Please Be OK

September 1, 2024
A young girl tries to help her older brother, who recently began using drugs. Dylan used to play with Fiona and comfort his little sister when mean kids teased her, but now he flakes out on taking her to the museum, and she spots him meeting up with a mysterious stranger. He argues with their parents and steals money. After Fiona sees him shoving something into his desk, she speaks up. When their parents realize that Dylan's been using drugs, they explain what's going on and arrange for him to enter rehab. Notably, this book makes clear that while drug addiction is harmful, those who use drugs aren't bad people. The story also addresses the important elements of forgiveness and responsibility: Fiona shows a willingness to believe in her brother's recovery, and Dylan apologizes for and takes ownership of his past mistakes. The recurring image of a large, blue bedroom door separating Fiona from her brother's downward spiral acts as a symbol for his secrecy and her lack of understanding. Her emotional reactions range from loneliness to fear, gut-deep tension, guilt, worry, doubt, and optimism, with each one clearly portrayed through Fiona's facial expressions. Dylan's drug use is never visually depicted; Mom and Dad refer to it as "using drugs" as well as an "illness" and a "sickness." Fiona and her family present white. A sensitive rendering of a child's response to a loved one's addiction. (author's note, further resources)(Picture book. 4-8)

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December 30, 2024

K-Gr 3-Approaching a heavy topic with the gentleness needed for a young audience, this book provides a child's perspective on the distress and disruption that occurs when a family member battles addiction. Fiona has always been close to her older brother, but she notices disturbing changes in his personality and when she discovers he's hiding a drug addiction, she is faced with the tough choice of whether she should keep his secret or inform their parents. The narrative is straightforward in acknowledging the complexities of the situation and creates a genuine sense of tension as Fiona navigates an emotionally precarious path. Despite the subject matter, the story successfully avoids becoming overly bleak and ends on an uplifting note. The illustrations depict a white middle class family, perhaps as a reminder that addiction problems can arise in any household regardless of economic status or race. The visuals display an intentional use of colors, with dark blues and greys evoking sadness and a brighter palette reflecting optimism and hope. An author's note adds context and affirmations from O'Neill's personal experiences growing up, and provides resources for addiction help. VERDICT This thoughtfully crafted story could be helpful to a young reader who has a family member struggling with addiction. A solid purchase where picture books addressing serious topics are needed.-Allison Tran

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