Not If I Can Help It by Carolyn Mackler
Published by Scholastic Press on July 30th 2019
ISBN: 0545709482
Pages: 240
Goodreads

Willa has a sensory processing disorder which she finds very embarrassing and keeps that part of her life a secret.  Some sensations, like too tight socks or mushy foods, make Willa squirmy and physically ill at ease. She sees a therapist and is working to better handle things that she can’t control but this is not information she shares at school, even with best friend Ruby who she has known for years.  Keeping her home and school life separate suddenly becomes much more difficult when Willa’s father and Ruby’s mother announce that they have been dating. Willa goes into a tailspin and because she doesn’t want to share why she is so upset (change can be overwhelming), Ruby feels rejected and confused.  Middle school tests the best of friendships and Willa soon realizes that she needs to help Ruby understand her disorder so that the girls can help one another get ready for bigger changes to come. Once Willa opens up, she soon realizes that she isn’t the only one coping with anxiety. Pair with Guts, The Cure for Cold Feet or The Science of Unbreakable Things.  This middle school novel opens up discussion on how difficult it is to know the burdens people are carrying around.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook