Not as Crazy as I Seem

By George Harrar

Book Overview

Devon Brown won't eat in the school caf (a germ swamp). He covers his hands before opening doors, eats things in groups of four (his lucky number), and hangs up his shirts (with all their buttons buttoned) by color. Some kids say Devon's crazy, but he knows better--these are the tricks that keep bad things from happening, and he can't imagine giving them up. Devon calls it "controlling things." His doctor calls it obsessive-compulsive disorder. When Devon starts at a new school, his compulsions start to get him in trouble, and before long he realizes that his only choice is to confront his behaviors and the events that trigger them. In a compelling story of growing up different, George Harrar introduces us to a boy who just might change the way we think about "crazy."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618494804
• ISBN13: 9780618494804
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Not as crazy as I seem

This was the only place I could find this out of print book for a class my daughter was taking at school. The school only had two copies of the book and the public libs. in the area had already loaned there supply. We were very happy with how quick the item was shipped and the price was good.

Not as Crazy as I Seem

This book was truly amazing! It gives you a different view on the way people think. I started reading the book and just couldn't put it down. I recomend this book to people young and old.

Believable and engrossing

My 12-year-old daughter loved this book, and asked me to read it when she finished. I was surprised to discover how engrossed I became in the story, and how attached I became to the main character. He is a bright teenager struggling with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), finding strategies for hiding his compulsions from others, and avoiding his parents' efforts to "change" him. I was touched by the way he is forced to confront his problem and allow others into his inner world. Unlike many young people's books about adolescents with special issues, this book is not heavy, depressing, or heartbreaking. It's interesting, fast-paced, and thought-provoking without being preachy. Anyone who knows a person with OCD or suspects it in themself will find the book to be a revelation. Those who do not will gain a deeper understanding of everyday people who struggle with mental health issues. I highly recommend it for parents who are trying to enrich their children's reading lists or broaden their understanding of human diversity.

"Not as Crazy as I seem" will captivate you!

I loved this book!! I saw it on a site, I can't remember where, and was instantly compelled to read it. So I recommended it for the library, and fortunately, they bought it and I got to read it. Well, I wish I could have read it sooner! "Not as Crazy as I seem" is about a boy named Devon, who has OCD. He obsesses about things and has a constant urge for everything to be perfect. Wow, I could totally relate to Devon! Sometimes, I, too, obsess about things (I think we all do). And being a perfectionist, I really knew how Devon felt. I read this book in about a few hours, because it was just so interesting. It was like entering the mind of a real teenager. The book is written humorously - fortunately, the author did not make the whole story mundane and foreboding about Devon's disorder. I appreciated that, and there was a perfect balance in contrast with the humor and the seriousness of OCD. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone! It is not just for young adults - I think just the general public would enjoy it because it's so riveting and it's a real page-turner. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. Also, this is one of the extremely rare books that deal with OCD but is still fiction. I haven't encountered many - just one other - "Kissing Doorknobs." However, I prefer this one to "Kissing Doorknobs" because it is written in the first person, in the perspective of Devon, the protagonist himself! This makes it more personal, and somewhat more real. I think George Harrar is a very talented author. He really captivates the soul and imagination of a teenaged boy dealing wtih OCD. I really hope that you will take the time to read this book. I urge you - this is something you won't regret reading. These kinds of books are what makes books worth reading! Read it! It is worth 100% of your time and money!

"Not As Crazy As I Seem" - Book Review

"What would my personality be if I didn't have my "tendencies," as Mom puts it? If I weren't Devon the Anxious, Devon the Obsessive, Devon the Clean, what kind of Devon would I be?" Devon was not any ordinary teen. He was a tenth grader with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Devon never thought he was sick or had any disorder, he just always thought he was a little different than everyone else. Devon had just moved to Boston and was learning to cope with his grandfather's death and adjust to his new private school. A terrific part in the book is when he meets Tanya, an African American girl who becomes Devon's first friend. This is a great part in the book because Tanya later on becomes a big influence in Devon's life. Devon is slowly learning to overcome his OCD although it is not easy. The genre of this book is realistic fiction. "Not As Crazy As I Seem" was a real page turner. As you read, new problems keep occurring and keep you wondering what is next to come. It is a very unpredictable book which makes you want to uncover the outcome even more. By the end of the book, you will be glad you reached the resolution but you will be upset at the fact that the book is now ever. While reading this book, it was very easy to concentrate. It was not an especially complicated book and did not discuss many complex ideas. Everything seemed to flow and fit together nicely making it simple to understand. Also, the ideas were all very clear so that readers of age could comprehend it all. Personally, as a reader I take pleasure in this realistic fiction. This book increased my fondness of this genre. This is because it was realistic and nothing was too unimaginable. Everything that happened in this book could certainly happen in real life. Also, people with OCD like Devon in the book, might be able to relate to the book because of how real it is. I definitely would recommend this book to others. While at the library, I saw the book "Not As Crazy As I Seem" on the shelf with the new arrivals. I picked it up and read the short summary. It seemed like an interesting book and I had never read anything with a similar concept so I checked it out. Although I really enjoyed this book, I did not really connect with any of the characters or themes in the story. I did realize though that I do have certain things that bother me if out of place or out of order like Devon, the main character. All in all, I took delight in this book and will probably read more of George Harrar's books in the future.