About This Book:
Thirteen-year-old Alex Bennett is used to being overlooked by his classmates. From being bullied due to his OCD, he’s learned that being invisible is the safest option. So he’s unprepared when the new girl, Ida May, requests to partner with him on a school project. And he is even more unprepared when the project she wants to work on reveals a mysterious message left on a cassette tape—one that leads the pair to a box buried in Alex’s front yard. Soon, Alex finds himself knee-deep in a mystery he wanted no part of. Urged on by his therapist and Ida May, he’s forced to step out of his carefully created comfort zone to untangle the complicated history he and Ida May have uncovered. But the more time Alex spends with Ida May, the more he wonders if the friendship growing between them is real or if she’ll leave as soon as the mystery is solved. As he and Ida May close in on the answers they’ve been searching for, Alex begins to understand that not everything is as it seems on the surface, and that maybe he doesn’t have to hide his OCD—or himself—from the world.Written by a lifelong educator, The Cassette Tape Secret addresses sensitive subjects with a light touch as middle-grade readers solve a mystery alongside characters who are finding their place in a world that might not easily understand them.
*Review Contributed By Mark Buxton, Staff Reviewer*
Overcoming anxiety
What worked:
Alex and Ida May form an unusual, contrasting pair of characters. Alex likes everything neat and orderly, and he always follows the rules. His obsession with sterilizing surfaces he might touch makes him an easy target for middle-school classmates. Readers’ introduction to Ida May arises when she confronts the school bully and makes him back down. Alex immediately knows she’s not someone to mess with, so he’s stunned and leery when she asks a teacher to put them in the same group. She asks him to fix her cassette player, but Alex resists, saying those are not the directions for the activity. Alex’s therapist wants him to try new things, so readers know that Alex should prepare for uncomfortable challenges ahead.
Alex’s battle with OCD is more compelling than solving the cassette tape mystery. He’s embarrassed to be around other people, and he’s well aware of his strange habits. He must do things in fours (turning doorknobs, etc.), and he sterilizes anything he needs to touch. Don’t expect him to sit in a chair that can’t be wiped down first. His therapist’s weekly challenges force him out of his comfort zone, and Ida May’s constant support gives him a needed push. Alex describes his anxiety as a combination of nervousness and fear, and the author does an excellent job of describing the physical and mental pressure he endures.
Ida May has her own issues, since her mother didn’t make the move with the family. Ida May often tells Alex her mom will be coming soon, but something comes up to keep that from happening. Ida May’s anguish is evident, and she quickly hides her feelings when tears start to form. Alex is aware of his “friend’s” pain and offers supportive words of “that sucks.” Alex doesn’t know if Ida May is his friend, because he’s never cared about anyone else like this before. What does friendship feel like? Ida May and Alex are good for each other, and their characters transform as they investigate the cassette tape.
What didn’t work as well:
The message on the tape may not create the anticipated suspense, since readers don’t know when it was recorded. It seems like years ago, which doesn’t make the message feel urgent. The characters treat it more as a curiosity than a mystery that must be solved.
The final verdict:
This mystery focuses more on emotions and feelings, as Alex must learn to handle new situations. I recommend you try this book for yourself.
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