As someone with OCD (Pure O, which is often sometimes confused or diagnosed alongside anxiety)this was a little tough for me to read. I had to catch myself to make sure I wasn’t disappearing into her spirals with some of my own. But because it was tough to read, it made me so much happier, because it felt AUTHENTIC.

OCD is a neurological disorder that has excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Ariel has been living with these thoughts for a long time. She called it a reptile, a monster, when it showed its teeth to her and shows her the violent intrusive thoughts. And overall, this was a very real look into the head of someone living with OCD. It was so hard to look into her mind. At some points it was scary, but it made me feel for her so much more. Ariel was walking around with these thoughts as a teen and had no idea what was going on. She needed way more support than her terrible parents.

Her parents were a whole other story. Are we seriously still living in the times where mental health is stigmatized and we run from things like therapy? The way they shunned her while she was completing rituals to “help keep them alive” from not killing them, was not ok. I found myself yelling at them a lot throughout the book. As for her friends, I was glad she had some people who cared about her. It was sad that her friends were the ones sticking up for her and convincing her something was wrong when her parents wanted her to pray about it.

I’m not always a fan of novels in verse because of the choppiness of the story. But in this case, the choppiness of the story worked really well because of the disorder she has. As someone who shares this, I can truthfully say there’s times when I’m researching things and I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole and hours have passed and I don’t know. My thoughts are scattered and choppy, just like Ariel’s in this story. It fit the story well and really sold the narrative. I related to this so much, and after reading the author’s note, I know why. Cole also was diagnosed with OCD after the pandemic. Although I’ve had mine longer, I could see all the realness in this story. This is why representation is important. There’s so many people that still think OCD is just washing your hands, or who think my Pure O is just me having OCD. They truly don’t understnd the things that go through one’s head. I’m hoping whoever doesn’t believe or understands picks this book up and they begin to get a small idea.

There is also queer representation in this novel. As I’m not queer I won’t mention if it was good or bad. She knows she’s queer and has feelings develop for a girl she is friends with. Her gender is constantly confused and she is described as bigger than average. Her size seems to be a large reason she thinks her intrusive thoughts might be correct in terms of what she might do.

This book is gut wrenching, raw, and unflinchingly real. Cole is quickly becoming one author I know to absolutely trust even when reading a format I’m not the biggest fan of. Both this and Dear Medusa had me hooked from the very beginning and I am very excited to see what else she will come up with.

Started off really slow and I bit confusing for me, but not because it is badly written or anything. But because I was not expecting it to be written like poetry. One I began to understand the writing I was very invested in understanding the behaviors of OCD. Ariel was very brave for opening up to the people that she trusted. This helped everyone (except her parents) understand her and advocate for the help she needed. Being in her mind was terrifying! Especially in those moments that her friend tried to push her to face her biggest fears ( with good intentions of course). Definitely eye opening.

This is an empathetic novel in prose, all about Ariel, who has OCDs and intrusive thoughts, but sadly parents who refuse to acknowledge mental health issues and absolutely don't want to talk about therapy. She's also gay, and questioning severe gender roles and the heavy imposition they place on those who don't fit the mold. Does that sound like a lot? It is, but it all seems organic, not forced, and it's really a beautiful story. Should be required reading.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

✨Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A Cole✨

This book was HEAVY. But I’ve said it a ton of times at this point, I love a novel in verse.

I’m not very familiar with OCD, and being in the main character Ariel’s head throughout the novel was tough. Sometimes listening to the audiobook I was like wait, DID she just do that? But then you realize it was her intrusive thoughts, and she’s struggling constantly with being afraid that she is eventually going to act on those thoughts and hurt someone she loves.

I thought that the author did a fantastic job of really making a visual of Ariel’s OCD, addressing it as a crocodile, giving it emotions and showing its growth overtime and how it’s impacted her.

This YA novel in verse tackles a LOT of topics, the main ones being mental health and gender identity.

If you read a lot of novels in verse, you know they tend to be on the heavier side, but they do so with powerful language, poetry and storytelling.

I don’t know that this lives up to Elizabeth Acevedo for me, but the author does a wonderful job narrating the audiobook.

Overall, a powerful story, and a recommend if you like novels in verse.

