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A review by penguinjv
Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton
5.0
4.5 rounding up to 5.
Told in diary format to his therapist or doctor, the MC, Adam, is in an experimental drug trial for his schizophrenia. A previous incident has made starting at a new school a better idea for Adam, and so he enrolls in St. Agatha's. Adam deals with bullies (rich kid Ian; his dad is on the school board and they have buildings named after them) while making friends with Dwight and carving out a relationship with Maya. Initially, the drug is very promising, but eventually stops working and Adam must be weened off of it. Scared of having his secret revealed, Adam makes some dubious choices that impact others.
Violence: some: bullying; some related to Adam's voices and hallucinations
Language: medium
Drugs/Drinking: I don't remember any specific incidences
Sexual Content: Yes. Discussion of masturbation and Adam and Maya have sex after dating for several months. He is thoughtful and safe regarding their experience.
Diversity/Other: Dwight was conceived through artificial insemination (older woman wanted a child- I just thought it was interesting) and Maya is Filipino.
Adam's stepdad Paul demonstrates kindness and love, especially since he and Adam's mom become pregnant in the middle of the story. Adam writes about his feelings with the baby, the fact that his mom is having sex :), and Paul's horrid, racist mother.
The Newtown Connecticut shooting also plays a role in the story and I thought the author did an interesting and clever job relating Adam's illness to the public's perception and assumptions related to mental illness. How we fear what we don't know and want to control and remove those fears before we can check if they are really worth decimating.
Adam's feelings and thoughts are interesting and thoughtful. The description of the voices and hallucinations were fascinating. I think this is an excellent novel detailing living with a mental illness.
One of Adam's hallucinations crushes cookies and drops the crumbs in front of Adam, and Adam documents:
But, Adam, at this point, didn't you know he was a hallucination? Why, yes, Professor, I did. The same way I know that there are no monsters under my bed. But that doesn't mean I let my feet dangle over the edge either. It's difficult to know anything with absolute certainty, especially with a very real hallucination staring back at me. p202
Booklist, Kirkus, and PW all rate ages 12/13+ or grade 7+
SLJ says grade 10+
Told in diary format to his therapist or doctor, the MC, Adam, is in an experimental drug trial for his schizophrenia. A previous incident has made starting at a new school a better idea for Adam, and so he enrolls in St. Agatha's. Adam deals with bullies (rich kid Ian; his dad is on the school board and they have buildings named after them) while making friends with Dwight and carving out a relationship with Maya. Initially, the drug is very promising, but eventually stops working and Adam must be weened off of it. Scared of having his secret revealed, Adam makes some dubious choices that impact others.
Spoiler
Violence: some: bullying; some related to Adam's voices and hallucinations
Language: medium
Drugs/Drinking: I don't remember any specific incidences
Sexual Content: Yes. Discussion of masturbation and Adam and Maya have sex after dating for several months. He is thoughtful and safe regarding their experience.
Diversity/Other: Dwight was conceived through artificial insemination (older woman wanted a child- I just thought it was interesting) and Maya is Filipino.
Adam's stepdad Paul demonstrates kindness and love, especially since he and Adam's mom become pregnant in the middle of the story. Adam writes about his feelings with the baby, the fact that his mom is having sex :), and Paul's horrid, racist mother.
The Newtown Connecticut shooting also plays a role in the story and I thought the author did an interesting and clever job relating Adam's illness to the public's perception and assumptions related to mental illness. How we fear what we don't know and want to control and remove those fears before we can check if they are really worth decimating.
Adam's feelings and thoughts are interesting and thoughtful. The description of the voices and hallucinations were fascinating. I think this is an excellent novel detailing living with a mental illness.
One of Adam's hallucinations crushes cookies and drops the crumbs in front of Adam, and Adam documents:
But, Adam, at this point, didn't you know he was a hallucination? Why, yes, Professor, I did. The same way I know that there are no monsters under my bed. But that doesn't mean I let my feet dangle over the edge either. It's difficult to know anything with absolute certainty, especially with a very real hallucination staring back at me. p202
Booklist, Kirkus, and PW all rate ages 12/13+ or grade 7+
SLJ says grade 10+