Inside cover blurb:
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.
Thoughts:
The first thing that comes to mind: this book means well. It confronts a variety of difficult topics from grief and depression to physical abuse, and does so in a fairly believable and relatable way.
Overall, the alternating narrative style combined with a high drama plot made this novel extremely readable. I would recommend it to any lover of contemporary YA.
Plus: A positive example of what to do when faced with a loved one’s mental illness. A mean girl redemption.
Minus: Verging on manic pixie dream boy territory. Predictability factor high.
If you like this book, try:
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson