not help requesting it and squealed like the fangirl I unabashedly am when I saw I had been approved. I'll try to keep my gushing to a minimum in this review, but before I go into anything just let it be known that this was such an enjoyable read for me and I loved every second of it.
Initially going into this book I did not know what to expect. Truth be told the second I saw the words Hamlet and Ophelia in the synopsis I was sold. I adored when I read it back in Grade 11 English and this book just reignited that love and made me remember everything I felt about it in the first place. But the play aside, this is not a book about Hamlet .
The Plot :
Don't Touch is the story of our main character Caddie, who as the synopsis suggests, comes to a new school for the arts and finds herself auditioning for the role of Ophelia. However while overcoming the challenges of arriving at a new school, Caddie is facing an incredibly rough patch in her home life as well. Her parents are separating and this drastic change is not an easy one for her brother nor her to accept. Caddie's parent's problems began years ago while she was in middle school, the same time that she invented the game, born from the depths of her anxiety called Don't Touch .
Don't touch protects me from pain. Like an overzealous bodyguard whose last client died shaking hands. There are so many things in the world that can make you hurt, and people - people do it best. If I can't touch them, they can't hurt me. There's a flaw in that logic... But my games have never been logical."
Caddie has built up this idea in her mind, though while to us as a reader can seem illogical of course, to her she believes in it fiercely. For Caddie "Don't Touch" is her way of protecting herself and her family. The belief began back in her middle school days, the early days of her parents fighting and this belief is that if she let herself be touched or touch anyone then her parents would split up. Later this becomes the fierce belief that if she lets herself be touched, her father will not come back to them, and her family falling apart will be completely her fault. Her mentality very much parallels the old superstition : Step on a crack, break your mother's back. .
This story follows Caddie as she deals with this belief and as one can gather, going through life as a teenage actress afraid of being touched is no easy task at all.
There were so many things I loved about this novel and I want to touch (haha touch.. "Don't Touch".. get it? Ok ok I'll stop) upon a few of the things I think are well deserving of praise the first of which is
Character / The Portrayal of Mental Illness .
At the end of this ARC I read the authors note from Rachel M. Wilson which offered a glimpse into her own personal experience with mental illness and the advice/thoughts she had to offer. To me that makes this book all the more special as it was written by someone who perhaps didn't experience the exact same issues as Caddie did, but from someone who had first hand insight into the complexities of something like a mental illness. In this novel Caddie suffers from extreme anxiety, and while I cannot say I have been in the same situation as she was, I was able to relate to her character immensely. The portrayal of anxiety was so believable and exceedingly well done - I cannot say enough good things about this and I think anybody even if you don't suffer from anxiety would be able to relate to and understand what life would be like in Caddie's shoes.
Then we have Caddie's character, oh Caddie. Her character development in this novel was fantastic and such a joy to read. Seeing her open up to her new friends and reconnect with Mandy warmed my heart. Her relationship with Peter was definitely a slow burner and there were times where I just wanted to shake her and yell "oh just KISS him already." But I always understood why she chose to make the decisions she did and how difficult those situations were for her. I loved seeing her grow in this book and slowly but surely overcome her illness and let go, releasing control of her life. My heart went out to her as she dealt with her parents divorce, she really had such a rough time with everything, but seeing her persevere through and come out stronger was beautiful and incredibly uplifting.
Other Tidbits of Awesomeness
Even though this book deals with a serious issue it is absolutely freaking adorable and laugh out loud hilarious. Seriously I had the widest grin on my face the entire time. Peter and Caddie's interactions were so cute and really reminded me of Schroeder and Heart's dynamic in , but even besides them I loved the entire cast of characters. I love the camaraderie that was felt between the members of the cast and the entire atmosphere of being in a play in general. I loved Oscar's cockiness, Livia's impulse gung ho life style and Mandy's snark and sass. This is such a vibrant group of characters and their interactions made this such a great read.
Besides the characters I thought this book was incredibly well written, the writing style is beautiful without ever coming across as flowery or overstated and was a very fitting narrative for the story as a whole. I LOVED (yikes I'm just realizing how much I keep saying the word love) the fact that the play they were performing was Hamlet and the parallels that were drawn between Ophelia and Caddie. It was so well done and just added another layer of complexity to Caddie's entire situation.
Final Thoughts
As if I haven't already said it enough, I loved this book. This was such a fantastic debut novel for Ms. Rachel Wilson and I will definitely be reading and eagerly anticipating anything else that she writes. This is definitely one of the best YA contemporaries that I have ever read - it was the perfect balance of cute and serious without ever coming across as nauseating or depressing. It is both light hearted and incredibly insightful and I'm so happy I got the chance to read it early. I highly HIGHLY recommend this to everyone, especially to those in search of a great contemporary :)
Disclaimer : All quotes were taken from an Advanced Uncorrected Proof and are subject to change. Advanced Reader's Copy was provided through edelweiss in exchange for an honest review .
February 21, 2015
Wow. Where to begin? This book blew me away. I was expecting to like it (why else would I have read it, right?), but I never expected it to impact me the way it did. After I finished, I couldn't sleep. Literally, I just stayed awake, in deep thought.
When I first decided I wanted to read Don't Touch (which I had initially overlooked, mainly because I saw mention of "drama class" and Hamlet, which in hindsight would have been a huge mistake), I wasn't sure how much I would connect to Caddie. Sure, she had some issues, but they were mainly sensory issues (or so I'd assumed). She was into theater, and artsy stuff.
As it turned out, Caddie and I are far more alike than I care to admit. But for the sake of explaining my connection to this story, I think it is vital that I do. See, Caddie isn't afraid of touch, per se. She is afraid of what the touch may bring upon her, her family, those around her. She is consumed by "magical thoughts", in which she feels as though she can somehow control her surroundings by modifying her behavior, doing specific routines, and in this case, not allowing anyone to touch her skin. I had (and in the spirit of honesty, still have) many of these such thoughts and reactions. For years (probably since I was around seven), I was convinced that if I fell asleep on my back, the phone would ring indicating that a relative had passed away. Did I know logically that it was ridiculous? Of course. As does Caddie. But that doesn't stop the compulsion from being there. The fear and anxiety overwhelms you until you simply can't help but follow through with the thought or behavior.
The way Rachel M. Wilson writes this is so honest, so completely accurate that I actually had to regain my composure before continuing. I have read books before in which the character was supposed to have some kind of anxiety, depression, OCD, etc. But it felt like someone trying to describe what it might be like for the character. It was maybe even a close representation. But not in Don't Touch. I felt every single bit of Caddie's struggle. I knew it, because it was my own. And it was so startlingly real. Caddie was being suffocated by her fears and anxiety, and each response she had, I have felt. For people who haven't experienced this type of affliction, trust that this is absolutely spot-on. The panic is real. The terror is real. And Wilson's writing makes the reader absolutely feel it oozing from Caddie.
The supporting characters in the story are also portrayed so well. They are likable, especially the romantic interest Peter. He is one of the good guys, the kind of guy any girl would be lucky to have. He is patient with Caddie, though of course goes through some of the feelings you'd expect him to go through when the girl he is interested in refuses any hint of affection. There's no insta-love, just insta-attraction, which is fine by me. Caddie likes Peter, but is too terrified to do anything to jeopardize her "Don't Touch" mantra. Caddie's best friend Mandy is much more frustrated with her behavior. Of course, Caddie doesn't want Mandy to know about her mental health issues, for fear that Mandy will simply think she is crazy and not want to be around her. All Mandy wants is for Caddie to trust her enough to let her in. Again, the reactions are so true to life. Caddie's parents are going through a separation; Caddie's mom is trying to figure out life on her own while Caddie's dad is kind of being useless. Does this really happen with parents? Um, yes. After all, parents are human, and very fallible, especially when not wanting to admit/deal with a child's mental health. I was glad that Caddie's parents were at least supportive of her seeing a therapist and getting treatment.
The drama group, in addition to being great characters in general, create some great side stories and witty banter to make the book very multifaceted. In the midst of Caddie's inner turmoil, she is able to share some fun moments with her new group of friends. It also makes for a great opportunity for the reader to regroup from the more heart-wrenching moments.
The Hamlet piece was really well done, and quite genius. It makes for such an amazing comparison to Caddie's life, and challenges her in ways she never imagined. Instead of being bored by Shakespeare, I was actually really invested in the play's success, since I was so invested in the characters. And of course, the story mirrored how Caddie felt so well, and there were times that she felt so much like Ophelia. It was the perfect plot choice.
There were quotes and conversations in the book that made me literally stop reading to write them down, because I was so moved by them. There were conversations that Caddie and Mandy had that moved me so much, especially ones relating to touching. How do you explain to someone that being touched terrifies you? Isn't explaining it just as terrifying? I don't have any magical thoughts related to touch like Caddie does, but I have panic attacks when men I don't know (and sometimes even men I do know) touch me. Like Caddie, it doesn't stem from any horrific attack, it just is. In a work training, I was paired with four large, strange men to do restraint training exercises. I lasted about twenty seconds, had a full blown panic attack which led to a severe asthma attack, and that was the end of that. How could I explain to a room full of people why that happened? I couldn't. This is why Caddie feels so helpless when trying to describe it to Mandy. It isn't that she doesn't trust Mandy, it is just near impossible to put into words that make sense.
