All The Words I Never Said

Book excerpt: All the Words I Never Said is a collection of poems, letters, and short stories put together by Kenzie Lou after years of experiencing and observing oppression, sexism, love, hate, friendship, hardship, and addiction. These poems began as journal entries that were never meant to be read by another set of eyes. It's this aspect that makes these poems and stories so vulnerable and intimate. Kenzie Lou doesn't hold back and uses full honesty in her writing when expressing how heavily the world can blindly impact people while adding both beauty and personal warfare to their lives. There are also two short stories included in this book: "Ghost" and "The Addiction Effect." "Ghost" is about a friendly ghost who seeks refuge in an abandoned house. One night, a group of curious boys wander into the house. The ghost--fearful that the boys' knowledge of the property might cost him his home--scrambles to find a way to scare the boys away so he can keep his residence. In "The Addiction Effect," Neveah is visited by her ex, Addy. Addy begs and pleads for Neveah to give her a second chance. The two women have been together since they were teenagers and are now in their midtwenties. With all the history and loving memories that the two shared together, Neveah is torn between giving Addy another chance and her fear of being let down once again. Addy begins with loving and sweet pleas for forgiveness. But as Neveah continues to resist, tension builds between the two women, and Neveah is faced with an impossible decision.