Multiple Choice [Paperback]

Janet Tashjian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 22, 2008

For as long as Monica Devon can remember, she has been two things: a whiz at making anagrams, and a perfectionist who spends most of her time obsessing about saying and doing the right thing. Now at fourteen, Monica's compulsive habits have spiraled out of control. Seeing no other way out, she creates Multiple Choice, a game that will force spontaneity into her life, and, she hopes, free her from her obsessions. It seems so easy--create a list of options, choose a Scrabble tile, and carry out the act. At first the game is exciting and somewhat liberating. But soon it starts to go devastatingly wrong. Fortunately for Monica, help is closer than she thinks.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Of this story centering on a girl's struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, PW said, "This energetic, enjoyable problem novel is a must-read for wordsmiths." Ages 10-14. (Jan.)n

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Monica Devon is a perfectionist and a worrywart. Fellow students find her eccentric, and her mother is driven to despair by her excessively fastidious behavior, such as her need to transfer Styrofoam beads from one beanbag chair to another so that the chairs are evenly balanced. She chants the mantra "This does not count" to negate mistakes, and in times of stress, she constructs anagrams in her head. To shift her focus from daily worries, the 14-year-old creates a game called Multiple Choice, in which she fabricates a task for herself with four options to complete it. This self-destructive game takes over her life, causing her to lose her best friend and climaxing when the child for whom she is baby-sitting falls from a window and nearly loses his eye. Finally, in the wake of the near tragedy, her parents hear her cries for help. The history of Monica's problems is glossed over with brief mentions of her making herself ill studying for exams the previous year and spinning her lock three times before opening her locker. Monica's parents and teachers seem to accept or ignore her erratic and unusual behavior until disaster strikes. Anagrams and word games interrupt the flow of the narrative. Readers who are themselves compulsive may relate to Monica's dilemma. Those looking for a more realistic, detailed portrait of obsessive-compulsive behavior should read Terry Spencer Hesser's Kissing Doorknobs (Delacorte, 1998).
Alice Casey Smith, Sayreville War Memorial High School, NJ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Square Fish (January 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312376065
• ISBN-13: 978-0312376062
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #815,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and raised in Rhode Island, lived in Boston for the past twenty years, and am currently moving to L.A. (I will miss lots about New England but not the winters.)
I love making up stories and doing school presentations about writing. I still write most of my books in longhand -- I love the feel of a pen in my hand moving across crisp white paper. (Although I'd be lost without my MacBook.)
I have lots of ideas for stories but unfortunately not enough hours in the day to write them all.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars :), April 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Multiple Choice (Hardcover)

The book "Multiple Choice" researches a disorder that I'm sure many teens and adults alike suffer from. Not only is the reader able to understand Monica's emotions, but they are also able to get into the mind of someone who suffers from this. The author has successfully added humor to this book as well as interesting anagrams and a few oriddle type things. Personally, I enjoyed reading this book, and I reccomend it to everyone!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK CAPTURES THE FEELING OF O.C.D., November 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Multiple Choice (Hardcover)

As a 14-year old with Obsessive Complusive Diorder, this book reminded my that I'm not alone. It captures the emotions of O.C.D. and if you don't have the disorder, I still recommend it to help you understand. You may also like "Kissing Doorknobs"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Most Realistic Book Ever!!!, November 12, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Multiple Choice (Library Binding)

"98.762 percent of my time is spent obsessing. About what? Everything"

Monica Devon is a normal fourteen-year-old kid on the outside. She spends time with her grandfather making word games, baby-sits, and helps her mother with the daycare, but on the inside, she is a confused perfectionist. When she gets birthday presents for her siblings, she decides that the beanbags are the wrong size. While attemptiong to fix them, she rips apart the seams and spoons styrofoam balls from one bag to the other. However, when the balls make a big mess, she is determined to really be a normal fourteen-year-old.

So she makes up Multiple Choice. At first it semms easy - choose the options, pick a letter from the scrabble tiles, and carry out the act. But when she sees that her obsession has gotten worse over the game, she tries to stop. However, the game keeps drawing her in. When things go too far, Monica is afraid that nothing can help her.

This is a great book for any young teenager. It shows ou the struggle that is going on in someone's head. It doesn't seem wrong to want everything to be perfect. But when it goes to this level of obsession, it becomes a serious problem. I loved how the author pictures the issues we see in real life today because a lot of people can relate to them. Other great books by Janet Tashjian are Tru Confessions and The Gospel According To Larry.