Please Be OK: A Story about Addiction

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.