As a now adult who struggles with OCD but never knew what it was, I wish I had this book as a child.
I think this book does the incredibly important work of helping children understand what OCD can look like as well as as a compelling story to enjoy.

I'm all here for middle grade graphic novels that are both fun and doing important work for mental health.

I really enjoyed this. I liked how he shared his experience in an easy to understand and relatable way. I really loved Buzzing and Just Roll With It and the OCD rep in those too, if you’re looking for fiction recommendations.

I'm sure that this book will be very important for a child who has never read a book about OCD before because it is very comprehensive, but as someone who has read other books about OCD, I didn't find anything new here.

This is a quick graphic novel, but this is an intense story. A memoir about Pan growing up with thoughts that wouldn't go away, and while he tries to explain them to those around him. They don't ever understand. It's not until he's in high school that he finally realizes the term for it, but even then, he doesn't know what to do with that information. It isn't until the very last chapter of the book that he finally meets with a specialist to try CBT. I appreciate the author adding in the afterward because the ending is very abrupt and doesn't explain what happened to the author. It's well written and I appreciate the puzzle metaphor as it is something many people have used with a multitude of disorders. A good book for young kids who might be experiencing these feelings but don't know how to express them.

Right away I'll tell you this book deserves all the stars. It should be in every school library from middle grade through college, because there are lots of young people who need to see this, so they can know they aren't crazy, or can understand a friend or relative with OCD better. Pan Cooke does an amazing job of explaining an often misunderstood disorder in clear, straightforward language that is easy to understand. I think this would help neurotypicals to better comprehend how a neurodivergent mind is different from theirs, and it will help NDs better understand themselves, or introduce the concept of neurodiversity to them if they don't already know about it. Even if OCD isn't part of your alphabet soup (for example, I'm AuDHD. I have *tendencies* toward OCD, but I don't think I actually have it), if you're ND, you will recognize Pan's struggle. Trying to appear "normal" while inside you feel like you're going insane is not an easy thing to do, and it can really mess you up. I believe this book will help so many people to recognize their symptoms and get treatment earlier in life. I can't tell you how freeing it is to finally have a name for that thing in your head that isn't quite right! Even more freeing when you can learn ways to deal with it! Pan includes a rundown of his first CBT session (which is nice because it lets you know what sort of thing to expect, even if your session isn't quite the same), and includes an afterward updating the reader on how he's doing now, and his reasons for writing the book. I really related to Pan's story, and I hope lots of people get to read this!

#Puzzled #NetGalley

This memoir uses it's visuals and especially it's metaphor to great affect. It is an excellent representation of the sense of disconnect and "brokenness". Cooke also shows the different stages of compulsions and obsessions well.

Pan Cooke's graphic novel memoir provides insight into his experiences growing up with undiagnosed OCD. He offers a chronological look into how OCD impacted his life in elementary, middle, and high school, including the various rituals he developed and the intrusive thoughts he battled while trying his best to fit in at school and at home.

The recurring puzzle piece metaphor helps to describe the persistent, anxious thoughts Pan experiences and the responses he develops in an effort to manage the thoughts and successfully manage the feelings he's experiencing and never quite able to piece together to solve. With its graphic novel format, the book provides an accessible way to give middle school readers insight into an important mental health topic and may help to lessen the stigma of seeking assistance or support for mental health concerns.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book to read and review.

"it feels like the security guard in my mind has fallen asleep"

I really appreciate how this explores other parts and symptoms of OCD that aren't as common or well-known and is informative about such in a natural and reassuring way. It's definitely a little tough to get through, especially if you've experienced any of this, but is very much worth it to feel a little less alone and a little more seen.

As someone with OCD, anxiety, and a variety of other mental issues, I was really looking forward to Puzzled. We even purchased it for our public library. It just wasn't personally for me. I found the story/art layout distracting and off-putting. Which is ok because we all deal with things differently. I'm sure many will benefit from and enjoy this graphic novel memior.

Thank you to Rocky Pond Books and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.

I am the first person to tell you I love a good graphic novel memoir. It's this sweet little niche of book publishing that I think lends itself well to powerful and compelling storytelling. Sign me up!

That's why this book came as a bit of a disappointment to me. Don't get me wrong: the artwork, color, and puzzle piece theme were all incredibly well done. And I think perhaps to a younger reader, they would be more than willing to overlook some of the issues I had with this book.

