And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

I love poetry. I hate poetry. I love poetry. I hate poetry….I love poetry that I can understand, not those deep poems with hidden meanings. And for some inexplicable reason, it is comforting to both write and read poetry.

In And We Stay, Jennifer Hubbard’s second novel after Paper Covers Rock, Emily Beam’s ex-boyfriend, Paul, shoots himself in the school library while standing in front of her. Did he mean to do it all along? Did the fact that she broke up with him two days before (on her birthday, December 10) spur him to do it, or was it inevitable? In the aftermath of this tragedy, Emily’s parents enroll her in Amherst School for Girls, hundreds of miles away from what appears to be their Midwest home (although the state is never mentioned).

There’s always a story surrounding a mid-year transfer, but Emily doesn’t want to share her secret(s). She stays aloof from her roommate, K.T. and other kids in school. However, when a teacher gives her a book of poems by Emily Dickinson, it reinvigorates Emily’s B.’s poetic desires. She becomes obsessed and inspired by Ms. Dickinson, who shares birthdays with our Emily.

In a marvelous fashion combining prose and poetry, Jennifer Hubbard fleshes out Emily Beam. In flashbacks, she recreates Emily and Paul’s relationship, how it started and what led to that fateful event. She describes Emily’s growth and her ultimate connection to her new schoolmates. Her poems are beautiful and add an aura to the story that would be sorely missed without them. Emily, K.T., Paul and all the supporting characters have real personalities. Emily’s transformation is evident.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like And We Stay, and despite all the positive reviews, I hesitantly began reading, at which point I was sold. And We Stay should be on everyone’s reading list.