Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Young Adult Annotation - All the Bright Places


(Image retrieved from: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18460392-all-the-bright-places)


*THIS ANNOTATION CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Author: Jennifer Niven
Title: All the Bright Places
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: 2015
Number of Pages: 383
Geographical Setting: Indiana 
Time Period: 21st Century
Series: Not a Series

Plot Summary: 

Violet and Finch meet at the top of a bell tower of their high school, Violet has decided she doesn't want to live anymore because she is grieving the death of her sister and feels guilty over her death. Finch is fascinated by death and often fantasizes about how he would like to die; he also went up to the bell tower to commit suicide. On that day they save each other from ending their lives. They then begin to develop a friendship after they are paired together for a class assignment that asks them to travel their home state of Indiana. They each share their feelings and personal lives with one another while traveling and they begin to develop a relationship. While Finch helps Violet overcome her depression and hardships, Violet is unable to help Finch with his. Finch deals with depression and issues that are far beyond the reach of anyone's help.

Subject Headings: 

Friendship-Fiction
Suicidal Behavior-Fiction
Emotional Problems-Ficiton
Young Adult Fiction
Indiana-Ficiton

Appeal: 


This book deals with sensitive and real topics that not everyone is comfortable discussing or reading about, but they are real and prevalent issues in today's society. Depression affects many people and suicide due to bullying and depression is becoming more common. Teens and adults will be deeply affected by this book and they will be able to relate to the characters that Niven has created. 


3 Terms That Best Describe This Book: Relatable, Heartbreaking, Beautifully written

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors


Little Indiana: Small Town Destinations by Jessica Nunemaker-This book relates to All the Bright Places because Finch and Violet explored Indiana for their class assignment and visited many different parts of the state. 
I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One by Brook Noel and Pamela Blair- Throughout this book Violet deals with the sudden loss of her sister, this book would be helpful to someone who relates to Violet and has also lost someone they love. 


No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine- This book would be helpful for people who have lost someone they love to suicide. Finch decides to commit suicide in this novel, due to his depression and other circumstances and Violet is deeply affected by his decision.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors


Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon- The topics in this book differ than the ones in All the Bright Places, but the writing style and characters are similar in ways. I think readers would also enjoy this book if they enjoyed Niven's writing style and development of characters. 

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven- This is Niven's second young adult novel and it deals with difficult topics, such as, loss of a loved one, bullying, and depression. 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher- This young adult novel deals with depression, bullying and suicide, much like All the Bright Places, however in this novel it is a girl that commits suicide and the reader knows from the beginning that she has committed suicide.

3 comments:

  1. I agree; this is definitely a relevant topic and I am glad that it is getting so much attention lately. Depression and suicide are real problems and teens need someone to relate to and these characters can give them that. It sounds like a very heartfelt book jam packed with emotion.

    This is going to sound very trivial, but.... there assignment was to travel Indiana? For a high school class? That seems a little far-fetched, but maybe I just don't full grasp the circumstances. Did little things like this throw off the realistic aspect of the book at all or did it seem to fit right in?

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  2. Kate, I almost picked this book to read and annotate. I had it on my short list. I can't wait to read it. This is such a real topic and unfortunately, so many people suffer from depression and suicide. I think a book like this helps teens to relate, and it also brings more awareness to depression/suicide and seeking help.

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  3. Fantastic annotation! This book is still hugely popular at my library. Full points (and I liked your spoilers alert :)

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