Finding Perfect

Molly Nathans, a 12-year-old middle school student, strives for order and control in her life following her mother's move to Canada for a new job. She copes by keeping her items in perfect order, counting by groups of eight, and preparing to win the school poetry slam competition. As Molly's need for perfection intensifies, her carefully structured world becomes harder to maintain. Her relationships with her siblings, friends, and father face mounting pressure as she struggles to handle her compulsions while keeping them hidden from others. Through Molly's perspective, the story follows her journey to understand herself and confront her fears as her behaviors begin to affect every aspect of her daily life. The poetry slam competition serves as a backdrop while she navigates family changes, friendship dynamics, and her own internal battles. The novel addresses themes of mental health, family bonds, and self-acceptance, offering insight into how OCD can manifest in young people and the challenges of asking for help.

Readers appreciate the authentic portrayal of OCD through 12-year-old Molly's perspective, with many noting it helps children understand mental health struggles. Parents and teachers report using the book to discuss anxiety and compulsive behaviors with young readers. Specific praise focuses on the realistic family dynamics and Molly's relatable voice. Multiple reviews mention the book's ability to reduce stigma around mental health treatment. Some readers found the resolution too neat and quick. A few reviews noted that certain secondary characters needed more development. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (180+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Notable reader comments: "Shows OCD without sugarcoating or sensationalizing it" - Goodreads reviewer "My students could really connect with Molly's struggles" - 5th grade teacher on Amazon "Helped my daughter understand her own anxiety" - Parent reviewer

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🔹 Elly Swartz was inspired to write this book after witnessing her own son's struggle with anxiety during his middle school years. 🔹 The book tackles Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in young people, a condition that affects approximately 1 in 200 children and teens. 🔹 The counting and organizing behaviors displayed by the main character, Molly, are common manifestations of OCD, which often first appears during the pre-teen years. 🔹 Before becoming an author, Swartz worked as a lawyer and spent 15 years writing and revising manuscripts before publishing her first book. 🔹 The author conducts extensive research and consults with mental health professionals to ensure accurate representation of mental health issues in her books.