Finch and Violet are standing on the ledge of the bell tower on campus. Neither is sure how the other just appeared there – they each thought they were alone. But now the whole school is talking about them being on the ledge together. All Finch and Violet know is that the world got a little brighter when they were up there together. With months till graduation, that meeting changes their lives forever.
Award-winning author Jennifer Niven delivers a poignant look inside the teenage psyche in her book All The Bright Places. This novel follows the mental health journey of several teenage characters with an honest and realistic look into suicidal tendencies and depression. Nivens shows how both friend and family group dynamics impact mental health, and various coping techniques common among teens. This is a book about the importance of seeing our kids and their internal struggles, and the importance of normalizing the discussion around mental health.
I give All the Bright Places 3 out of 5 stars. If you have followed along with our site long, you’ll know that I have a soft spot for authors and books who tackle the difficult topic of mental health. There is such a stigma around this topic, especially in our children. I appreciate the honest and real look at group talk therapy and PTSD. However, I was absolutely unprepared for the end of Finch’s storyline. It also felt a bit too much like a Hallmark movie towards the end with the little surprises Finch leaves for Violet. I did like the book, but this is not one I’d bring up to friends unless they did first.
With plenty of discussion around mental health, suicide, and loss, I would recommend this novel for mature audiences over 16. There is also some discussion of teen relationships and sex. I would recommend this book to parents with teens struggling with mental health, as well as educators and medical professionals working with at risk teens. However, I would caution readers against this book if they are in a sensitive place mentally – this book has a lot of triggering moments.
I chose All the Bright Places for the US States reading challenge prompt Indiana. I had heard about this book quite a bit over the past few years. It was awarded the Goodreads Best Young Adult Fiction in 2015 and was nominated for multiple other awards. This book was a great choice for this prompt because if talks through some of the random roadside attractions in the state. If you’re looking for a great book set in Indiana – I think you’ll like this one, too!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Anxious People, Fredrik Backman
- Current audio book: Summers at the Saint, Mary Kay Andrews
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Rich People Problems, Kevin Kwan
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