Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
My Review
This is an absolutely stunning book. The subject matter is heavy (mental illness and suicide) but it is such an honest, deep story that I highly recommend it, especially for young adults (probably not for preteens unless they are extremely mature).
The characters are heartbreakingly real. The story is one that needs to be told and so often is ignored and swept under the rug. I finished this novel with the same crushed feeling that I felt when I finished The Fault in Our Stars.
The author has had her own personal experiences with mental illness and suicide. And you can tell. Her genuine telling of this story will pull you in and leave you in tears. But when the tears dry, you will still be thinking about Theodore Finch and Ultraviolent Remarkey-able.
Buylink: http://www.amazon.ca/All-Bright-Places-Jennifer-Niven/dp/0385755880
