Name: Kissing Doorknobs
ISBN: 9780440413141

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Small Rituals, Big Fears

A close, uneasy look at how childhood fears can gather force in ordinary moments.

Come here for

The tension of a child bracing for disasters others consider unlikely
A personal story centered on fear, counting, and rituals

Expect

Tara’s fears unfold from preschool through age eleven
Specific rituals involving sidewalk cracks, meals, prayer, and doorknobs

Book Details

Authors: Terry Spencer Hesser
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: November 9, 1999
Format: Print & ebook
Theme: YA Illness & Disease Stories · Disabilities & Special Needs for Teens
Reading lane: YA Illness & Disease Stories

Affinity

Publisher Categories

YA Illness & Disease Stories
Disabilities & Special Needs for Teens
Mental Illness for Teens

About This Book

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, Ta...

Read full description

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....