Snackz logo
Ariel Crashes a Train

Olivia A. Cole

0 Pages
2025

Ariel Crashes a Train

Random House

Below is just an AI summary! If you really want to learn something:

โšก Free 3min Summary

Ariel Crashes a Train - Summary

In this poignant novel-in-verse, we follow the journey of Ariel, a young woman battling with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and its accompanying violent intrusive thoughts. Feeling out of place in her own skin and struggling to meet her parents' expectations, Ariel takes a summer job at a carnival that unexpectedly opens doors to new friendships and self-discovery. Through lyrical prose and raw emotion, the story explores mental health, self-acceptance, and the courage to seek help when everything seems overwhelming.

Key Themes

1

The Internal Battle with Mental Illness

Living with OCD consumes Ariel's daily existence, manifesting in ritualistic behaviors and unwanted violent thoughts that she desperately tries to control. The author masterfully portrays the intense internal struggle of someone grappling with mental illness while trying to maintain a faรงade of normalcy.

2

Breaking Free from Social Expectations

Ariel's journey involves challenging societal norms and parental expectations while embracing her authentic self. Her struggle with being "too big, too queer, too rough" highlights the universal experience of feeling different and the courage required to accept oneself despite external pressures.

3

The Healing Power of Connection

Through her summer job at the carnival, Ariel discovers that genuine human connections can serve as a lifeline. These new relationships challenge her instinct to isolate herself and demonstrate that vulnerability, while scary, can lead to understanding and acceptance.

FAQ's

The author presents OCD with remarkable sensitivity and authenticity, focusing on both the internal and external manifestations of the condition. The verse format allows for an intimate exploration of Ariel's thought processes while avoiding sensationalization of the disorder.

While written for young adults, the book's mature themes and complex handling of mental health issues make it most suitable for readers aged 14 and up. The content may be triggering for some readers, so parental guidance is recommended.

The novel's unique combination of verse format, carnival setting, and unflinching portrayal of OCD creates a fresh perspective on mental health literature. Its focus on hope and healing while acknowledging the ongoing nature of mental health challenges sets it apart from similar works in the genre.

Enjoyed the sneak peak? Get the full summary!

Explore Books

Savage Messiah

Savage Messiah

How Dr. Jordan Peterson Is Saving Western Civilization

Jim Proser

320 Pages
2020
Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques

Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques

A Contemporary Guide to the Ancient Investment Techniques of the Far East, Second Edition

Steve Nison

321 Pages
2001
The Midnight Feast

The Midnight Feast

Lucy Foley

0 Pages
2024
Othello

Othello

William Shakespeare

136 Pages
1883
Theories of Underdevelopment

Theories of Underdevelopment

Ian Roxborough

198 Pages
1979
The Wretched of the Earth

The Wretched of the Earth

Frantz Fanon

328 Pages
2007
The Pleasures of Philosophy

The Pleasures of Philosophy

A Survey of Human Life and Destiny

Will Durant

446 Pages
1967
Liquid Love

Liquid Love

On the Frailty of Human Bonds

Zygmunt Bauman

178 Pages
2013
The Scarlet Slipper Mystery

The Scarlet Slipper Mystery

Carolyn Keene

160 Pages
1959
Machine Learning For Dummies

Machine Learning For Dummies

John Paul Mueller, Luca Massaron

464 Pages
2021
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Guide Used Car Edition

Kelley Blue Book Consumer Guide Used Car Edition

Consumer Edition

Kelley Blue Book

0 Pages
2016
Happy Place

Happy Place

Emily Henry

401 Pages
2023
Ascension

Ascension

Nicholas Binge

365 Pages
2023
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The Infographics Edition

Stephen R Covey

413 Pages
2016
They Called Us Exceptional

They Called Us Exceptional

And Other Lies That Raised Us

Prachi Gupta

289 Pages
2024
Auf Den Spuren Des Gรถtz Von Berlichingen

Auf Den Spuren Des Gรถtz Von Berlichingen

Karl SCHUMM

28 Pages
1968
The 5 AM Club

The 5 AM Club

Sharma, Robin Shilp Sharma

356 Pages
2018
Cristiano and Leo

Cristiano and Leo

The Race to Become the Greatest Football Player of All Time

Jimmy Burns

0 Pages
2018
The City of Falling Angels

The City of Falling Angels

John Berendt

534 Pages
2006
The Infernal Devices

The Infernal Devices

Clockwork Angel; Clockwork Prince; Clockwork Princess

Cassandra Clare

1485 Pages
2013
All of Me

All of Me

How I Learned to Live with the Many Personalities Sharing My Body

Kim Noble

394 Pages
2012
The Plot Against America

The Plot Against America

Philip Roth

52 Pages
2010
Resurrection Men

Resurrection Men

Ian Rankin

484 Pages
2005
Along Came a Spider

Along Came a Spider

(Alex Cross 1)

James Patterson

454 Pages
2017
ADHD

ADHD

What Everyone Needs to Know

Stephen P. Hinshaw, Katherine Ellison

217 Pages
2016
Sunset

Sunset

--

638 Pages
1926
Bright Signals

Bright Signals

A History of Color Television

Susan Murray

320 Pages
2018
The Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism

The Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism

Buddhism

Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Jack Miles

0 Pages
2017
The Conscious Mind

The Conscious Mind

In Search of a Fundamental Theory

David J. Chalmers

414 Pages
1997
Radical Focus

Radical Focus

Achieving Your Most Important Goals with Objectives and Key Results

Christina Wodtke

254 Pages
2021

Let's find the best book for you!

Get book summaries directly into your inbox!

Join more than 10,000 readers in our newsletter

Snackz book

Discover the Snackz AI catalogue

Snackz logo

The right book at the right time will change your life.

Get the books directly into your inbox!

โœ… New Release

โœ… Book Recommendation

โœ… Book Summaries

Copyright 2023-2025. All rights reserved.