Stone is an amazing writer.  Especially for writing about a disorder that she doesn’t actually have.  She wrote this book with the help of a close family friend who has OCD and she did a great job portraying what it is like to live with the disorder.  She writes it so that you care about this girl and what she is going through, you want to help her, stick up for her, tell her she’s doing the right thing.  It can be difficult to write a character like that, but Stone has done it.

Samantha/Sam has OCD.  School is really hard for her and in the summer she is like a different person.  This book starts at the beginning of the school year and her therapist wants her to try and be summer Sam during the school year.  While trying to stand up to her friends at lunch, she has a panic attack and ends up in the school auditorium and meets Caroline, who tells her to meet her back there later that week for something that will change her life.  Turns out to be a Poet’s Corner where she can be herself.  But first she has to show the people in the club already that she deserves to be there.

Have you ever had to look around at the friends in your life and decide that they aren’t right for you?  Ever given up some friends for that reason?  This book shows the courage and hardships that come with realizing who you really are.  It’s got parts that will chill you to the bone, and parts that will have you crying for this girl.  You might even discover a love for poetry while reading it.  Overall, and excellent read.