Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was fantastic, the art style was interesting and dynamic, the story line was relatable and well told, I really enjoy the trend in graphic novels depicting kids with different experiences, I'm looking forward to recommending this at my library!

Buzzing gave me a great understanding of what it's like to have OCD.

Isaac lives with OCD, which reveals itself visually with bees flying around him constantly, telling him negative comments about himself. When the OCD gets stronger, the bees swarm more and more, keeping him from enjoying and experiencing the moment. ( )

Despite it being the centerpiece of the story, the DnD bits couldn’t keep my interest, so I started skipping through most of them.

Instead, where this story shined for me was the visual representation of OCD/intrusive thoughts, and the acknowledgment of how parents are trying but don’t have all the answers. It also touched on how some siblings get overlooked when another sibling has a disorder.

I think the artwork fits well! ( )

Isaac has recently been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and his mother hovers over all his behavior with worry and disapproval. Hickman evocatively depicts Isaac's intrusive thoughts as buzzing bees that fuel negativity and compulsive behaviors. While Isaac has some success quieting the thoughts with drawing, the bees' buzzing significantly fades when he joins a new group of friends to play Swamps & Sorcery. Though his mother allows him to play the game, she worries fantasy gaming will worsen his condition, but Isaac knows how much creativity and fantasy help. Hickman cleverly uses color to portray Isaac's emotional reality: when he's stuck in his compulsive thought patterns, the world is gray, but when he’s with his new friends or playing Swamps & Sorcery, the panels are in full color. There are lots of graphic novels about kids experiencing anxiety or intrusive thoughts, but not many featuring boys, which makes this stand out.