This story will undoubtedly stay with me for a long, long time. In fact, the first chance I get I am ordering a physical copy of this book, because I am certain I'll be rereading. Do you have to understand mental illness firsthand to be moved by this book? Absolutely not. It is a fantastic book with beautifully written characters, and a plot that will keep everyone interested. It is sad, but hopeful; smart and witty; and brutally, brilliantly honest.
*ARC received for review.
When I first decided I wanted to read Don't Touch (which I had initially overlooked, mainly because I saw mention of "drama class" and Hamlet, which in hindsight would have been a huge mistake), I wasn't sure how much I would connect to Caddie. Sure, she had some issues, but they were mainly sensory issues (or so I'd assumed). She was into theater, and artsy stuff.
As it turned out, Caddie and I are far more alike than I care to admit. But for the sake of explaining my connection to this story, I think it is vital that I do. See, Caddie isn't afraid of touch, per se. She is afraid of what the touch may bring upon her, her family, those around her. She is consumed by "magical thoughts", in which she feels as though she can somehow control her surroundings by modifying her behavior, doing specific routines, and in this case, not allowing anyone to touch her skin. I had (and in the spirit of honesty, still have) many of these such thoughts and reactions. For years (probably since I was around seven), I was convinced that if I fell asleep on my back, the phone would ring indicating that a relative had passed away. Did I know logically that it was ridiculous? Of course. As does Caddie. But that doesn't stop the compulsion from being there. The fear and anxiety overwhelms you until you simply can't help but follow through with the thought or behavior.
The way Rachel M. Wilson writes this is so honest, so completely accurate that I actually had to regain my composure before continuing. I have read books before in which the character was supposed to have some kind of anxiety, depression, OCD, etc. But it felt like someone trying to describe what it might be like for the character. It was maybe even a close representation. But not in Don't Touch. I felt every single bit of Caddie's struggle. I knew it, because it was my own. And it was so startlingly real. Caddie was being suffocated by her fears and anxiety, and each response she had, I have felt. For people who haven't experienced this type of affliction, trust that this is absolutely spot-on. The panic is real. The terror is real. And Wilson's writing makes the reader absolutely feel it oozing from Caddie.
The supporting characters in the story are also portrayed so well. They are likable, especially the romantic interest Peter. He is one of the good guys, the kind of guy any girl would be lucky to have. He is patient with Caddie, though of course goes through some of the feelings you'd expect him to go through when the girl he is interested in refuses any hint of affection. There's no insta-love, just insta-attraction, which is fine by me. Caddie likes Peter, but is too terrified to do anything to jeopardize her "Don't Touch" mantra. Caddie's best friend Mandy is much more frustrated with her behavior. Of course, Caddie doesn't want Mandy to know about her mental health issues, for fear that Mandy will simply think she is crazy and not want to be around her. All Mandy wants is for Caddie to trust her enough to let her in. Again, the reactions are so true to life. Caddie's parents are going through a separation; Caddie's mom is trying to figure out life on her own while Caddie's dad is kind of being useless. Does this really happen with parents? Um, yes. After all, parents are human, and very fallible, especially when not wanting to admit/deal with a child's mental health. I was glad that Caddie's parents were at least supportive of her seeing a therapist and getting treatment.
The drama group, in addition to being great characters in general, create some great side stories and witty banter to make the book very multifaceted. In the midst of Caddie's inner turmoil, she is able to share some fun moments with her new group of friends. It also makes for a great opportunity for the reader to regroup from the more heart-wrenching moments.
The Hamlet piece was really well done, and quite genius. It makes for such an amazing comparison to Caddie's life, and challenges her in ways she never imagined. Instead of being bored by Shakespeare, I was actually really invested in the play's success, since I was so invested in the characters. And of course, the story mirrored how Caddie felt so well, and there were times that she felt so much like Ophelia. It was the perfect plot choice.
There were quotes and conversations in the book that made me literally stop reading to write them down, because I was so moved by them. There were conversations that Caddie and Mandy had that moved me so much, especially ones relating to touching. How do you explain to someone that being touched terrifies you? Isn't explaining it just as terrifying? I don't have any magical thoughts related to touch like Caddie does, but I have panic attacks when men I don't know (and sometimes even men I do know) touch me. Like Caddie, it doesn't stem from any horrific attack, it just is. In a work training, I was paired with four large, strange men to do restraint training exercises. I lasted about twenty seconds, had a full blown panic attack which led to a severe asthma attack, and that was the end of that. How could I explain to a room full of people why that happened? I couldn't. This is why Caddie feels so helpless when trying to describe it to Mandy. It isn't that she doesn't trust Mandy, it is just near impossible to put into words that make sense.
This story will undoubtedly stay with me for a long, long time. In fact, the first chance I get I am ordering a physical copy of this book, because I am certain I'll be rereading. Do you have to understand mental illness firsthand to be moved by this book? Absolutely not. It is a fantastic book with beautifully written characters, and a plot that will keep everyone interested. It is sad, but hopeful; smart and witty; and brutally, brilliantly honest.
*ARC received for review.
August 3, 2014
Actual rating is 4.5 but I'm rating up because of the effect the novel had on me
When I started reading Don’t Touch I didn’t expect for it to be the experience that it ended up being for me. I had some very uncomfortable realizations about myself as I made my way through it’s pages and it became a story that I don’t think I will ever forget.
Before I tell you why this one really hit home for me I want to talk about the novel for what it is. It’s the story of Caddie, a young girl who has just started school at an academy for performing arts. It’s the story of how her anxiety has led her to believe that bad things will happen if she touches other people and it’s the story of her working through that fear. Putting a character like Caddie in an academy like she was in in the novel is a very interesting choice. There are a lot of touchy feely people so it really threw her for a loop once she realized the type of people she was going to be dealing with on a day to day basis. Homing her in a bit was that fact that Mandy, an old friend of hers, goes to the school and is there to help her fit in. We watch Caddie struggle with hiding her fear of touch while at the same time opening herself up to new relationships. I felt really stressed out by her need to follow the rules of this “game� that was in her head which was constantly hindering her want to embrace these new people in her life.
The characters in the novel are fantastic. Caddie gets in with Mandy’s group of friends and they are all loveable and quirky in their own unique ways. I loved how the secondary characters really became people that I cared about, not just people who were there. Peter, who Caddie begins to fall for, was awesome. The understanding and compassion that he shows towards her as she works through her issues was amazing and had me swooning more times than I can count. He wasn’t played out to be the most handsome guy on Earth or even perfect in any way, which is why I could relate so well to the relationship that builds between him and Caddie. That’s what most romances are in real life, right? Two flawed people coming together and learning to accept and even work through their issues together.
Now for why this was such an experience for me. Since my early 20’s I’ve had really bad issues with my jaw. The dentist got me fitted for a splint thinking that would help with the locking that I experience on a daily basis but when that didn’t help he said something that made me mad. He started asking me if I had a lot of stress and anxiety in my daily life and I pretty much scoffed at him and told him where to shove it. Dentist man, stay dentist man do not try to be therapy man, okay? Then my sister mentioned to me once that I always seem really high strung and that she thought I should maybe talk to my GP about it and once again I told here where she could go with that suggestion. But while I was reading through this book I realized that I am pretty sure both my dentist and my sister have good points. Anxiety manifests itself in everyone differently, in me it’s a lot of jaw clenching leading to terrible pain and many many sleepless nights. I don’t think I really understood what anxiety was and the physical ramifications it can have until I read Don’t Touch. I’ve always known that I am a very obsessive and worrisome person but I didn’t realize that the pain I am often feeling in my body could in any way be associated with those issues. I am thankful for this book because it has prompted me to make some long overdue phone calls to see what I can do about all the things I have been struggling with for so long.
You’re not here to read about me and my sob story, you’re here to read what I thought about this novel. All I can say is that it deals with a new side of OCD that I had never been faced with before. When I thought about people who didn’t want to touch others prior to reading this novel I always thought it had something to do with germs but this is a whole new spin on the issue for me.The only complaint I can think of to mention about Don’t Touch is that once Caddie does open up about her issues to others she begins getting over everything rather quickly. I found it a little hard to believe that she would be as open as she was so fast in the final moments of the novel. This one ended up being a very changing experience for me and for that it is not one that I will soon forget. I hope this novel finds it’s way into so many pairs of hands in hopes that it could have an effect on them like it did me.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at
When I started reading Don’t Touch I didn’t expect for it to be the experience that it ended up being for me. I had some very uncomfortable realizations about myself as I made my way through it’s pages and it became a story that I don’t think I will ever forget.
