Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

For her senior year, Amy decides to dump the adult peer partners she has required for her first eleven years of schooling in favor of hiring fellow students to accompany her during the school day and introduce her to other students so she can learn about how to make friends. Matthew signs up.  It is his observation in class one day that Amy only pretends to happy, well-adjusted and thankful for her many blessings that helps her better understand her isolation.  When she confronts him, Matthew is honest,  "It's not your fault that you don't have any friends.  You always have an aide with you.  No one is going to be themselves when there's a teacher standing right there."  Amy is surprised to learn that Matthew has watched her for years, that and his honesty makes her want him as one of her four helpers.

Amy isn't the only one in this relationship with problems, however.  Matthew has OCD, his way of managing a life beset with fears and anxiety.  He hopes that no one notices his habits of tapping lockers or compulsive hand washing.  Amy does, though, and isn't shy about asking him about his behavior, "WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU DO?"  (Amy's dialog, which she writes on her computer,  is always presented in capital letters.)  She sees that he has a pretty serious case of compulsive disorder but that he seems so much more comfortable and relaxed with her.  The story revolves around the growing friendship between them, told through the conversations which reveal much about their secret hopes, fears, and problems.  Amy wants to help Matthew as much as he takes true pleasure in working with her.

McGovern does a great job writing from a "people-first" perspective, presenting her characters as individuals who have a disability but are not defined or stereotyped by that disability.  Amy and Matthew frequently use wit and sarcasm to hide their underlying feelings.  I found it easy to care about them and hope that they could finally be totally honest with each other.  If you liked The Fault in Our Stars, you should enjoy Say What You Will.