Editorial Reviews:
During her preschool years, Tara Sullivan lived in terror that something bad would happen to her mother while they were apart. In grade school, she panicked during the practice fire drills. Practice for what?, Tara asked. For the upcoming disaster that was bound to happen?
Then, at the age of 11, it happened. Tara heard the phrase that changed her life: Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Before Tara knew it, she was counting every crack in the sidewalk. Over time, Tara's "quirks" grew and developed: arranging her meals on plates, nonstop prayer rituals, until she developed a new ritual wherin she kissed her fingers and touched doorknobs....
Despite recent media attention, obsessive-compulsive disorder remains perplexing to those who haven't experienced the illness firsthand. In her compassionate debut novel, Terry Spencer Hesser skillfully and credibly explains exactly what OCD feels like, as well as the effects it has on surrounding friends and family. Tara Sullivan first encounters her compulsive behavior at age 11, when she hears of the sidewalk game "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." Most people have had the experience of toying with this rhyme, but for Tara, it becomes something worse: "I couldn't not think the thoughts. And I couldn't not count the cracks." In one of several compulsive rituals, she must count every sidewalk crack between her house and school. If she is ever interrupted or loses her place, she must run back to the beginning and start over, or her mother's spinal health will be endangered. She recognizes this as absurd behavior, and gets absolutely no pleasure from the exercise, yet nonetheless feels inexplicably compelled to perform it. Hesser traces the arc of Tara's illness through several misdiagnoses, the expansion of her compulsive behaviors (obsessive prayer rituals and the need to touch the doorknob then kiss her fingers 33 times before leaving the house), and the reactions of her loved ones. Tara's sister responds by beating up anyone who makes fun of the compulsions, her anguished mother's answer is increasing violence toward her daughter, and friends alternate between acceptance and frustration. Deftly illustrating the depth of Tara's strained relationships, Hesser also addresses anorexia, shoplifting, drug use, and unsafe sex, subtly reinforcing the idea that these behaviors--though perhaps compulsions as well--are different from OCD in that they inspire some measure of enjoyment for the participant. Nominated by the Young Adult Library Services Association as one of 1998's Best Books for Young Adults, Kissing Doorknobs addresses a cutting-edge issue with grace, humor, and insight. While the novel refuses to make false promises, it provides an inspiring message of hope. (Ages 12 and older) --Brangien Davis
Customer Reviews:
Displaying 1 to 5 of 87 total reviews (Page 1 of 18):
 Counting Paranoia
"One...two...three...four...five..." My sister groaned softely. I didn't look at my parents or my sister, but I could imagine their faces. If only they understood that I was doing this for all of us. The tyrants in Tara's head only got worse. Tyrants. That is what Tara calls the voices in her head. As these so called "tyrants" got more powerful. Tara's relationships with others got worse. She stopped walking to places with people. She could not be disturbed, or she would have to start all over again.
This story is told in first-person, by Tara. Even thoough it's fiction, you will learn a little about something called OCD. And all the kinds people could have. Kissing Doorknobs is a serious book, but will make you smile at the same time. Unlike most books, this one has mood swings. At one point, you will be emotional. And two pages later, you will be laughing like there was no tomarrow. Yes, it is a chick-flick. But not all girls will enjoy it. I would recommend you reading it if you like reading fictional books about the lives of teenagers.
Kissing Doorknobs will make you wonder. "Why don't Tara's parents support her?" "What is wrong with Tara?" Well that's for me to know, and you to find out! 1st person insight to a debilatating disorder
Excellent 1st person look into a disorder that can be hard for the average person to understand. Its easy to say "just stop" when you don't understand how the people suffering from OCD are tortured by their disease. This read was entertaining while also opening the door for education of OCD and its effects on those who suffer from it as well as their family & friends. Good Portrayal of OCD
Tara Sullivan has obsessive compulsive disorder. She cannot step on cracks or it will break her mother's back, so she counts all the cracks on the walk to school. She also cannot help but pray every time some curses, has to turn the doorknob with equal pressure from all fingers, and must confess every single infraction at her Catholic confession. She visits various doctors who cannot diagnose her, much to the frustration of her family, who find it hard to understand that she doesn't want to be difficult but feels overwhelmingly compelled to do her rituals to be okay. While this part of the book is very interesting, Tara often speaks as though she is an adult instead of a teen. She comes to conclusions at age eleven that are clearly not possible. Also, there is a small romance injected towards the end of the book that doesn't fit with the rest of the novel and seems forced, as though the author felt obligated to include romance. Despite these drawbacks, the book is appropriate for 12+, and is a great look at what OCD really feels like, and the ramifications it can have on the family members of someone with OCD. So well done...
I first read this book in 8th grade. Seven years later, after having been diagnosed with OCD, I've realised how well done it really is. Tara's pain and her family's pain are both acutely, poignantly, and humorously described. The ending, as stark as it may seem, is like the "endings" I've expereinced with my OCD: relapses do occur, but all you can do is keep fighting. I recommend this book to families of people with OCD, as well as to people who just want to understand it better.  Kissing Doorknobs
In the book Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser, She explains exactly what OCD feels like and the effects it has on friends and family. The main character Tara Sullivan had always worried about everything. In Kindergarten she always thought something was going to happen to her mother while she was in school. As time moved on and she got to middle school she started to act somewhat normal. When Tara turned eleven she heard the saying "step on a crack, break your mothers back" everything started to go wrong again. Tara now believed that she must count every crack everywhere she went. If she got interrupted or lost count she ran back to the beginning and started over, or something bad would happen to her mother.
As time passed Tara tried everything she could to calm herself down. She recited prayers, arranged her meals and talked to her dolls. Even the sound of her voice calmed her down. As her compulsive behaviors got worse Tara came up with a new ritual to make herself feel better. By kissing doorknobs, this all started when stopping by her friend Donna's house Tara placed all ten fingers on her lips. Tara knew right away that it would be repeated. Although her mother did not like when Tara acted like this she did it anyway. This book taught me a lot on OCD and the effects it has on friends and family. More Customer Reviews:
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