A review by jedore
Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Real is subjective. There are a lot of things that aren't actually real to everyone. Pain, for example. It's only real to the one experiencing it. Everyone else has to take your word for it.

This young adult fiction book is about Adam Petrazelli, a teenager dealing with schizophrenia. The story is told through Adam's raw and personal journal entries to his therapist. 

Adam's hallucinations make it hard for him to tell what's real, but he's trying to fit in at high school, keep his family life together, and have a relationship with a girl named Maya.

If you love well-written young adult fiction, this book is a must-read. Julia Walton does an amazing job of creating a story that feels real and relatable, while also tackling the tough topic of mental health in a way that's both sensitive and insightful.

I learned so much about schizophrenia from this book. It really opened my eyes to what it's like living with this condition. Adam's experiences are intense and sometimes terrifying, and the way Walton describes his hallucinations and his struggle to differentiate between reality and delusion is both powerful and educational. My empathy for anyone grappling with this illness grew tenfold. 

Adam’s fear of the future really hit me. Not only does he not know if the experimental drug he’s taking will keep working, but he has no idea what his future holds. That kind of uncertainty is horrifying to me!

This book is a quick read, which is perfect if you’re looking for something you can get through in a few days. The journal entry format and Walton's easy writing style make it hard to put down.

I’m excited to see the movie adaptation. The story and characters are so vivid that I think they'll translate well to the screen. If you haven't read "Words on Bathroom Walls" yet, I highly recommend it. It’s entertaining, thought-provoking, and it’ll stick with you long after you’ve finished. 
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