Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Buzzing is a powerful graphic novel! Sattin uses buzzing bees to depict the impulses that Isaac deals with one a daily basis. This is a great story to help teens understand what it is like to live with OCD. This is a must have for all YA graphic novel collections!

2.5/5 stars

FANTASTIC description of OCD.

I could have done without the D&D-like side stories. But MG readers who are into D&D will definitely appreciate it.

The mom comes around way too easily at the end. I worry readers may get the wrong message that disobeying a parent is okay in all circumstances and that their parents will come around in the long run.

I like the use of bees as a metaphor for compulsion and intrusive thought. Their size and volume indicative of overall wellness. It's a clear metaphor that never becomes tired. Sattin is also doing interesting things with color saturation and complexity, again representing engagement and "wellness". The relationships are handled with sensitivity and nuance. While the ending is a bit idealized overall it's a solid read.

This book was great and it has been taken out of our library since the day we got it. I am so happy others are loving it as much as I did.

Beautifully illustrated graphic novel depicting what it’s like for a teen living with OCD. This story truly helped me to better understand the daily struggles people living with this condition have. This is one to add to my school’s library collection.

This graphic novel was hilarious and well-drawn, definitely worth the money and the hype, and I hope will be successful!

Our story follows Isaac, a middle schooler who has been working through their recent diagnosis of OCD, with an overbearing mother, intense therapist, and a sister who doesn't seem to like him very much. While in class one day, his classmates see his exceptional drawing abilities and ask him to come join their game of Swamps and Sorcery. Isaac quickly bonds with his fellow gamers and dives deep into the fandom- which his mother blames for his rapidly decreasing grades. Unfortunately his mother doesn't realize that his grades slipping are mostly in part to his OCD and all the thoughts buzzing around his head, and less with the game, that actually seem to quiet the buzzing. Eventually his mother has enough of his lowering grades and forbids Isaac from not only playing SnS but seeing the friends he plays SnS with. Miriam, also feeling ignored by their mom, decides to help Isaac out and sneaks him into a SnS group at their local bookstore, where he can play the game and make new friends too. This plot goes well for some time, before their mom decides to follow them and see where they were going. I myself would was worried about her reaction, but she seems to recognize her mistake in keeping Isaac from the game, and even works to learn how to play the game with him, Miriam, and their friends.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. It showed how rpg's, school counselors, and big sisters can sometimes be such big support systems in our lives. I didn't love that it made the therapist out to be the bad guy from all the less-than-helpful advice Dr. Penny provided Isaac's mom, but sometimes therapy is like that, where it takes some time to find one that works well for what your needs are (in this case it was his school counselor). I'm happy with where the book ended, but I wish there would've been more resolution between Miriam and their mother. Their mom was very dismissive and ignored Miriam through the entire book, I wish she would've also gotten an apology or recognition of wrong doing like Isaac did.

This graphic novel provided an incredible insight into what it is like living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a way only graphic novels can convey. On its own, the story would be an entertaining one of young people trying to figure out who they are as they move into their teenage years: dealing with family relationships, new friends, school issues, and everything else. However, the inclusion of the protagonist's OCD, and how amazingly the art renders his experience, puts this over the top as a must read. This is a perfect example of how art and text can work together to go places neither can do on their own.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! Great for fans of Guts and Just the Roll the Dice. The metaphor of the bees for Isaac's intrusive thoughts and anxieties was fantastic. A great story about gaining confidence in yourself, making friends, and learning to live with mental illness. Ages 8-14.

Gave me a better understanding of mental illness and what they can do
To young minds. Loved the LGBTQIA representation and single mother representation as well.

A MG graphic novel that will pull at your heartstrings.
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Isaac is a lonely twelve-year-old who is struggling with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Bees swarm around Isaac’s head to symbolize the thoughts that plague him throughout every day. His mother is overprotective about his diagnosis and won’t let him play video games because they can make his OCD worse. When a group of kids ask Isaac to join their role-playing game, he feels a little less lonely and it brightens his life. Unfortunately his grades start to slip and his mother forbids him from continuing. How will Isaac explain how necessary the friends and game are to his piece of mind and quiet the voices in his head?
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I adored this GN by @samuelsattin @ryehickmandraws because it showed the visual representation of what it must be like to live with OCD. So many students struggle with this and will find this title helpful and empowering. This book releases July 18 by @littlebrownink

CW: OCD, mental health issues

Love how creators visually captured thee thoughts of a nurodiverse character! Extra kudos for diving into the family dynamics that happen when one has a mental "disability". Power of collaborative gaming is major plot point. So much awesome in this beautiful graphic novel.

The book reminded me of Just Roll With It but the family dynamics and role playing game angle were different. I liked the artwork and the characters. The dad was referenced but I thought there could have been a little more development or explanation there.

The title of this book is catchy. I also like the cover. This book was interesting in how the boy with ICD thinks about himself. It was also interesting how the mother and sister deal with it. I leaned a bit about OCD, which is good. I thought it was an obsession like cleaning, or like the pulling of the ear (as this character did). I didn’t realize the mental abuse one goes through in their mind.
I may suggest this book to teachers to read, so they can see a perspective that I didn’t.
I also enjoyed the ending, it wrapped everything up nicely.

A really heartwarming graphic novel about believing in yourself. Isaac has OCD and due to this, his mom is overly cautious of everything he does. The characters are relatable and will resonate with anyone who has struggled with intrusive thoughts. I especially loved the friendships Isaac formed and how his relationship with his sister evolved. I highly recommend this to middle grade readers, librarians, and teachers. Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the arc.

This is a touching graphic novel about growing up, making friends, and dealing with mental illness. Isaac is a lonely kid who suffers from OCD. His mother is loving and doing her best, but in her effort to help Isaac and make sure he stays healthy, she ends up isolating him even further. Isaac finally opens up when he meets a group of kids who play D&D and want him to join their campaign. But his mom, who sees the friends as a distraction from school, isn't convinced they are the most positive influence.

As someone who has firsthand experience with OCD and anxiety, this book was a warm hug. I can imagine it would be that way for many of the young readers at my library as well.

This was an incredibly realistic depiction of OCD and obsessive thoughts and compulsions. The use of bees to depict the thoughts was very smart and the art depicts how challenging and scary these thoughts are to Isaac.
Despite dealing with heavy stuff, there are some joyful parts of this story in found family in a group of amazing and queer friends who play D&D with Isaac. In addition, the growth of the relationship with the older sister and the mom’s shift in ability to be more open minded was fantastic.
Perfect for fans of Just Roll With It, Growing Pangs, and Real Friends.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was fantastic, the art style was interesting and dynamic, the story line was relatable and well told, I really enjoy the trend in graphic novels depicting kids with different experiences, I'm looking forward to recommending this at my library!