The biggest issue I had was the book jumped around far too frequently for the storyline to be cohesive for me. It felt like instead of there being a clearcut story structure, it was just a jumble of moments where Cooke felt his OCD more strongly than other times in his life. This was, for me, incredibly confusing to follow and I wanted a smoother story that shared these moments but also provided some clearer transitions between the moments.

I also wanted there to be more information about what kind of treatment Cooke received and how that impacted him. Again, these vignettes (can a graphic novel have vignettes?) all seemed to focus on moments when Cooke experienced more OCD symptoms than other times but I didn't see much in the way of treatment or strategies to help when OCD symptoms are overpowering. I think this is a critical piece to include, especially for young readers, so they know who to talk to and/or what to ask for help about.

Overall, this was fine and I really do think younger readers will get quite a bit out of this story. I just wish it had been structured differently so I as an adult reader would also enjoy this graphic novel more than I ultimately ended up enjoying it.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Rocky Pond Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a very effective portrait of OCD and how it can manifest and affect someone. I do wish it had more of an overarching narrative, though there were some throughlines with friends. The puzzle motif and extended metaphor appears throughout the artwork in effective ways.

Pan experiences the symptoms of OCD from a young age and only after becoming an adult, he sought for help on maintaining his impulsive behavior. Not knowing what he had, he described his process as something that was embarrassing to talk about, being afraid that he would be seen as different and rejected by society. He went towards calling himself crazy or even thought that the devil is in him. But after a random night of researching, he found out that what he had is actually a mental disorder and not because he was crazy or had the devil in him. Finding reassurances with peers around him on theories he had inside his head, he knew this wasn’t a permanent solution and finally sought help with a professional.

I love that the author chose to write this kind of book because it’s really hard to even talk about mental disorders, especially in adolescence where bullying is prone to happen. It’s also enlightening to read through the process and be able to experience the process of what one goes through with OCD so that there’s understanding of why things happen or why they say certain things.

Thank you to NetGallery for providing me an advanced copy for review!

"Puzzled" offers a heartfelt and humorous glimpse into the challenges of growing up with undiagnosed OCD. Pan Cooke's graphic-novel memoir navigates the maze of anxious thoughts and exhausting rituals with candid honesty. Through his experiences, readers gain insight into the complexities of OCD and the importance of self-empathy and understanding. Cooke's storytelling is both funny and poignant, making "Puzzled" a compelling read that sheds light on a misunderstood condition.

Puzzled is a much needed addition to the world of YA Graphic Novels. Puzzled explores what its like to be a kid/teen with OCD and how hard it can be to find help and a diagnosis. Teens will be able to relate to this book on many levels whether they have OCD or know someone who does. Great addition to all YA Graphic Novel collections.

An vulnerable look at the difficult realities of a disorder carelessly claimed as a personality quirk far too often.

Pan opens a window into the experience of his childhood and teenage years growing up with an undiagnosed condition that disrupted his life. He shares about the niggling feeling of wrongness that bloomed into the obsessive repetition of behaviors in an attempt to assuage it.

The story is a relatable one of a kid facing all the usual growing pains, but with an added layer of disconnection from peers. The art is colorful and easy to quickly parse.

This book is such an important one in terms of awareness - both for those who may have undiagnosed OCD and see themselves in these pages, and for those who misuse the term OCD without recognizing the reality of living with it.

This was a fascinating look at OCD. I think that it gives people who don't understand OCD a window into how hard it is to deal with. I hope that kids or teens with OCD find this book and can know that they're not alone.

Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This will be a good GN to add to the middle school collection! It's nothing too complicated, almost a bit too easy at times, but does a great job of breaking down the fundamentals of OCD. The art is simple but effective, and I appreciate the number of examples that are used to help the reader, young and old, understand the difficulty of dealing with OCD.

What a unique middle grade graphic novel. Puzzled does an amazing job of showing what having OCD can feel like and what can go on in the kind of someone with that disorder. Pan is so vulnerable, kind and genuine and his struggles feel relatable even if you don’t have OCD. This autobiographical work is very touching and honest and is unlike any graphic novel I have ever read.

I highly enjoyed this memoir and as someone who also has OCD I found the representation of the symptoms to really resonate and represent the struggles so many face with this mentall illness very well. It also tackled a lot of the misconceptions others have about OCD, how it inhibits diagnosis and treatment, and how that can harm the people who deal with it. I found the art style/coloring to be very easy for my eyes to digest and follow. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this artist/author.

A really good look at what OCD looks like and in general how growing up can look when you are different than every one and don't know how you fit in. I wish there had been more content with his family and their support and more after seeking help, but overall good.