Words We Keep

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The Words We Keep is a luminous exploration into the restorative power of love and art. The only thing it contains more of than poetry is raw, unfiltered hope. This book is a healing balm to a wounded heart. “ —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award–winning author of In the Wild Light

This is a five star read, clear and simple. Tissues were required. I was obsessed with listening to this. I was invested way too much in these characters and the reader was amazing too. It’s been three months since the Night on the Bathroom Floor—when Lily found her sister, Alice, hurting herself. Since then, Lily has been trying to be the perfect daughter, friend, student and athlete. But now Alice is coming home from her treatment program and it’s becoming harder for Lily to outrun her feelings. Especially when she meets Micah, a guy with a troubled past of his own. However, there are some problematic elements in the book, and the portrayal of mental illness might be outdated. The story takes place in a modern school setting, but there is no aspect of counseling or therapy for the family, not even for Lily, who found her sister before their father rushed Alice to the hospital. A gorgeous and deeply touching rumination on the power of art, this book is for anyone who has lost their words and lost their way. The Words We Keep is a tender, heartfelt, and realistic look at mental illness, familial love, and finding your voice.” —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and You’d Be Home Now Lily’s development and descent as the story progressed was heavy, and at times, difficult to read, but laced within every word chosen was an authentic battle and vulnerability that had my heart aching. Her anxiety and thoughts were well-laid, and, though I expect there will be those who question her choices and character, I believe Stewart has done a great job in shaping a real character in whom many will felt seen.A beautifully realistic, relatable story about mental health and the healing powers of art—perfect for fans of Girl in Pieces and How it Feels to Float. It is superrr emotional and very real for a YA book so just beware! I mean i always love a good ol’ YA sad book. They just always hit in the perfect way, especially this one. While rereading the words we keep i had forgot pretty much everything and so it felt like reading it for the first time again. Which is always so satisfying!

Enter Micah, a new student at school with a past of his own. He was in treatment with Alice and seems determined to get Lily to process not only Alice's experience, but her own. Because Lily has secrets, too. Compulsions she can't seem to let go of and thoughts she can't drown out. As if I didn’t stay up until two a.m. writing these poems--and rewriting them. Every time I thought I was done, there was a smudge or weird spacing or a million other reasons to start again, over and over, until they were perfect. Two months after the Night of the Bathroom Floor, it comes to my attention that I’m losing my shit at an alarming rate. In the sink, the red spirals away, but not the echo of her whispered help me. It fills my head, and I want to drown it out with screams. But I can’t. I need to be strong. For Alice. For Dad. I find her on the bathroom floor. She reaches out to me, razor loosely in hand, words repeating on her lips:

Anyways i also love how poetry is such a big part of the book! I’ve always loved reading poetry and i even like to write, i’m just not that good. I also relate a lot to every single poem. When Lily and Micah embark on an art project for school involving finding poetry in unexpected places, she realizes that it's the words she's been swallowing that desperately want to break through. Lily, the main character was honestly so relatable. Reading what she’s going through almost made me cry because I resonate to her anxiety a lot. I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book as well. I really like Micah’s character, he’s one of the best love interests I’ve read. Note: give me a brooding, male artist with a troubled past any day and I’ll love him to bits, and that’s exactly what I did with Micah. I was captivated by Lily’s narration and how her inner thoughts, the monsters, would just jump in when they wanted to. There were words that she wanted to say to her family and friends, but wouldn’t and instead of just thinking them, they’d be off to the side with a strikeout through them to indicate she was scared to reveal how she really felt. The use of poetry in the book was perfect to show her struggle with anxiety and trying to not let the monsters win.

This is a story of family, of expectations, of extraordinary mental health challenges and of survival. There should probably be trigger warnings, suicide, overdosing, cutting are all part of this journey. For those who've been waiting for another book as powerful as All the Bright Places, then this is that book. And it even references some of those wonderful books that YA lovers have embraced for this type of book, the heart wrenching and the troubled, books like Everything Everything and The Sun is Not a Star, books we've loved and loved to share with students. Gorgeous and deeply touching.' – Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and You'd Be Home Now A beautifully realistic, relatable story about mental health and the healing powers of art–perfect for fans of Girl in Pieces and How it Feels to Float. When Lily and Micah embark on an art project for school involving finding poetry in unexpected places, she realizes that it’s the words she’s been swallowing that desperately want to break through.

What the hell, dude?” he yells, jumping up as a wet circle forms on his crotch. But the new kid is already walking away, hands raised like it’s out of his control. Go away, I say. But my voice is tiny and no match for monsters.” (an excerpt from the poem Monsters) p.155 I’m pretty sure I know exactly what that was about, but I’m not about to spill my guts right here, with Damon just waiting for some juicy morsel of gossip. He’d just love to know where my sister’s been these last few months. The Germans have a word for it--schadenfreude--finding joy in the misery of others. And I’m not going to give all my über-competitive classmates the satisfaction. So don’t tell me it’s just one grade or one solo or one anything. It’s a never-ending domino effect to success, and if one piece is off, only the slightest bit not perfect, the whole thing goes to hell.”