Samantha McAllister, a junior at her high school, is considered to be just like her popular friends- glamorous and 'normal'. But she isn't. Samantha (or Sam, as she likes to be called) does not consider herself normal because of the secret she hides. For as long as she has known them, Sam has kept her purely obsessional Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)- which consumer all her thoughts, all the time- from her friends because they would surely not understand her situation.
So, when Caroline, her new closest friend, introduces her to a secret poetry group at their school called "Poet's Corner"- where she can freely express herself and learns how to stand up for herself, she's all in!
Little does she know that Caroline meant it when she said that it would turn her world upside down..
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone has definitely been a riveting read for me! It had moments that seemed distinctly young adult-like, but it also had other times when the writing was so meaningful, insightful, and perceptive that it seemed to go beyond the typical teenage and high school clichés (that give YA its bad rep) it includes in its plot.
I've read almost 80 novels about teens or high school, according to my reading journal for this year- considering that's only one of the genres I've read, that's a significant number! This is why I can state with certainty that it's a rare day indeed that I come across a young adult novel in this genre with an overly emotional storyline and even more overly sentimental dialogues. Seriously there were a few quotes from the characters in the book that I found to be really appealing as a reader: “You look around at the people in your life, one by one, choosing to hold on to the ones who make you stronger and better, and letting go of the ones who don't.” and “I didn’t go there looking for you. I went looking for me. But now, here you are, and somehow, in finding you, I think I’ve found myself.”
The book focuses on the protagonist Samantha's life and the challenges she faces with her OCD, all while connecting it to everyday problems faced as a teenager involving friendships and relationships- considering this is the age group Tamara aims to appeal to. This book offered excellent explanations of the issues covered and offered me a genuine understanding of what it's like to have such little control over your thoughts as someone who knows nothing about this condition. Although, I do think that more instances of her sickness should have been mentioned; halfway through the book, her disorder was barely portrayed and got buried under the teenage issues presented. Her condition was rarely mentioned halfway through the novel and was overshadowed by the teenage troubles that were discussed. This could have been better, because there were moments when I almost forgot that Sam had OCD! (So, if OCD-related storyline was your preferred theme, I'd recommend reading Teresa Toten's The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B). Personally, I can't help but dwell on a flaw I notice while reading something, no matter how tiny. For example, it bothered me that Sam had kept her OCD a secret from her closest friends for more than ten years, despite the fact that she spends all of her time with them; in some cases, OCD-related behavioural symptoms are difficult to conceal, such as Sam's obsession with the number three, which causes her to scratch the back of her neck three times among other behaviours. Again, I have to mention that I am no expert in this field and so, I'm not aware if this is true for all cases!
Additionally, I commend the author for the novel's ingenious use of a flashback that Sam didn't particularly want to be reminded of. It presents Samantha and the roles that individuals play in her life with regard to OCD in a way that proves a point- the book will have you interested until the very end.
A major plot- twist occurs after around 4/5th of the book, which I truly loved as someone who adores nothing more than a protagonist experiencing a life-changing 'AHA' moment! I can't talk about this directly since I don't want to give the plot away, but I had a tiny quibble with the narrative surprise because it didn't particularly have to do with Sam's purely- obsessional OCD. But I should also point out that the book's later sections, which revealed how Sam was dealing were quite emotional (yes, I cried!) and helped readers develop a connection with it.
I understand that some people who may be struggling with this mental illness would find the portrayal in this book to be unrealistic, and I can see how different readers might be split on their perspectives of some of the topics given. I will say, I feel that it was handled better in this book than in others I have read in the past- I think Tamara Ireland Stone did a wonderful job of expressing this important subject to the readers in a lovely way.
Without a doubt, I'd recommend this book to any teen who is interested in the topics it explores, as well as to any interested adult. There’s something really special and unique to this story that defies the boundaries of age gaps and will have me remembering it for months to come!
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