Content Warnings: Mental Illness, Suicidal Thoughts, Homophobia/Transphobia

ARIEL CRASHES A TRAIN by Olivia A. Cole is a tough, tough read, only because I saw way too much of myself in Ariel. Ariel’s struggle with intrusive thoughts, as well as the compulsions she uses to combat them, is one of the first realistic portrayals of OCD I’ve experienced in print. Ariel’s pain brought back all those times when I knew there was something that made me different, that was wrong with me, and was the reason why I felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere. That Ariel obtains the help she needs so much earlier in life than most people struggling with OCD is a comfort because it shows that people are finally beginning to realize that it is not cleanliness and everything at right angles. That Ms. Cole chose to write Ariel’s story in verse helped ease the pain of watching this poor girl fall through the cracks and needlessly suffer. While not an easy read, ARIEL CRASHES A TRAIN is a powerful one, made more impactful because of knowing that we both struggle with the same mental health disease.

Some books are difficult on purpose. <i>Ariel Crashes a Train</i> is one of them. Ariel is coping with undiagnosed OCD, which manifests in intrusive violent thoughts, and she's terrified that that means that she's a serial killer in the making. In any situation, her brain leaps to the worst conclusion or begins telling her to consider what would happen if she killed someone. None of that means that she <i>actually wants</i> to kills someone, but because she's never been diagnosed, or even told anyone about the intrusive thoughts, she believes that one day she will be unable to resist her mind's suggestions - or that maybe she already has and just doesn't remember it.

The writing is claustrophobic, again on purpose. Ariel is a prisoner of her mind, and even when she's talking with friends or at work, she can't escape herself. There's an attempt to also link her conflicted feelings about being a tall girl and a lesbian to her other mental struggles, and it more or less works, but I don't love the association this creates. It makes sense, yes - all three are things that set her apart from "normal." It's just more uncomfortable for a teen audience, no matter how true to life it may be.

Still, this is a remarkably strong novel in verse. Cole plays with formatting in ways that enhance Ariel's struggles, and she's a sympathetic character even if you can't relate to what she's going through. It's not an easy read, but one that's still easy to recommend.

Oh mental health and verse novels, love of my life. (just got a physical copy because at the time that I requested an ARC I was struggling reading digitally - I know I was so smart lol, will be updating on socials)

I loved this book. I really felt like I was inside the head of someone dealing with intrusive thoughts. Ariel was an interestingly complex character and the supporting characters were also well-developed. I had so much compassion for Ariel and was left with so much hope for her. Fantastic for people with OCD to see they’re not alone and for people who don’t have OCD so they can understand how it’s not all about washing hands and being organized.

This startling and ultimately uplifting book not only allows readers to see what life could be like for some people with OCD and intrusive thoughts, but it makes you FEEL as if it is you who is experiencing the OCD. Ariel's life is heartbreaking, and her constant unending efforts to not make it worse is exhausting, but you're pulling for her right from the start. Highly recommend this title and expect to hear more about it come awards season.

This was a very interesting read. As with the other Olivia A. Cole book I’ve read, Dear Medusa, the author discusses an important topic with great storytelling through verse. I didn’t connect to this one as much as I did with Dear Medusa, but it still engaged me and made me think as I was reading.

Ariel Crashes a Train is another powerful novel in verse by author Olivia A. Cole.

Author Cole tackles the frustration and pain of being undiagnosed as Ariel deals with intrusive thoughts and rituals. Her hesistant joy at learning that she has OCD, and that others are dealing with this as well, is beautifully expressed, as is how Ariel finds her found family.

I really enjoyed this book, though be careful as Ariel's violent intrusive thoughts could be a bit jarring to read- though it shows how much it's affecting Ariel as she struggles to live her life.

Ariel is afraid of her thoughts. The only thing that she thinks protects others from what she is thinking is rituals, such as tapping all the knives six times. She already feels out of place in the world. She feels as if she disappoints her parents at every turn, fails her friends, and doesn't fit into the world. As her intrusive thoughts become more violent, Ariel relies more and more on the rituals to keep the crocodile at bay. She gets a summer job at a carnival and there she makes two new friends, who start to see through her carefully constructed façade, With the help of her new friends and her sister, Ariel starts to come to terms with her OCD and how she can navigate the world while not letting the crocodile win. Another wonderful novel-in-verse by Olivia A. Cole!

3.5 stars

Ariel Crashes a Train is a book, like Dear Medusa, that I think many teens are going to need. We follow Ariel as she navigates intrusive thoughts, obsessive behaviours, neglectful parents, gender identity, and the road to accepting her OCD. It’s a beautiful novel in verse and it will bring ALL the emotions. This book is about to become very important to someone struggling with OCD.

