All the Bright Places

Theodore Finch wonders, at the open of the book, “is today a good day to die?” Instead he meets and “saves” Violet Markey from the ledge of the school bell tower. What is with YA meet-cutes that have to include someone near death?

The whole book feels wholly manipulative with an IMPORTANT message for all teens. And certainly I can't argue the sentiment about raising awareness around suicide. I especially like that Jennifer Niven includes resources for teens that may be wrestling with issues of depression and suicide as an appendix to the book. But otherwise I'm left wondering why are all the parents here are criminally hamstrung, blind and hapless while the teens are just all the feels.

I am the aged curmudgeon wondering why everything has to be so overwrought and melodramatic. On a completely unrelated note, I currently live with 3 teenagers.