In the spirit of the graduation and the soon-to-be-moving-on period that has consumed campus, I figured a review on Rupi Kaur’s “Milk and Honey” prose novel would be fitting. In her poems, and the included black and white illustrations drawn by herself, Kaur recollects and reflects on the past 21 years of her life.

Every major event that she experienced is separated into one of four parts in the book; either the hurting, the loving, the breaking, or the healing. Again, how relatable of a summation to the high school years.

While the novel is about her life experiences specifically, it provides more than a collection of loose fragments of poems that focus solely on herself. Instead, it offers mature, organized poems that provide platforms for readers to connect to.

The four sections each obviously deal with a different part of life, ranging from healing from past trauma, to soothing a recently crippled heart, to recognizing the inner-strength that everyone has inside of them.

The topics covered, particularly in sections one and three, carry a level of maturity and heaviness along with them. Kaur spends the majority of her first section, the hurting, sharing her own story of the physical, sexual, and psychological abuse she experienced at a very young age.

The third part addresses the rejection and loss of various significant others in her life. That being said, because of the repulsive acts she suffered, and the dark, conflicting thoughts she later had because of them, reader warning is advised.

However, while Kaur covers these harsh topics, she fills the other half of the book with encouraging words of self-worth and acceptance. As she puts it, “‘Milk and Honey’ takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look,” which is precisely what she accomplishes.

Altogether, “Milk and Honey” offers opportunities for needed healing time for readers, and ample moments to reflect on all the ups and downs life presents. Through Kaur’s presentations of her own struggles and eventual recovery, readers are able to work through their own problems and troubles.