*4.5/5 stars*

This book was so very interesting. Told in journal entries, we quite literally get to read from the mind of schizophrenic teenage boy. It was so well written and well done. I wouldn’t believe you if you told me this was Julia Walton’s first work if I didn’t know that going into it. It was just so good, and so realistic. 100% would recommend, especially for anyone interested in reading about mental illness straight from the mind of someone with one.

Full review here: katelynpdickinson.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/book-review-words-on-bathroom-walls-by-julia-walton-no-spoilers/

Such a great book. I could go on forever about how important the subject matter is but for now I just think everyone should take the time to read this book.

Set up as journal entries to his therapist, Adam shares the ups and downs of struggling with mental illness, changing schools and being a teen.

Adam has schizophrenia, he sees people that aren't there and sometimes he talks with them. But he's starting a new test drug to see if it will help. He's also supposed to go to therapy and talk to his therapist, but he doesn't. They sit in silence and Adam writes him a letter answering the questions that he didn't answer in person. Adam's trying his best, but its hard for him to listen to his mind so when he meets Maya he tries two follow his heart. And that means not telling her about his condition, because for once he just wants to feel like a normal teenage boy.

I loved this book. The display of schizophrenia and the way others viewed him for his illness was impeccable. I loved the structure of the book, they way it was written in journal entries was perfect. I also really enjoyed how medication was discussed and just overall this entire book was wonderful. And as someone who has an Aunt with untreated schizophrenia it was interesting to see Adam interact with his hallucinations knowing they weren't real.

Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes doesn’t always work to understand their reality. Words on Bathroom Walls is the closest thing to walking in the shoes of an adolescent experiencing schizophrenia that many people will ever have a chance to do. It is scary, lonely, hopeful, joyous and so much more. Adam takes us through this tale beautifully.

I read it in less than a day, so I suppose that means I liked it. I struggled with whether to give it a 4 or a 5, but only because I wish things were not so tidy in the end. I'm a lover of the open-ended end, as it were, where I get to decide the future of the book.

Aside from this, however, my tears, my sobs, my aching heart would indicate that this was a very well done book. Very. The chronicle of his experiences and feelings and thoughts gave me the "he's speaking to me" feeling while reading and I loved that. Adam is a wonderful character, too...not wholly lovable or attractive in the traditional sense, but I found myself wanting to grab and hug him so many times. I just love him. I just love his ability to memorize stuff and detach in a way that is clearly not detached and speak about himself as other than himself...he's just so well-crafted a character. I love him.

And I laughed a lot with this book. A lot!!! Dwight's name, the doctor's clothes, Ian naked in the hall? That's genius!!! I am a big fan of this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this long-standing title on my TBR. Adam, recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, transfers to a new high school when he starts a clinical test for a new drug. There he meets his dream girl, from whom he hides his condition. When the drug trial starts to fail though, he has to struggle to keep his visions at bay. Love it for grades 9+.

I read this book really quick and enjoyed it a lot!
It seemed very realistic, not only the schizophrenia but also the relationships between the characters.
The characters seem very well developed and relatable.
The story was not very exciting but it was nice to read.