Before I tell you why this one really hit home for me I want to talk about the novel for what it is. It’s the story of Caddie, a young girl who has just started school at an academy for performing arts. It’s the story of how her anxiety has led her to believe that bad things will happen if she touches other people and it’s the story of her working through that fear. Putting a character like Caddie in an academy like she was in in the novel is a very interesting choice. There are a lot of touchy feely people so it really threw her for a loop once she realized the type of people she was going to be dealing with on a day to day basis. Homing her in a bit was that fact that Mandy, an old friend of hers, goes to the school and is there to help her fit in. We watch Caddie struggle with hiding her fear of touch while at the same time opening herself up to new relationships. I felt really stressed out by her need to follow the rules of this “game� that was in her head which was constantly hindering her want to embrace these new people in her life.
The characters in the novel are fantastic. Caddie gets in with Mandy’s group of friends and they are all loveable and quirky in their own unique ways. I loved how the secondary characters really became people that I cared about, not just people who were there. Peter, who Caddie begins to fall for, was awesome. The understanding and compassion that he shows towards her as she works through her issues was amazing and had me swooning more times than I can count. He wasn’t played out to be the most handsome guy on Earth or even perfect in any way, which is why I could relate so well to the relationship that builds between him and Caddie. That’s what most romances are in real life, right? Two flawed people coming together and learning to accept and even work through their issues together.
Now for why this was such an experience for me. Since my early 20’s I’ve had really bad issues with my jaw. The dentist got me fitted for a splint thinking that would help with the locking that I experience on a daily basis but when that didn’t help he said something that made me mad. He started asking me if I had a lot of stress and anxiety in my daily life and I pretty much scoffed at him and told him where to shove it. Dentist man, stay dentist man do not try to be therapy man, okay? Then my sister mentioned to me once that I always seem really high strung and that she thought I should maybe talk to my GP about it and once again I told here where she could go with that suggestion. But while I was reading through this book I realized that I am pretty sure both my dentist and my sister have good points. Anxiety manifests itself in everyone differently, in me it’s a lot of jaw clenching leading to terrible pain and many many sleepless nights. I don’t think I really understood what anxiety was and the physical ramifications it can have until I read Don’t Touch. I’ve always known that I am a very obsessive and worrisome person but I didn’t realize that the pain I am often feeling in my body could in any way be associated with those issues. I am thankful for this book because it has prompted me to make some long overdue phone calls to see what I can do about all the things I have been struggling with for so long.
You’re not here to read about me and my sob story, you’re here to read what I thought about this novel. All I can say is that it deals with a new side of OCD that I had never been faced with before. When I thought about people who didn’t want to touch others prior to reading this novel I always thought it had something to do with germs but this is a whole new spin on the issue for me.The only complaint I can think of to mention about Don’t Touch is that once Caddie does open up about her issues to others she begins getting over everything rather quickly. I found it a little hard to believe that she would be as open as she was so fast in the final moments of the novel. This one ended up being a very changing experience for me and for that it is not one that I will soon forget. I hope this novel finds it’s way into so many pairs of hands in hopes that it could have an effect on them like it did me.
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at
February 12, 2015
I love YA novels that deal with real issues without romanticizing or glossing over them. I want to see the good and the bad and the happy and the sad. I want to feel the pain and the anxiety right along with that character. I want to be drawn into their brain, seeing their though processes no matter how frustrating it may be- and with books like this it can get very frustrating. Needless to say, this book gave me everything I wanted and more.
I loved Peter and Mandy. Peter was understanding and patient, but not to the extent where it was unbelievable. Obviously, when you have a mental disorder and are refraining from telling anyone about it while continuing irrational behaviors, people are bound to be confused and upset. Anyone who didn’t react in a negative way at some point would seem unrealistic, to me, at least. I was also able to connect to Mandy more than I thought I would. Imagine loosing your best friend, getting her back knowing something is wrong, wanting to be there for her, wanting her to confide in you, but having her push you away and keep secrets when all you want to do is help. It would hurt, and as much as you try to be understanding, there’s only so much you can take. The two were both very realistic to me, trying to help but also getting frustrated, rightfully so, at some points.
Many people disliked this book because they didn’t understand; they didn’t get how Caddie was keeping it to herself or how come she couldn’t just get over her problems. I think that’s an extremely invalid reason for disliking it, because it isn’t that hard to understand why Caddie couldn’t get tell anyone. When you have a mental disorder, its typically uncomfortable for you to ask for help or to open up about it. You don’t know how people will react. You have no idea if they’ll judge you, hate you, think your weird, or stop speaking to you. It’s nerve-wracking. Also, many people think the book could have been wrapped up in 100 pages or that Caddie could have gotten over her issues quicker. OCD isn’t something there’s a quick fix for, it’s a serious issue that takes time.
I loved the setting of the book, and the role Hamlet played in everything. Caddie was essentially trying to see if she was or wasn’t Ophelia through the whole book and I really enjoyed it.
Mental health is a serious issue to tackle, and Rachel Wilson did a great job with it, especially since she’s dealt with anxiety and OCD herself. Her author’s note at the end is not something to be skipped over. I am grateful that there are more and more books entering the YA genre about mental illnesses, books that are showing the real side of these diseases. I think we need them. Partially, for some readers to know that they aren’t alone and for others to gain more insight on serious topics.
Don’t Touch was a wonderful debut novel by Rachel Wilson, and it had a great balance. Never too sad or heavy, and the perfect amount of humor with the right amount of seriousness.
I loved Peter and Mandy. Peter was understanding and patient, but not to the extent where it was unbelievable. Obviously, when you have a mental disorder and are refraining from telling anyone about it while continuing irrational behaviors, people are bound to be confused and upset. Anyone who didn’t react in a negative way at some point would seem unrealistic, to me, at least. I was also able to connect to Mandy more than I thought I would. Imagine loosing your best friend, getting her back knowing something is wrong, wanting to be there for her, wanting her to confide in you, but having her push you away and keep secrets when all you want to do is help. It would hurt, and as much as you try to be understanding, there’s only so much you can take. The two were both very realistic to me, trying to help but also getting frustrated, rightfully so, at some points.
Many people disliked this book because they didn’t understand; they didn’t get how Caddie was keeping it to herself or how come she couldn’t just get over her problems. I think that’s an extremely invalid reason for disliking it, because it isn’t that hard to understand why Caddie couldn’t get tell anyone. When you have a mental disorder, its typically uncomfortable for you to ask for help or to open up about it. You don’t know how people will react. You have no idea if they’ll judge you, hate you, think your weird, or stop speaking to you. It’s nerve-wracking. Also, many people think the book could have been wrapped up in 100 pages or that Caddie could have gotten over her issues quicker. OCD isn’t something there’s a quick fix for, it’s a serious issue that takes time.
I loved the setting of the book, and the role Hamlet played in everything. Caddie was essentially trying to see if she was or wasn’t Ophelia through the whole book and I really enjoyed it.
Mental health is a serious issue to tackle, and Rachel Wilson did a great job with it, especially since she’s dealt with anxiety and OCD herself. Her author’s note at the end is not something to be skipped over. I am grateful that there are more and more books entering the YA genre about mental illnesses, books that are showing the real side of these diseases. I think we need them. Partially, for some readers to know that they aren’t alone and for others to gain more insight on serious topics.
Don’t Touch was a wonderful debut novel by Rachel Wilson, and it had a great balance. Never too sad or heavy, and the perfect amount of humor with the right amount of seriousness.
September 1, 2014
Don't Touch deals with mental illnesses in such a real and uncomfortable way. I really felt for Caddie. Throughout the book it was difficult for me to not tear up, feel heartbroken for Caddie, and frustrated at her family for turning a blind eye to what she’s going through. Caddie has suffered from OCD tendencies ever since she was young, but tried to hide it because when her mom found out she pretty much broke down and cried her eyes out. Way to make it about yourself mom! I am well aware of how hard it is to know someone close to you with a mental illness but the way her family swept it under the surface is really bad. It took a lot of in your face moments and confessions for them to finally acknowledge it. However, this is the reality of many families and people. I like that Wilson portrayed that.
So Caddie’s parents split up, her dad moved out of state, and now Caddie and her brother are angry, sad, and frustrated. Caddie’s OCD came back full force and now it developed into a full-fledged monster. She believes that if no one touches her skin, and vice versa, then her parents will get back together. This becomes very stressful when Caddie moves to an art school to pursue her acting and she gets cast in a play and touching is necessary. However this book has a great friendship storyline: Caddie and Mandy, as well as all of Mandy’s friends that welcomed Caddie. I automatically fell in love when she sat with them for the first time during lunch period. They were a hilarious, outspoken, non-confirmative bunch: Mandy, Drew, Livia, Oscar, Hank, and of course Peter, the ever-lovable love interest. I loved his personality, how his friendship with Caddie developed and how he dealt with everything going on with her.
Don’t Touch might not be heavy on the plot, but the simplicity of the plotline is its strength. You don’t need an elaborate plot to tackle mental illnesses so I’m grateful for Wilson for stripping down any add ons and telling the story that really matters. I would recommend it to all contemporary fans, and something to add is that this infuses acting and Shakespeare's play, Hamlet a lot. That was something that made it more unique as well as more likable and a great background plot. I can't wait to read more books by Rachel M. Wilson as well as for everyone to pick this one up!
