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All the Bright Places is a heartbreaking novel about two high school students

whose relationship changes the way they both perceive reality. For seventeen

year old Violet Markey life seems to be at a stand still, filled with trivial events

and trivial people. After the death of her older sister, Violet feels broken and

confused about her own identity. She doubts the person she used to be and

wishes to break out of the prison she feels confined in. Theodore Finch on the

other hand is an energetic yet seemingly odd boy who suffers from Bipolar

disorder. He just wants to be loved and to be the farthest thing from normal

his town has ever seen. The day the two meet (a day on which both kids were

planning to kill themselves) Violet’s entire world flips upside down. She begins

to see meaning in her life again through Finch’s odd personality. As Violet and

Finch’s relationship blooms, life begins to seem worth living to Violet, but

Finch’s world continues to crumble.

I loved this book, but I was heartbroken and sobbing about it for weeks after.

The novel has a way of resonating with the reader through the characters.

Theodore Finch’s character is all over the place, and his spontaneous actions

filled the book with a sense of adventure. He is silly and fun and unlike any

other character I have ever read before. His thought process is unique and

entertaining, and the way he cares for Violet is beautiful. He loves her selflessly

and makes her well being his top priority. Not only does he care so selflessly for

Violet, but also for everyone else in his life. He puts everyone else’s well being

before himself, which is both admirable and a fatal flaw. Though the book is a

love story, it has so much more to offer than just a typical boy-meets-girl

relationship. Readers watch as Finch suffers and sinks further into his

depression and see Violet slowly become the woman she wants to be.

The book really focuses in on what it would be like to live with Bipolar

disorder. As someone who does not have this disorder, it was almost a rude

awakening to see how much Finch had to go through and deal with on a daily

basis. I was left thinking about him for months after the I read it. Just like

Finch, so many people suffer with mental health, but have no access to outside

help. (Another thing I will say is that the author does not have bipolar disorder

herself, but did do extensive research on it. So I am not sure how accurate the

book is at portraying the disorder.)

I also liked how realistic the relationships in the book are. Niven’s portrayal of

the average teenage friendship was freakishly accurate. As Violet grows as a

person, she begins to see the selfishness and toxicity of her so called “friends”.

Violet saw first hand how the people she used to love to be around now drive

her crazy and that her old life is nothing like the one she wants to live in the

future. The situations Violet encounters are very much like ones regular kids

encounter today.

This book was excellent. But I am warning you don’t read this book and expect

a happy ending. Its a realistic story about grief and relationships and mental

health that is going to scar you (in a heart-wrenching yet beautiful way).

Checkout All the Bright Places from the Newport Beach Public Library.