The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart

Hello visitors of the blog! 

It's Jillian and I'm back!!

I'm back with a review of The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart - a realistic young adult fiction book published this year.  The book explores the topic of mental health awareness, self harm and suicide.  While I don't have triggers toward those topics, some readers might.  I would definitely take that in consideration when reading this book or even this post about the book. 

The Words We Keep is about Lily Larkin, a high school junior who is dealing with a lot of things - all at once.  The reader later learns that Lily is suffering from anxiety but Stewart lays out a path that is easy for the reader to follow when it comes to Lily and what she's battling.  The story starts off with Lily running - she's running to the ocean and she is quickly beckoned home by her older sister, Alice.  Lily finds Alice on the bathroom floor after committing an episode of self harm - I'm going to say that it's self harm because I don't recall Alice's character explicitly saying that she was attempting suicide.  

The story quickly moves into Lily navigating her everyday life; a project in school with a partner who knew Alice in treatment and how Lily is managing her feelings with the entire situation.  The reader picks up early on that Lily is struggling with what is going on (at home and at school) and that she doesn't have a strong support system.  

First and foremost, I believe that this book should come with a trigger warning.  It's transparent in that as you're the reader, you're well aware that the subject of mental health is tackled in this book but it doesn't mention the variety of other things associated with mental health and anxiety that you will read about.  There is no disclosure of suicide attempts; just the sheer amount characteristics associated with anxiety were listed and to be quite frank, it was VERY overwhelming!

An example, Lily would go from the ruminating thoughts to picking her skin to a trying to inflict a severe act of self harm.  Then you had Alice's story which was happening while Lily was having her own stuff going on. 

My overall thought on this book is... that it was just okay.  Even though I found the story to be raw, powerful and beautiful.  The emotions that are worn through this story are ones that you certainly feel.

It kept my attention and I will agree that, that is important but it wasn't my favorite book that I've read recently.   Even though I do me a book that advocates for mental health and mental health awareness.

The story line doesn't pick up until you're more than halfway through reading and then it quickly escalates and then things come to ahead...And you're left wondering why just happened and how you got there...

One thing that I did like about this story was that Stewart showed what happens when a family becomes hyper-focused on addressing one child and ignores everything else.  It also discusses how there is a pressure for the remaining children to stay "perfect" to keep the peace almost. 

- Jillian

Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner- Book Tour

Hi all!

Book Cover is from Amazon Posting

I hope this finds you all well.  It's like day 23 (I think) of quarantine and I think I've been busier during the last 23 days then I have every before- not that I'm complaining.  I've had to work my reading for fun into my required reading for school and my work projects.  

The post is part of a book tour for Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner.  It was sent to us in exchange for an honest review. 

You guys, I can't say enough about this book.  I LOVED IT.  I stayed up way late to finish it two weeks ago (not that there is a thing as a bedtime during quarantine?).  

At just 15 years old, "JL" (Jean Louise) is dealing without on her plate.  Not only is she in that tough spot where she's going apart from her best friend Aubrey, she's dating a guy who's 19 and her mother is in a downward spiral... And did I mention that JL hasn't seen her dad in almost 2 years? 

Yeah.  The poor girl is going through a lot. 

The book is set-up as JL is writing to Aubrey and telling her her side of the story.  The only that she's been able to share.  The letters are from both the present time and what's happened in the past.  

This book was heartbreaking and you were rooting and sympathizing for and with JL the entire time.  You were able to connect with her and feel her pains.  As the reader, you understood her struggles and you understood why she was making her decisions as she was navigating her world by herself.  I would have to say that this is one of the best realistic fiction books that I've read in a very long time.  

Not to mention, at the end, there was a pretty bombshell that JK discovered.  Which, at first I didn't think that I could see coming but as JL is piecing it together, you can see how it was leading up to happen.  (Truth be told, I didn't care for Max after that).

I would totally recommend this book for anyone who's looking for a good story.  I give it 5 coffee beans out of 5 for sure!

Happy Reading!

Stay safe,
Jillian