So Caddie’s parents split up, her dad moved out of state, and now Caddie and her brother are angry, sad, and frustrated. Caddie’s OCD came back full force and now it developed into a full-fledged monster. She believes that if no one touches her skin, and vice versa, then her parents will get back together. This becomes very stressful when Caddie moves to an art school to pursue her acting and she gets cast in a play and touching is necessary. However this book has a great friendship storyline: Caddie and Mandy, as well as all of Mandy’s friends that welcomed Caddie. I automatically fell in love when she sat with them for the first time during lunch period. They were a hilarious, outspoken, non-confirmative bunch: Mandy, Drew, Livia, Oscar, Hank, and of course Peter, the ever-lovable love interest. I loved his personality, how his friendship with Caddie developed and how he dealt with everything going on with her.
Don’t Touch might not be heavy on the plot, but the simplicity of the plotline is its strength. You don’t need an elaborate plot to tackle mental illnesses so I’m grateful for Wilson for stripping down any add ons and telling the story that really matters. I would recommend it to all contemporary fans, and something to add is that this infuses acting and Shakespeare's play, Hamlet a lot. That was something that made it more unique as well as more likable and a great background plot. I can't wait to read more books by Rachel M. Wilson as well as for everyone to pick this one up!
March 30, 2014
Even though Caddie is locked in a world of fear and pain, she keeps taking baby steps to push herself to connect with the functioning world. Caddie believes that if she can keep people from touching her skin she will be able to keep her parents marriage from crumbling. Her personal mantra is "don't touch". This is a problem when you live in a world with people and even more of a problem when Caddie earns a spot in her dream performing arts academy high school. At this high school Caddie begins to force herself to mentally open up to others (if not physically) and gradually she lets her barriers down. She even starts becoming interested in a boy, Peter, but can't let go of her fears and compulsions to let him in. Physical touching remains a huge issue even after Caddie is cast as Ophelia in the stage production of Hamlet, with Peter playing Hamlet. As play practice progresses, Caddie vacillates between over coming her obsessive compulsive disorder and falling full-blown into the world of madness (like Ophelia). Don't Touch is a great and thoughtful story from a debut author.
September 29, 2014
This book was so good!
For someone like myself who does have an OCD problem, this book was both inspiring and original.
I loved all of the characters and the general story got me.
Definitely worth the read!
Full review to come...
For someone like myself who does have an OCD problem, this book was both inspiring and original.
I loved all of the characters and the general story got me.
Definitely worth the read!
Full review to come...
September 13, 2014
On Sunday, I whipped through the entirety of Rachel M. Wilson's new YA novel, Don’t Touch, published by HarperTeen. And since this is such a substantial and meaty young adult novel (clocking in at 432 pages), that is definitely saying something.
Don’t Touch follows anxious high school student Caddie Finn as she navigates two major life changes: attending a new school (an arts academy, where she’ll be pursuing acting), and dealing with the emotional fallout of her parents� recent separation. Caddie has a history of panic attacks, ritualized coping behaviors, and magical thinking � all OCD symptoms � and when her father moves out, they come back with a vengeance. This time, Caddie becomes convinced that if she touches another person’s skin � anyone at all, for any amount of time � her father will be gone for good.
Caddie copes with her new compulsion by wearing long sleeves and jeans, even in the stifling Alabama summer, jumping away in fear the moment a person approaches her body, and oh yeah…wearing elbow-length lavender gloves. Every day. For months.
The book dives into Caddie’s high school transition and her coping with mental illness pretty quickly; the entire plot of the book moves at a nice, steady clip without ever feeling rushed or belabored, which I really appreciated.
The reader is quickly introduced to Caddie’s new classmates, all of whom are actors in her program: there’s Mandy, her long-lost childhood friend; Drew, Mandy’s meat-headed boyfriend; Peter, the astoundingly patient and understanding love interest who can also act the hell out of Hamlet; Livia & Hank, the quirky, platonic couple consisting of a gay boy and a straight (?) girl; and Oscar, the sexually harassing, loud mouthed former child actor.
Caddie’s new school is putting on a production of Hamlet, and Caddie desperately wants to play the role of Ophelia. But when she gets the role and her crush Peter gets Hamlet (don’t worry, this happens fairly early in the book), her “don’t touch" rule becomes a lot more difficult to maintain. And to hide from others.
I won’t go any further into the plot, but let’s just say this book explores numerous interesting conflicts. First there’s Caddie’s attempts to overcome her own mental illness. Then there’s her fraught relationship with her absent father, and her parents� crumbling marriage. There’s Caddie (and all the other students�) stress over putting on the best possible play. There’s Caddie’s frantic, deeply misguided attempts to conceal her OCD from everyone in her life, which constantly places her acting career and her friendships at risk. And finally, there’s Caddie’s internal struggle over her deep attraction to Peter, and her conflicted desire to break the don’t touch rule.
This book has a lot of ideas to juggle, and it does so expertly. Did I mention that it also gets really in depth about what attending an acting high school is like, and seriously grapples with Shakespeare? Yeah. This is not a fluffy YA read. It’s got a lot for the reader to chew on, even if they’re not the typical romance/YA reader.
Don’t Touch isn’t, after all, a romance. It’s an informative, literary tale about overcoming OCD and learning to accept help from friends (and yes, from mental health professionals). That the book also paints such reasonable, accurate portraits of adolescent relationships is just a fantastic bonus. Nothing is fantastical or problematic here � we witness fights and break ups and frustrations and effective communication � exactly what an adolescent reader needs to see.
Finally, Don’t Touch ends with an amazing (and thoroughly researched) author’s note that I am certain will really help a bundle of young adults and adolescents with OCD, and tons of adults and teens with other mental illnesses, too. Rachel has mentioned in multiple interviews that she had her own experiences that were comparable (if not identical) to Caddie’s, and her firsthand experience with anxiety and panic attacks is a huge part of what makes this novel so important as a piece of fiction, and as disability and mental illness representation.
If you like YA, novels about mental illness or invisible disabilities, books about acting, Shakespeare references, or responsible, accurate romance, Don’t Touch is 100% for you.
April 23, 2015
Review also posted at
“Or this pain sloshing back and forth between us will be permanent, suck us all down. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad will never come home. There will never again be enough air. This family will stay broken, drown.�
Such an astonishing and important story.
It follows a girl named Caddie who, after her dad leaves town, forms an idea in her mind that if she touches anyone, her dad will never come back and her parents will never be together again.
Caddie’s development while trying to understand more deeply her OCD is outstanding, how everything escalates so quickly over the fear of having such an impact on her parents marriage. The elements surrounding her fear, like Caddie’s gloves, had such a visual importance as she grows as a character.
“The part of me that needs to touch is like a tiny bird I swallowed by mistake.�
Caddie is accepted into a new artsy school and at some point she will participate on a adaptation of Hamlet, and the parallels between her character and Ophelia’s are so intriguing. Ophelia’s my favorite literary character and I actually had the pleasure of playing her once.
All of her complex personality and how we don’t know much about her because that’s not her story. Ophelia’s character is lost to us in the narrative. It’s captivating and we want, we need, to know more about her so we project ourselves into her madness and the doubts we have about it. Did she jump? Did she knew what she was doing at the end? Did she wanted to throw herself into the abyss? Ophelia chose the abyss as a way to dismember herself from the methods of oppression present in the text.
But that’s the thing, when Ophelia’s drowning in the lake she’s receiving her freedom. And that’s the beauty of her character.
Like Heiner Müller wrote on "Hamlet Machine":
“I am Ophelia. The one the river didn’t keep. The woman dangling from the rope. The women with her arteries cut open. The woman with the overdose. SNOW ON HER LIPS. The woman with her head in the gas stove. Yesterday I stopped killing myself. I’m alone with my breasts my thighs my womb. I smash the tools of my captivity, the chair the table the bed. I destroy the battlefield that was my home. I fling open the doors so the wind gets in and the scream of the world. I smash the window. With my bleeding hands I tear the photos of the men I loved and who tied me on the bed on the table on the chair on the ground. I set fire to my prison. I throw my clothes into the fire. I wrench the clock that was my heart out of my breast. I walk into the street clothed in my blood.�
In the scene where Caddie jumps into the pool she can’t feel anything inside the water. There’s no one to touch her. There’s no pain, no worries. She’s also free. Just like Ophelia.
“People talk about stage fright, but life is what’s scary. In a play, you know where to stand, what to say, and the ending’s already been written. I’ve played crazy characters, emotional wrecks, but no one of them ever stopped breathing.�
The romance was adorable. Caddie scenes with Peter –especially the ones discussing Hamlet- are heart warming. It was also interesting to see how both ends of the relationship would deal with the fact that Caddie couldn’t touch anyone. There were the understanding part but also the frustrating one, and it just made their relationship more real.
This novel is a honest reading regarding anxiety and you have no idea how that makes me feel. For someone who struggles on a daily basis with social anxiety, the book is an actual portrait of it. It’s truthful. It’s hurtful. It doesn’t mask what a panic attack really is. It shows the tidal waves, the sweaty hands, the ache inside your heart.