For me personally, I don’t think the format was the way to go. I think had the book been like a traditional novel maybe it would have impacted me more. While my heart broke for Ariel and I cheered her on all the way, the book ends openly. Which of course life isn’t all roses and endings can be open, but, minus Ariel accepting her OCD, we don’t get anymore answers about her parents or her sister or even her best friend. Are they friends again? What about therapy? Why is her sister in college during summer?

I think it left me with too many questions at the end to fully enjoy it, and the format- some of the verse, would take me completely out of the narrative.

That being said, Ariel’s road to accepting her OCD was beautiful to read.

*thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *

First off thank you to #NetGalley for this opportunity to read #ArielCrashesaTrain in exchange for an unbiased review. The power of this no vel in verse is profound. Cole writes this in a way that feels like Ariels stream of consciousness and brings light to untreated mental health conditions. The support she receives from her sister and friends shows the level of care they have for her as her parents continue to deny that she needs any help outside of prayer. It is a powerful story of how OCD can affect so much of one persons life and opened my eyes to the true nature of OCD outside of the societal norm of teasing each other about OCD when someone like something a particular way or cleaning a certain way versus true OCD. I'd highly recommend this especially those looking for further understanding of those who suffer from OCD and other mental health conditions.

i haven’t been one to reach for novels in verse in the past but i love cole’s writing and prose so much. on top of the beautiful writing, i admire the inclusion of the topics in her works. this book focuses on a girl struggling with ocd and delves into the struggles of intrusive thoughts, mental illness, and so much more. i highly recommend this, and will definitely be looking forward to what comes next!

I love the way that this was written and that way that Ariel's OCD was portrayed. I think this is a great middle grade read and I recommend it whole heartedly.

The quick cut: A girl struggling with intrusive thoughts and her gender identity finds her way to self acceptance.

A real review:
Thank you to Labyrinth Road for providing the arc for an honest review.

Self acceptance is a tricky thing, especially when your brain functions differently than most others. Every part that makes you unique makes you question if you're truly deserving of happiness. For Ariel, this is an all too familiar feeling.

Ariel struggles with the violent thoughts that come to her mind. Calling it a crocodile, she wishes she could get these sudden awful ideas to stop intruding her mind. Unfortunately, she's never seen a therapist since her father is fervently against the idea. With her sister off at college and her closest friend in DC for the summer, she gets a summer job at a carnival. Will her summer of solitude turn into one of self discovery?

I've never been a poetry person, but a number of times I've thoroughly enjoyed tales told via verse. In this case though, I got to the end and found myself frustratingly disappointed. In this situation, I think the writing style actually worked against the material.

The relationship with her sister Mandy was woefully unexplored. The moments where her sister shared mental health information with Ariel were easily the most touching. I really wish there were more of those in the pages of this story.

Ariel is struggling with who she is, which is a common process when you're neurodivergent. While I can't claim to be OCD, I related to the moments of questioning and wondering and wishing you functioned differently. This book captured that element well. The problem is that it really didn't capture anything else at that same degree.

It also seemed as if Ariel just bounced from one struggle to the next instead of consistently worrying about them. She would worry about her thoughts, then her gender identity, then her friendships, and start the process over again. It surprised me she never was concerned about them all at once, which isn't an experience I've had with the people I know who have OCD.

A story that struggles to make a lasting impression.

My rating: 3 out of 5

Told in verse, we follow Ariel who is trying to cope with undiagnosed OCD and intrusive thoughts. Ariel has rituals to make sure everyone around them is safe. These thoughts have caused Ariel to isolate herself. An unlikely bond forms between the new girl to Wildwood, Ruth, a long time employ, Rex, and Ariel. Their support and understanding helps Ariel understand she is not alone.

I really enjoy Cole’s writing and representation throughout. Not only is OCD/intrusive thoughts explored, but we see questions surrounding gender and gender rolls/expectations, sexuality, race, religion, death and relationships.

"Ariel Crashes a Train", by Olivia A. Cole is an absolutely unflinching look at how it would feel (or feels) to have OCD. I am familiar with OCD as my grandmother had it, however it presented in a very different form. It was nonetheless debilitating for her- even as a child this was apparent to me.

People who have OCD really suffer and face challenges that are hard for others to even imagine. This book brings that point clearly and efficiently. "Ariel Crashes a Train" also covers issues around sexuality, a woman's place in the world and other topics.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for honest review.