A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone

A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone is about Rene, a fourteen year old boy with OCD.  Rene is convinced bad things happen as a result of him washing his body parts in the wrong order, stepping on cracks, picking up coins that are face down, and even moving when the numerals in the time of day add to 13.  These quirks practically rule Rene's life, until he meets Giovanni.  Gio, as his friends call him, is new and he breaks all the rules Rene has lived by his whole life.  One afternoon, the worst thing happens... Rene's emotionally abusive and controlling father Phil, who left when Rene was six, returns!  Desperate for help with this situation, Rene invites Gio for dinner.  The dinner is a disaster, and in the end Rene and Gio run away to New York for several life-changing days!

This was an awesome story.  I sometimes have a hard time reading about kids who are bullied because of their differences.  This book was inspiring because of the friendship Giovanni and Rene shared and Gio's acceptance of Rene's quirks.  I would recommend it to more mature readers who enjoy funny, yet powerful stories.