And I’m just really grateful for it.
“I think she does too,� Peter says, twisting his torso to smile back at me. “I think she gives the whole kingdom a big ‘F you�, and she breaks all their rules and gets free.�
Rachel Wilson’s note at the end of the book made me very emotional –just like the whole story- and this is definitely one of my favorite books of 2014.
“Or this pain sloshing back and forth between us will be permanent, suck us all down. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad will never come home. There will never again be enough air. This family will stay broken, drown.�
Such an astonishing and important story.
It follows a girl named Caddie who, after her dad leaves town, forms an idea in her mind that if she touches anyone, her dad will never come back and her parents will never be together again.
Caddie’s development while trying to understand more deeply her OCD is outstanding, how everything escalates so quickly over the fear of having such an impact on her parents marriage. The elements surrounding her fear, like Caddie’s gloves, had such a visual importance as she grows as a character.
“The part of me that needs to touch is like a tiny bird I swallowed by mistake.�
Caddie is accepted into a new artsy school and at some point she will participate on a adaptation of Hamlet, and the parallels between her character and Ophelia’s are so intriguing. Ophelia’s my favorite literary character and I actually had the pleasure of playing her once.
All of her complex personality and how we don’t know much about her because that’s not her story. Ophelia’s character is lost to us in the narrative. It’s captivating and we want, we need, to know more about her so we project ourselves into her madness and the doubts we have about it. Did she jump? Did she knew what she was doing at the end? Did she wanted to throw herself into the abyss? Ophelia chose the abyss as a way to dismember herself from the methods of oppression present in the text.
But that’s the thing, when Ophelia’s drowning in the lake she’s receiving her freedom. And that’s the beauty of her character.
Like Heiner Müller wrote on "Hamlet Machine":
“I am Ophelia. The one the river didn’t keep. The woman dangling from the rope. The women with her arteries cut open. The woman with the overdose. SNOW ON HER LIPS. The woman with her head in the gas stove. Yesterday I stopped killing myself. I’m alone with my breasts my thighs my womb. I smash the tools of my captivity, the chair the table the bed. I destroy the battlefield that was my home. I fling open the doors so the wind gets in and the scream of the world. I smash the window. With my bleeding hands I tear the photos of the men I loved and who tied me on the bed on the table on the chair on the ground. I set fire to my prison. I throw my clothes into the fire. I wrench the clock that was my heart out of my breast. I walk into the street clothed in my blood.�
In the scene where Caddie jumps into the pool she can’t feel anything inside the water. There’s no one to touch her. There’s no pain, no worries. She’s also free. Just like Ophelia.
“People talk about stage fright, but life is what’s scary. In a play, you know where to stand, what to say, and the ending’s already been written. I’ve played crazy characters, emotional wrecks, but no one of them ever stopped breathing.�
The romance was adorable. Caddie scenes with Peter –especially the ones discussing Hamlet- are heart warming. It was also interesting to see how both ends of the relationship would deal with the fact that Caddie couldn’t touch anyone. There were the understanding part but also the frustrating one, and it just made their relationship more real.
This novel is a honest reading regarding anxiety and you have no idea how that makes me feel. For someone who struggles on a daily basis with social anxiety, the book is an actual portrait of it. It’s truthful. It’s hurtful. It doesn’t mask what a panic attack really is. It shows the tidal waves, the sweaty hands, the ache inside your heart.
And I’m just really grateful for it.
“I think she does too,� Peter says, twisting his torso to smile back at me. “I think she gives the whole kingdom a big ‘F you�, and she breaks all their rules and gets free.�
Rachel Wilson’s note at the end of the book made me very emotional –just like the whole story- and this is definitely one of my favorite books of 2014.
January 9, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A beautiful story that was full of emotion, second chances, and growth. Unfortunately, this was just not a book for me, but I still think many others will really enjoy it.
Opening Sentence: “Candace Finn?�
The Review:
Caddie is just getting ready to start her senior year at a new school. She was lucky to get into the academy where she will be able to pursue a possible career in acting. There is just one big problem; Caddie suffers from a serve case of anxiety disorder. Ever since her father left she hasn’t been able to touch another human being skin to skin. Anytime anyone comes close to her she freaks out inside and does whatever she can to avoid any type of contact with others. She knows that it is crazy, but she can’t seem to help it.
At first it doesn’t seem like it is going to be too much of a problem, but then she gets cast to play Ophelia in the school play. It has been her dream to play Ophelia, but one of the scenes will require her to kiss the boy playing Hamlet. Caddie already has a slight crush on Peter, the boy who got the coveted role of Hamlet, but she’s not sure she will be able to handle touching him even if she wants too. Will she be able to overcome her fears or will she let her disorder rule her life?
I had a really hard time connecting with Caddie. I think the reason why is because I have a hard time comprehending how she became so obsessed with people touching her. I realize that her condition is not uncommon and that many people in the world suffer from something very similar to her, but personally I have never experienced anything like this so it is really hard for me to relate to Caddie. I felt sympathetic towards her but most of the time I just found her frustrating. I really wanted to connect with her but ultimately I just couldn’t. In many ways she is a very strong girl and I respected that she eventually got help with her problems. I know how hard it can be to ask for help and the fact that she did was very admirable. I think she is a great character, and I think that many people will actually be able to relate to her much better than I did.
One of my favorite parts of the book was Peter. He was so adorable and I just couldn’t help but love him. He is a total geek with amazing confidence, which is one of the main reasons he is so attractive. He doesn’t care what others think and he is totally comfortable in his own skin. I loved how patient he was with Caddie. From the first moment they met, they had great chemistry, but for obvious reasons it took a long time for their relationship to develop. But Peter never pushed her or made her feel any type of pressure to be different then who she was. I thought that he was an amazing guy and Caddie is a very lucky girl to have him in her life.
Don’t Touch is a very emotional story full of heartache, growth, and forgiveness. It was beautifully written and I felt that the message was delivered brilliantly. Unfortunately, it was a really slow paced book and I found myself skimming through a lot of it. First off, I had a hard time connecting with Caddie and overall I had a hard time connecting with the whole story. I like to read to escape and for the most part this book was pretty depressing. I can’t exactly pinpoint what was missing for me, but ultimately I think this was just not a book for me. But having said that, I think that there will be tons of people that will really enjoy this book and if it sounds interesting to you, I recommend that you give it a try.
Notable Scene:
Peter catching me staring and stares back as if we k now each other well enough for that to be okay.
It’s unnerving.
“Caddie,� he says, like he’s testing it out. I can’t think how he knows my name, but I like the way it sounds in his voice. Does he have this effect on everyone?
He takes a step toward me—Don’t touch!
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Don’t Touch. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A beautiful story that was full of emotion, second chances, and growth. Unfortunately, this was just not a book for me, but I still think many others will really enjoy it.
Opening Sentence: “Candace Finn?�
The Review:
Caddie is just getting ready to start her senior year at a new school. She was lucky to get into the academy where she will be able to pursue a possible career in acting. There is just one big problem; Caddie suffers from a serve case of anxiety disorder. Ever since her father left she hasn’t been able to touch another human being skin to skin. Anytime anyone comes close to her she freaks out inside and does whatever she can to avoid any type of contact with others. She knows that it is crazy, but she can’t seem to help it.
At first it doesn’t seem like it is going to be too much of a problem, but then she gets cast to play Ophelia in the school play. It has been her dream to play Ophelia, but one of the scenes will require her to kiss the boy playing Hamlet. Caddie already has a slight crush on Peter, the boy who got the coveted role of Hamlet, but she’s not sure she will be able to handle touching him even if she wants too. Will she be able to overcome her fears or will she let her disorder rule her life?
I had a really hard time connecting with Caddie. I think the reason why is because I have a hard time comprehending how she became so obsessed with people touching her. I realize that her condition is not uncommon and that many people in the world suffer from something very similar to her, but personally I have never experienced anything like this so it is really hard for me to relate to Caddie. I felt sympathetic towards her but most of the time I just found her frustrating. I really wanted to connect with her but ultimately I just couldn’t. In many ways she is a very strong girl and I respected that she eventually got help with her problems. I know how hard it can be to ask for help and the fact that she did was very admirable. I think she is a great character, and I think that many people will actually be able to relate to her much better than I did.
One of my favorite parts of the book was Peter. He was so adorable and I just couldn’t help but love him. He is a total geek with amazing confidence, which is one of the main reasons he is so attractive. He doesn’t care what others think and he is totally comfortable in his own skin. I loved how patient he was with Caddie. From the first moment they met, they had great chemistry, but for obvious reasons it took a long time for their relationship to develop. But Peter never pushed her or made her feel any type of pressure to be different then who she was. I thought that he was an amazing guy and Caddie is a very lucky girl to have him in her life.
