The words we keep

If you like high school romance, mental health awareness and lastly poetry inspirations, this book review will be really helpful to you! Well, let’s start, shall we? The book I am introducing is The words we keep by Erin Stewart. This book comprises many surprises that you will find along the way and will also give you inspiration if you are a poet and are currently in a writer's block. Erin Stewart is not a known author around the world but her books are beautifully written. Scars like Wing is her first and debut novel, following suit with the book, the words we Keep. 

The words we keep are about the dear main character, Lily, and the second main character, Micah,  overcoming different challenges that will test their friendship with each other. Lily has been trying to act and become the perfect daughter, athlete and student since her sister, Alice, was found hurting herself due to the overwhelming feelings stuck in her head. However, this does not last for long. Alice is coming back from rehab and Micah, who has been with Alice in treatment before, has entered Lily's life. This group started discovering each other’s secret. 

One of the poems that I liked from the book is: 

Fight or Flight                  

That's what they say.     when you do not want to live,

So what do you do        and you don't want to die

When your body 

Is too weak                    But your flight has left

When your mind            drop by drop by drop 

Is too crowded               and the only thing left to do is to fly. 

And your lungs

are out of air ?

When you’re tired 

Of waging war

On yourself?

My personal opinion is that this is one of the books I will recommend to you whether you are stuck in a writer’s block, love reading high school romance and last but not least mental health awareness. As now it has been deteriorating in the new generations and this book is a book that will give us comfort and the perspective of people suffering from anxiety and depression.  What are you waiting for? Go and read this book and enjoy it like me!

Klara Tan

Secondary 2 Truth

2025