Every Last Word

Examine the way that OCD and mental illness are portrayed in Every Last Word. How does the book de-stigmatize mental illness via its main character, Samantha? Are there other characters that help with this process? 

Swimming is a special activity for Samantha in that the pool is one of the only places she feels completely at ease. Compare how swimming and writing poetry help mitigate and manage her OCD. How are they similar? How are they different? How does the way she use them evolve over time? 

What do we learn about Samantha by her association with the Crazy Eights? Although it is a toxic network of relationships, she has trouble leaving the group. More generally, what can we learn about teenage girls’ socialization through the Crazy Eights? Explain it as it relates to the book’s primary themes.