Don’t Touch is a very emotional story full of heartache, growth, and forgiveness. It was beautifully written and I felt that the message was delivered brilliantly. Unfortunately, it was a really slow paced book and I found myself skimming through a lot of it. First off, I had a hard time connecting with Caddie and overall I had a hard time connecting with the whole story. I like to read to escape and for the most part this book was pretty depressing. I can’t exactly pinpoint what was missing for me, but ultimately I think this was just not a book for me. But having said that, I think that there will be tons of people that will really enjoy this book and if it sounds interesting to you, I recommend that you give it a try.
Notable Scene:
Peter catching me staring and stares back as if we k now each other well enough for that to be okay.
It’s unnerving.
“Caddie,� he says, like he’s testing it out. I can’t think how he knows my name, but I like the way it sounds in his voice. Does he have this effect on everyone?
He takes a step toward me—Don’t touch!
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Don’t Touch. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
November 2, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchanged for a honest review. In no way did the author or publishing company influence my review. For info on my book reviews and rating scale, see my blog fashion-by-the-book.tumblr.com
Let's use a John Green quote to sum my love of this book up “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.�
(I'm probably freaking the author out right now with my love of this book, but this is my job so...) I really, really loved this book. Whenever I have contact with an author, I always panic a little about if I didn't like the book, what would I say? Thankfully, I didn't have this problem here. Maybe the opposite, since I really liked it. Let's get down to the basic of why: I have anxiety issues. I don't talk about it much here because I try to be professional (as you can tell from my obsessive use of David Tennant gifs...) but I do, and this book seemed to really get anxiety, how when you know what you're doing doesn't make sense but you keep doing it because you afraid not to.
Caddie has rules. Don't blink unless you want to crash, keep holding your breath, don't touch anyone or dad won't come back. She's always had anxiety, but since her parents separated and her dad practically left her life, it's gotten worse. She's afraid to touch anyone, wearing long sleeves and scarves in the south's summer heat. When she starts school as a Art-based high school, she quickly gains friends, including an old one, Mandy, and is cast in her dream role in Hamlet. But her fear gets in her way, stopping her from touching anyone, even Peter, the possibly crazy but still cute boy who likes her.
Oh, Caddie. Poor baby! She's the kind of character you want to shield away from the world and make her hot chocolate and never let her get hurt. (also, props to a main character who I actually like!) And her friends; I seriously loved her friends. They were quirky and funny and cool and realistic. And her school sounded so amazing. I've always wished there was a school like that near me (I love homeschooling, but a school with possible fashion and writing programs wins!)
And PETER. Man, I loved him. I loved how he's part of the reason she slowly came out of her fears, and I loved how their relationship progressed. Caddie and Peter worked well together, I hate when couples in books are weird, with one being perfect and the other not-so-much, or when one is life-like and the other is flat. They were both realistic and equal.
The issues in this book are handled beautifully. It's hard to write about a subject that affects so many, but Wilson does it well. The writing itself is lovely and tells the story clearly. And I loved that they were doing Hamlet. Ophelia's story had always interested me, and I liked seeing Caddie's view of it.
I'm trying to think of any problems I had with this book... hmmm... With great characters, plot, and writing, it's hard to think of any. You know how some people treat Perks of Being A Wallflower like the best book ever to be written, because they can relate to Charlie and his life? I can relate to Caddie's, so this is like my own perks. I guess I would have liked to know a bit more about Mandy, she seemed so interesting.
Anyways, read this book if you ever feel alone because of a inner issue, or if you love Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls, Speak, ect. (sorry this review is all over the place!)
Let's use a John Green quote to sum my love of this book up “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.�
(I'm probably freaking the author out right now with my love of this book, but this is my job so...) I really, really loved this book. Whenever I have contact with an author, I always panic a little about if I didn't like the book, what would I say? Thankfully, I didn't have this problem here. Maybe the opposite, since I really liked it. Let's get down to the basic of why: I have anxiety issues. I don't talk about it much here because I try to be professional (as you can tell from my obsessive use of David Tennant gifs...) but I do, and this book seemed to really get anxiety, how when you know what you're doing doesn't make sense but you keep doing it because you afraid not to.
Caddie has rules. Don't blink unless you want to crash, keep holding your breath, don't touch anyone or dad won't come back. She's always had anxiety, but since her parents separated and her dad practically left her life, it's gotten worse. She's afraid to touch anyone, wearing long sleeves and scarves in the south's summer heat. When she starts school as a Art-based high school, she quickly gains friends, including an old one, Mandy, and is cast in her dream role in Hamlet. But her fear gets in her way, stopping her from touching anyone, even Peter, the possibly crazy but still cute boy who likes her.
Oh, Caddie. Poor baby! She's the kind of character you want to shield away from the world and make her hot chocolate and never let her get hurt. (also, props to a main character who I actually like!) And her friends; I seriously loved her friends. They were quirky and funny and cool and realistic. And her school sounded so amazing. I've always wished there was a school like that near me (I love homeschooling, but a school with possible fashion and writing programs wins!)
And PETER. Man, I loved him. I loved how he's part of the reason she slowly came out of her fears, and I loved how their relationship progressed. Caddie and Peter worked well together, I hate when couples in books are weird, with one being perfect and the other not-so-much, or when one is life-like and the other is flat. They were both realistic and equal.
The issues in this book are handled beautifully. It's hard to write about a subject that affects so many, but Wilson does it well. The writing itself is lovely and tells the story clearly. And I loved that they were doing Hamlet. Ophelia's story had always interested me, and I liked seeing Caddie's view of it.
I'm trying to think of any problems I had with this book... hmmm... With great characters, plot, and writing, it's hard to think of any. You know how some people treat Perks of Being A Wallflower like the best book ever to be written, because they can relate to Charlie and his life? I can relate to Caddie's, so this is like my own perks. I guess I would have liked to know a bit more about Mandy, she seemed so interesting.
Anyways, read this book if you ever feel alone because of a inner issue, or if you love Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls, Speak, ect. (sorry this review is all over the place!)
January 1, 2015
*e-ARC provided by HarperTeen and FFBC Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.*
OCD isn't a subject commonly used in YA fiction. It's interesting and fresh in thrillers. But instead, this is a book that can possibly occur to some in reality. Don't Touch isn't everything I wanted in a contemporary-mental disorder related novel, but it still was enjoyable and stays fresh in my mind.
This book is racing—it gets your heart going and excites you and gives you all the feels. I, personally, thought that the plot needed some improvement, but the idea and characters really kept the story flying high if you ask me. This story created a lot of ideas flowing through my mind and tells me that the author had personal experiences that added onto creating this book, and I was right in the end. Reading the Author's Note really changed my liking for the better, and I highly recommend this book for all of those needed a little boost in their reading of darker novels.
Caddie has OCD, and she's not 100% aware of it.
And yes, she fears a lot of things around her, and the symptoms that you're aware of are happening to her. So many things are happening to her—her parents are divorcing, and she can't the feeling out of her head that she doesn't let anyone touch her. She's an actress, and being on the stage is all she's ever wanted. Her obsession isn't threatened... yet, until she realizes that if she wants the role of Ophelia in Hamlet... then she'll have to kiss Peter. She kind of wants to, but her disorder is beginning to take everything from her, and this is her story of her coming to be and how her life flows around her, grasping her away from the real world.
You may not think it—but this character's life sucks. Everything that she's loved and has ever wanted is falling apart. It scares her and she's lost because she really doesn't know who she should head to in this time of her teenage years.
But her situation is worse than any other character's. Her anxiety and relationship problems are adding up... and her personality and character were affected by it all, and that made me feel sorry for her more and like her as a person less because of the way she treated others. Caddie was broken, as a whole.
The story a while to build into. Caddie wasn't all who she seemed to be and that kept us wondering about what the heck was going on, and I couldn't relate to her too well. She just seemed like a bland broken person. Supposing that she was going through a mental illness would usually get me to love her and her story, but in some ways, that wasn't the case.
Peter and the other characters such as Mandy were awesome. Just plain perfectionous—if that's even a word. They were the highlight of the book especially since they helped Caddie out during her rough time.
Overall, I recommend this book, even though it didn't stun me as I thought it would. Go for it if you love deep dark books, just beware for an incomplete protagonist. :)
OCD isn't a subject commonly used in YA fiction. It's interesting and fresh in thrillers. But instead, this is a book that can possibly occur to some in reality. Don't Touch isn't everything I wanted in a contemporary-mental disorder related novel, but it still was enjoyable and stays fresh in my mind.
This book is racing—it gets your heart going and excites you and gives you all the feels. I, personally, thought that the plot needed some improvement, but the idea and characters really kept the story flying high if you ask me. This story created a lot of ideas flowing through my mind and tells me that the author had personal experiences that added onto creating this book, and I was right in the end. Reading the Author's Note really changed my liking for the better, and I highly recommend this book for all of those needed a little boost in their reading of darker novels.
Caddie has OCD, and she's not 100% aware of it.
And yes, she fears a lot of things around her, and the symptoms that you're aware of are happening to her. So many things are happening to her—her parents are divorcing, and she can't the feeling out of her head that she doesn't let anyone touch her. She's an actress, and being on the stage is all she's ever wanted. Her obsession isn't threatened... yet, until she realizes that if she wants the role of Ophelia in Hamlet... then she'll have to kiss Peter. She kind of wants to, but her disorder is beginning to take everything from her, and this is her story of her coming to be and how her life flows around her, grasping her away from the real world.
