Reggie Houser has the Power

Reggie Houser has the Power is a story of a boy (Reggie), who is navigating life with ADHD. To be honest, it’s really tough for Reggie, always getting into trouble, never being on time, struggling to make friends, feeling lonely and frustrated. All he wants is to be accepted and to be happy, just like his dad and his mates. Luckily Reggie is starting a new school after the summer and sees this as his opportunity to wipe the slate clean. He’ll meet some awesome kids, they’ll think he is equally as awesome, they’ll have a good laugh, but more importantly, they won’t judge him. But how in the world is Reggie going to make this happen?

During a weekend away with his mum, Reggie encounters a hypnotist and thinks this could be the key to solving all his problems. Starting with hypnotising the neighbour’s dog and moving on to the Squealers (the little kids his mum looks after), Reggie feels confident to move on to BIGGER and more exciting things. He will impress the students of his new school and he will be accepted as part of a gang of super cool boys. But are these boys all that Reggie thinks they are cracked up to be? Do they really want to be friends with him for the right reasons? Is Reggie looking too hard for friendships when there could be one staring him in the face?

This story doesn’t shy away from the difficult and unpredictable side of ADHD, but it is brilliant for showing an authentic understanding of what it can feel like to struggle with the condition. Even without having ADHD, most of us can relate to the feeling of not fitting in or being lonely. The little nuggets of info at the beginning of each chapter are particularly clever. They may make you laugh, they may make you think a little harder and some may even help you through tough times (no matter how old you are).

Reggie’s story is one of self-discovery and self-empowerment, told in an original, humorous, and relatable way. I came away from reading this, having not only enjoyed it but feeling like I’d learnt something. A clever, warm, feel-good book that everyone should read, if they want to have the power too.