This book is probably one of the best books I have ever read! It kept me entertained and always wanting to know more. It was impossible to put down, and so relatable and exciting at the same time. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone is about a high school girl named Samantha McAllister who is part of the popular crowd in her junior class, but there is something about her that nobody else knows. She is dealing with the internal battle of OCD which also causes her a great deal of anxiety. She is obsessed with how other people see her and making her friends happy. She never wants her friends to judge her so hse has to be sure to do everything “right.” When she meets Caroline, she is a breath of fresh air for Sam and she is kind and brings out the best in her. She introduces her to Poets Corner, a hidden room and a group of school outsiders all coming together to support one another, Sam feels seen, heard and cared for, for who she truly is, until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and everything about her…
The Truth Of Mental Health
This book brings mental health into the light to really show what it is like to have a mental disorder like OCD or anxiety. When reading this I felt like I could relate to Sam in this sense. Going through high school with these mental disorders can only make matters worse. Always wanting to fit in with the crowd and be liked by your peers is a struggle. If you step one foot out of line, you are made fun of for it, so there is this constant fear of always doing the right thing so people will like you. Even the small things like, what you eat for lunch, the shoes you wear, and who you have a crush on all matters. I don’t know about you, but I definitely felt this way in high school, and it made my mental health even worse.
Finding An Escape
When the pressure of high school gets too much, it is important to make time to do the things that you love. Finding one thing that makes you happy and practicing it daily can really help you grow to be a stronger person and escape the pressures of high school. Whether it is reading, writing, swimming, running, dancing, singing, or any activity you enjoy, make time to do what you love.
Love
Finding love in high school and at a young age is hard. Having a crush on someone can be difficult because you never know how the other person feels and you are constantly fearing rejection. This book articulates the feeling of crushing on someone in high school, but the fear of the unknown, while also fearing what others think about your crush.
Becoming Your True Self
I loved how this book showed how Sam became her true self and found her passions without caring what other people think of her. It showed how she grew into the woman she wanted to become despite her mental struggles and not caring what her friends thought about her because, at the end of the day, the people that truly love her will accept her for who she is.
I highly recommend this book. If you are interested in YA, this is definitely a must-read. There is so much truth told in this book that everyone should be aware of.