You may not think it—but this character's life sucks. Everything that she's loved and has ever wanted is falling apart. It scares her and she's lost because she really doesn't know who she should head to in this time of her teenage years.
But her situation is worse than any other character's. Her anxiety and relationship problems are adding up... and her personality and character were affected by it all, and that made me feel sorry for her more and like her as a person less because of the way she treated others. Caddie was broken, as a whole.
The story a while to build into. Caddie wasn't all who she seemed to be and that kept us wondering about what the heck was going on, and I couldn't relate to her too well. She just seemed like a bland broken person. Supposing that she was going through a mental illness would usually get me to love her and her story, but in some ways, that wasn't the case.
Peter and the other characters such as Mandy were awesome. Just plain perfectionous—if that's even a word. They were the highlight of the book especially since they helped Caddie out during her rough time.
Overall, I recommend this book, even though it didn't stun me as I thought it would. Go for it if you love deep dark books, just beware for an incomplete protagonist. :)
November 10, 2016
4.5 stars.
This review was originally posted on my blog,
I received an e-ARC from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This fact does not affect my opinion whatsoever, nor was I compensated for this review.
I enjoyed Caddie's character and watching her journey throughout the novel. Although there were times that I wanted to throttle her, I understood that her inability to touch people was beyond her control. Caddie suffers from OCD that manifests itself through making rules and games for herself to follow. When her dad left, her game was to not touch other people at all and the prize would be her dad coming back to their family. DON'T TOUCH is about Caddie trying to live with the rules of her game even in a time where it calls for her to touch another person.
Caddie's group of friends are interesting people. Of course they would all be a little bit weird and march to the beat of their own drum considering that they go to an art school. They're intriguing and I would love to know more about them. Peter, the love interest, is adorkable. He's so sweet and understanding to Caddie. I don't think he's swoon worthy enough to add to my book boyfriend harem, but he's still pretty adorable.
I enjoyed the comparisons that were made between Ophelia and Caddie. By playing Ophelia, Caddie must look into Ophelia's character and her potential madness. It forces Caddie to look at herself and see if she's falling into madness as well. Also, since I studied Hamlet myself in high school, I understood the references to different things in the play. I don't think it's necessary to read/study Hamlet before you read Don't Touch, but it'll certainly help you understand certain comparisons better, such as the parallels between Caddie and Ophelia.
I feel that this book is an important one to read, especially to help people understand how mental illness works. Though it's invisible, it doesn't mean that it doesn't harm just as badly. From Caddie's point of view, the reader can grasp the desperation behind Caddie's games and how it grows beyond her control. She doesn't do these things out of her own choice and rather because she is compelled to do so.
It's also easy for people to relate to Caddie. She is afraid of a lot of things that everyone is: disappointment, being hurt, etc. And just as the audience learns from DON'T TOUCH, fear is normal and it's fine. It's simply what we do even though we're afraid that matters.
DON'T TOUCH is powerful and an important read. It's a little heartbreaking and a lot inspirational. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone.
This review was originally posted on my blog,
I received an e-ARC from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This fact does not affect my opinion whatsoever, nor was I compensated for this review.
I enjoyed Caddie's character and watching her journey throughout the novel. Although there were times that I wanted to throttle her, I understood that her inability to touch people was beyond her control. Caddie suffers from OCD that manifests itself through making rules and games for herself to follow. When her dad left, her game was to not touch other people at all and the prize would be her dad coming back to their family. DON'T TOUCH is about Caddie trying to live with the rules of her game even in a time where it calls for her to touch another person.
Caddie's group of friends are interesting people. Of course they would all be a little bit weird and march to the beat of their own drum considering that they go to an art school. They're intriguing and I would love to know more about them. Peter, the love interest, is adorkable. He's so sweet and understanding to Caddie. I don't think he's swoon worthy enough to add to my book boyfriend harem, but he's still pretty adorable.
I enjoyed the comparisons that were made between Ophelia and Caddie. By playing Ophelia, Caddie must look into Ophelia's character and her potential madness. It forces Caddie to look at herself and see if she's falling into madness as well. Also, since I studied Hamlet myself in high school, I understood the references to different things in the play. I don't think it's necessary to read/study Hamlet before you read Don't Touch, but it'll certainly help you understand certain comparisons better, such as the parallels between Caddie and Ophelia.
I feel that this book is an important one to read, especially to help people understand how mental illness works. Though it's invisible, it doesn't mean that it doesn't harm just as badly. From Caddie's point of view, the reader can grasp the desperation behind Caddie's games and how it grows beyond her control. She doesn't do these things out of her own choice and rather because she is compelled to do so.
It's also easy for people to relate to Caddie. She is afraid of a lot of things that everyone is: disappointment, being hurt, etc. And just as the audience learns from DON'T TOUCH, fear is normal and it's fine. It's simply what we do even though we're afraid that matters.
DON'T TOUCH is powerful and an important read. It's a little heartbreaking and a lot inspirational. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone.
January 4, 2015
When I saw this book I knew I had to read it. You see, I too suffer from anxiety. Mine doesn’t have anything to do with my body or are really extreme, but it does affect me. For example, if I use my straightener in the morning, I will go back at least 5 times to make sure I unplugged it. Same goes with my front door. When I locked the door, I will double check it lots of times. I’ll be sitting in my car, ready to go when I think,”Did I lock the door?� Then I get out of the car once again, to make sure I locked it. This anxiety has cause me much stress. It has cause me to be late to work, my husband late, even my son late to school because I had to check the door, make sure windows were closed or run inside to make sure I turned off my straightener. Since this book caught my attention, I was interested in how her anxiety got so extreme and how she is able to overcome it.
Plot: Well just from the info above, you should get the gist of the story. The main character is Caddie and her anxiety/OCD is bad. So bad that she can not make any contact with anyone. No skin to skin at all. If she does, she breaks down. At times, I could relate to her. The plot does a good job at building up why Caddie’s anxiety/OCD is bad and where/when it derived from.
Anxiety/OCD: Not that many people talk about this. I think it should be talked about because in my life it has caused problems. Hubby and I even got into arguments over it. I made him turn the car around once just to run inside to make sure I turn off the toaster. Yeah…he was not happy. So I get Caddie. I get how troubling it can be for not only her but for her loved ones around her. I hope that there are more books like this in the future.
Ending: I love that Caddie is able to get help and move forward. I really like how the story did not rush her progress but let it develop. It felt so much more realistic to see Caddie slowly progressing to a normal life.
Don’t Touch is an compassionate tale of young girl wanting a normal life. Endearing and moving, Don’t Touch is great.
Plot: Well just from the info above, you should get the gist of the story. The main character is Caddie and her anxiety/OCD is bad. So bad that she can not make any contact with anyone. No skin to skin at all. If she does, she breaks down. At times, I could relate to her. The plot does a good job at building up why Caddie’s anxiety/OCD is bad and where/when it derived from.
Anxiety/OCD: Not that many people talk about this. I think it should be talked about because in my life it has caused problems. Hubby and I even got into arguments over it. I made him turn the car around once just to run inside to make sure I turn off the toaster. Yeah…he was not happy. So I get Caddie. I get how troubling it can be for not only her but for her loved ones around her. I hope that there are more books like this in the future.
Ending: I love that Caddie is able to get help and move forward. I really like how the story did not rush her progress but let it develop. It felt so much more realistic to see Caddie slowly progressing to a normal life.
Don’t Touch is an compassionate tale of young girl wanting a normal life. Endearing and moving, Don’t Touch is great.
July 15, 2014
Don't Touch is a Young Adult contemporary romance.
The narrator is Caddie, a 16 year old who has just transferred to a performing arts school. The school is performing Hamlet and she desperately wants to play Ophelia. The only problem is that she has a secret. She cannot be touched. She suffers from extreme anxiety.
I enjoy Young Adult books that deal with real issues. The main issue in this book is that the narrator suffers from OCD and anxiety. Since the author has gone through some of the same things I think that this seems like a fairly accurate portrayal of these illnesses. Also Caddie's parents just got separated, she started at a new school, and she auditioned for her dream role. So she is under a lot of stress.
I really enjoyed that this story took place at a drama school. I love theatre so I also really loved that the backdrop for much of the story was them putting on a play. I loved seeing their rehearsals for Shakespeare. I thought this added a wonderful element to the story.
I enjoyed many of the characters. Caddie's parents were going through a separation and I really liked her mom. I also enjoyed the best friend character Mandy, who Caddie had been friends with years before when she was younger. I also really enjoyed Peter, Caddie's romantic interest.
There were a lot of serious topics in this book. However, the book was also light at times and funny. Especially with the big group of friends that Caddie hung out with. This book tackled a difficult topic but it was also a very interesting and enjoyable read.
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
September 9, 2014
Received this as an ARC from ŷ First Reads.
OKAY SO...
So many great things about this book.
