Engrossing and compelling, like watching a train wreck, Finch's authenticity and vulnerability keep the pages turning and the reader rooting for him to make his way through this world.

Author Jennifer Niven's believable, relatable voices alternate between high school seniors Finch and Violet, but it's Finch's voice that really drives the novel. The author's note provides helpful websites about suicide, mental illness, bullying, and more.ĪLL THE BRIGHT PLACES is a heartbreakingly vivid story that ultimately conveys hope while remaining true to the characters. Some details about different methods of suicide are explored, mostly by weighing the pros and cons of each. Seventeen-year-olds have sex a couple of times, but it's not described. Kissing is mentioned a dozen times or so, and making out with hands under shirts is briefly described once or twice. Lots of strong language includes frequent use of 'a-hole' and 's-t,' and a wide variety of other strong language is used once or twice each. High school seniors wrestle with complex issues, mostly stemming from protagonist Finch's constant thinking about suicide, including the death of a loved one mental illness committing suicide and losing someone to it abuse and adult attitudes toward drinking, sex, and smoking. The message is ultimately hopeful, but the path to finding hope is heartbreaking, and readers should keep a hankie close by. Parents need to know that All the Bright Places is the young-adult debut of the author of the Velva Jean series, and suicide is the central theme. Teens smoke cigarettes, including in a scene during PE with no consequences.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. A teen takes half a bottle of sleeping pills. A main character doesn't like drugs but keeps sleeping pills on hand. A few mentions of high school kids drinking beer at parties.

All the bright places book