The following article originally appeared in Juniata High School's newspaper The Arrowhead.  

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone is a compelling story that offers true insight into the mind of someone with a version of OCD that’s less talked about, overlooking its common stereotypes. It has appeal for everyone, as it ranges from a romantic storyline to having trouble with friendships to discovering a new passion that you never knew you had.

Samantha often wonders if she’s going crazy. She can’t trust her own friends, the friends she’s had for years, with what she’s going through. Every Wednesday, she goes to see her therapist. With Samantha, everything has to be in threes. When she drives, the odometer has to stop on a three. She has to knock on a door three times. Then, when she gets sick of her friends and eats lunch in the auditorium, a girl named Caroline takes Samantha to a place called Poet’s Corner. There, the walls are plastered with words, and the people are accepting. Poet’s Corner becomes her refuge and Caroline, her confidante - everything seems to be looking up. However, maybe it’s time for Samantha to ask herself if she’s going crazy again.

Every Last Word is easily my favorite read of 2017 so far. It shows how much you may think the people and things around you are helpful but in reality are really just barely keeping you afloat or maybe even hurting you. It gives amazing awareness to mental illness and the fact that all of the strength someone has built up can quickly come crashing down. Every Last Word deserves all the praise it gets.

By Haylee Yocum