Summary: Saturday will be the third state soccer championship in a row for Jake Martin. Three. A good number. Prime. With Jake on the field, Carson City High can’t lose, because Jake has the magic: a self-created protection generated by his obsession with prime numbers. It’s the magic that has every top soccer university recruiting Jake, the magic that keeps his family safe, and the magic that suppresses his anxiety attacks. But the magic is Jake’s prison, because getting it means his compulsions take over nearly every aspect of his life.
Jake’s convinced the magic will be permanent after Saturday, the perfect day, when every prime has converged. Once the game is over, he won’t have to rely on his sister, Kasey, to concoct excuses for his odd rituals. His dad will stop treating him like he is some freak. Maybe he’ll even make a friend other than Luc.
But what if the magic doesn’t stay? What if the numbers never leave?
My Thoughts: This was quite a read. Getting inside the head of a person who suffers from OCD is a bit disconcerting. It was frustrating at times, and I kept wondering how people can live like this. And I felt sorry for poor Jake.
What I didn’t like: The fact that Jake kept trying to hide his struggles. He had a few opportunities to talk to someone about it, and never did. He thinks he’s hiding his craziness, but he’s so not. I’m sorry, but people can pick up on things. And it’d be so much better if he came clean … but, he doesn’t. And I wanna scream at him “just tell them already!”
What I loved: The way the chapter numbers follow Jake’s obsession with prime numbers. Very clever, and perfect for this story. (Although, at first it threw me off, when the book started with Chapter 2. LOL)
I actually bumped the rating up a bit because of the chapter numbers and the way this story so convincingly shows a teen’s inner struggle with OCD. The story itself is OK. It did keep me reading, and was a very quick read. (Definitely not light, though.) I don’t feel the need to read this again, though.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite Quotes: Two quotes in particular struck a chord with me. (Note: These are from an ARC and might change in the final version.)
What truth? I wonder. Because it seems to me like there are a million truths out there, depending on who tells it. ~ page 199
Oh, so true.
His shirt fits tight across his chest. I can almost hear the buttons screaming, “Hold on! Hold on!”
But buttons don’t scream. ~ page 217
While I’m not sure it was the intent, the first line in this one totally cracked me up. I love this way of describing a too-tight shirt! LOL
Source: Received through Book It Forward ARC Tours for review.
Read It: Compulsion is scheduled for release on May 1, 2011. You can pre-order it HERE.
Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011.
FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Oh, how interesting! OCD is a really tricky disease for sure. And I think it’s really natural trying to hide what you know is a wrong behaviour, even though everyone else might already know before you.
From what you describe, it kind of reminds me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, what with chapters following prime numbers and that quote, when he points out buttons don’t actually talk.
I really liked that one though, and I think I’d love this! I’ll definitely have to give it a try. 
Thanks for a great review!
Oh, yeah, you’re so right it’s completely natural. He kept saying that he wanted to talk to someone about it, though.
Love this review. It does appear to be a pretty interesting book, I especially love the quotes and the prime number chapters lol. Will add it to my TBR!