I guess I'll start with how believable Caddie's character is. Honestly, I was skeptical about reading a book where a girl is afraid to touch someone...I'd never heard of anything like it before, and I didn't know if the author would be able to execute it in a convincing way.
But Rachel Wilson definitely surprised me!
First off, I definitely loved the relationship between Caddie and all of Mandy's friends. (Who eventually became her friends, too.) I like the realness of Caddie's struggle, and how she had a hard time figuring out . I adored Peter, and all his complicatedness and understanding. I like how the book was separated into five different acts. (Just thought that was really clever.)
Also, this book was seriously funny.
OKAY SO...
So many great things about this book.
I guess I'll start with how believable Caddie's character is. Honestly, I was skeptical about reading a book where a girl is afraid to touch someone...I'd never heard of anything like it before, and I didn't know if the author would be able to execute it in a convincing way.
But Rachel Wilson definitely surprised me!
First off, I definitely loved the relationship between Caddie and all of Mandy's friends. (Who eventually became her friends, too.) I like the realness of Caddie's struggle, and how she had a hard time figuring out . I adored Peter, and all his complicatedness and understanding. I like how the book was separated into five different acts. (Just thought that was really clever.)
Also, this book was seriously funny.
June 16, 2014
★★★★�
So good!!! Must Read!!!
Is there a sequel???
*MC’s Corner*
Note: Spoilers.
� At first I thought it was weird, it just want answers. “Don’t Touch� wth?
I thought it’s another YA with a character that when you touch her it’ll kill you. It’s not. (You� like Juliette on Shatter Me)
I just love this book; you’ll love reading it all over again.
� Cadence Finn is a student on an art school. She a great theater actress, the thing is she doesn’t want to be touch. She, like, put a cursed on herself. She’s not Cray Cray� it’s like her own coping mechanism. She’s dealing with broken marriage of her parents. (Qh Well, I think she’s a cray cray when Peter kissed her and she screamed)
� The book is some sort of Retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Kinda� And I kinda love the way Cadence is compared to Ophelia, who’s she part she’s auditioning for a play.
� The combination of the characters is great. You want to kill the one, then hug the other, then kiss Peter, then slap Miss Know-It-All Mandy, and figure out someone. GREAT GREAT GREAT!
ARC provided by HarperTeen & Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!
@gleekidMC
So good!!! Must Read!!!
Is there a sequel???
*MC’s Corner*
Note: Spoilers.
� At first I thought it was weird, it just want answers. “Don’t Touch� wth?
I thought it’s another YA with a character that when you touch her it’ll kill you. It’s not. (You� like Juliette on Shatter Me)
I just love this book; you’ll love reading it all over again.
� Cadence Finn is a student on an art school. She a great theater actress, the thing is she doesn’t want to be touch. She, like, put a cursed on herself. She’s not Cray Cray� it’s like her own coping mechanism. She’s dealing with broken marriage of her parents. (Qh Well, I think she’s a cray cray when Peter kissed her and she screamed)
� The book is some sort of Retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Kinda� And I kinda love the way Cadence is compared to Ophelia, who’s she part she’s auditioning for a play.
� The combination of the characters is great. You want to kill the one, then hug the other, then kiss Peter, then slap Miss Know-It-All Mandy, and figure out someone. GREAT GREAT GREAT!
ARC provided by HarperTeen & Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!
@gleekidMC
August 3, 2014
The button "I'm finished" should be renamed "I'm done" *le sigh*
It's never a good sign when I choose watching TV over reading a book. And in the last couple of days I watched a lof of TV...
This book bored me out of my brains. There was close to no plot to speak of, and the little plot I found focused on the wrong parts. In a book about a MC with metal illness/OCD I want to read about said mental illness/OCD. I'm not interested in endless droning about Hamlet and who's right for the role of Ophelia and who's not. I'm not interested in countless rehearsals for a play. Also, all this overdone artsy-fartsy stuff was annoying like hell.
To make matters worse the smidgen of mental illness stuff I got felt kind of unreal and, well, silly. Instead of feeling with the MC I just wanted to roll my eyes at her (like I wanted to do at all the protagonists e__e).
From the very first page I knew I wouldn't like this book, but I didn't want to throw in the sponge this early. Unfortunately, with every page I read I got more and more annoyed. I just couldn't stand it any longer.
So this is another DNF for me, the second in a row, and it makes me kind of sad. I don't like giving up, but... whatever.
It's never a good sign when I choose watching TV over reading a book. And in the last couple of days I watched a lof of TV...
This book bored me out of my brains. There was close to no plot to speak of, and the little plot I found focused on the wrong parts. In a book about a MC with metal illness/OCD I want to read about said mental illness/OCD. I'm not interested in endless droning about Hamlet and who's right for the role of Ophelia and who's not. I'm not interested in countless rehearsals for a play. Also, all this overdone artsy-fartsy stuff was annoying like hell.
To make matters worse the smidgen of mental illness stuff I got felt kind of unreal and, well, silly. Instead of feeling with the MC I just wanted to roll my eyes at her (like I wanted to do at all the protagonists e__e).
From the very first page I knew I wouldn't like this book, but I didn't want to throw in the sponge this early. Unfortunately, with every page I read I got more and more annoyed. I just couldn't stand it any longer.
So this is another DNF for me, the second in a row, and it makes me kind of sad. I don't like giving up, but... whatever.
October 30, 2015
This review and many more can be found on my blog:
Remember that magical thinking you had as a child? I do. I remember truly believing that if my parents didn’t say “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite, I love you, see you tomorrow, hugs and kisses� before they left my room after tucking me in, something truly bad would happen. I was convinced of that. I probably believed it for more years than I should have, but I did eventually grow out of it. Now, imagine that you still had that sort of magical thinking as a teenager. That’s this story. Caddie fears that if she lets someone touch her, her world will fall apart. She knows it’s not a normal belief and she wants to convince herself it’s not true, but she can’t quite get there. Every day is a struggle � a struggle not to touch and a struggle to hide her illness from the people around her. Her story is compelling and heartbreaking and painfully raw and real. If you’re interested in books that focus on mental health, this is a MUST READ!
Remember that magical thinking you had as a child? I do. I remember truly believing that if my parents didn’t say “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite, I love you, see you tomorrow, hugs and kisses� before they left my room after tucking me in, something truly bad would happen. I was convinced of that. I probably believed it for more years than I should have, but I did eventually grow out of it. Now, imagine that you still had that sort of magical thinking as a teenager. That’s this story. Caddie fears that if she lets someone touch her, her world will fall apart. She knows it’s not a normal belief and she wants to convince herself it’s not true, but she can’t quite get there. Every day is a struggle � a struggle not to touch and a struggle to hide her illness from the people around her. Her story is compelling and heartbreaking and painfully raw and real. If you’re interested in books that focus on mental health, this is a MUST READ!
January 9, 2015
I recieved this book from the goodreads first read programm.
Don't Touch is about a 15 year old girl Caddie. She goes through the separation of her parents and she created 'Games' inside her head as a way to kind of deal with it. This game is not to touch anothers person skin so that her parents might get back together.
I had high expectations for this book because it sounded so different but it definitely lived up to my expectations.
5 Things I love about this book:
- The way Shakespeares 'Hamlet' was a part of this book.
- The similarities between Caddie and Ophelia. (Even though it was frustrating that Caddie didn't tell her friends about her issues for so long.)
- Caddies and Peters relationship. They are so cute together.
- Mandy. (Could I have a friend like her please? She is fun and so caring, idk I just really like her)
- The Authors Note, which was just amazing.
I don't think I need to say more. I really enjoyed Don't Touch and definitely recommend this to everyone who is thinking about picking it up when it is released in September - you won't regret it!
Don't Touch is about a 15 year old girl Caddie. She goes through the separation of her parents and she created 'Games' inside her head as a way to kind of deal with it. This game is not to touch anothers person skin so that her parents might get back together.
I had high expectations for this book because it sounded so different but it definitely lived up to my expectations.
5 Things I love about this book:
- The way Shakespeares 'Hamlet' was a part of this book.
- The similarities between Caddie and Ophelia. (Even though it was frustrating that Caddie didn't tell her friends about her issues for so long.)
- Caddies and Peters relationship. They are so cute together.
- Mandy. (Could I have a friend like her please? She is fun and so caring, idk I just really like her)
- The Authors Note, which was just amazing.
I don't think I need to say more. I really enjoyed Don't Touch and definitely recommend this to everyone who is thinking about picking it up when it is released in September - you won't regret it!
June 16, 2014
I received this book from the goodreads first reads program.
I loved reading this book. The portrayal of anxiety and COD and how it can manifest itself was informative, and scary. I felt so many emotions while reading that I cant even begin to explain them all. I love that there were empathetic friends who were willing and patient enough to help. I also loved how the story reflected the character of Ophelia only to break free of her fate. A highly recommended read.
I loved reading this book. The portrayal of anxiety and COD and how it can manifest itself was informative, and scary. I felt so many emotions while reading that I cant even begin to explain them all. I love that there were empathetic friends who were willing and patient enough to help. I also loved how the story reflected the character of Ophelia only to break free of her fate. A highly recommended read.
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