All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places opens with two high school students, Finch and Violet, literally standing on the edge/ledge and contemplating their futures. From there, we learn about their relationships with family and peers and “wander” with them about the Midwest for a school project as they gradually build trust and move beyond friendship to an intimate romantic relationship. This book is beautifully written – one of the best I have read in the past year – and evokes many emotions. I so enjoyed “meeting” Finch and loved the tenderness with which he treats Violet. He is truly a memorable character. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is a book that teachers, counselors, and many parents should read. Why, then, am I not comfortable with promoting this excellent book to students (even 10th grade and older as suggested in School Library Journal’s starred review)?

The essence of depression, bipolar disorder and contemplation of suicide is handled deftly by Niven’s writing, but it includes many specific details and actions compared to other fiction books in our collection which deal with these sensitive topics.  In some ways, All the Bright Places makes me think of A Man Called Ove but that one deals with a much older person, not high school teens who are so much more relatable to our students. In the author’s notes, Niven herself notes, “For a long time, it was too painful to even think about, much less talk about, but it is important to talk about what happened.”  I plan instead to recommend and share All the Bright Places with adults on our social work staff and have already spoken with representatives of Erika’s Lighthouse – an organization formed to “get depression out of the dark.”  They will have more professional expertise to put this book into the right hands – adult or teen – where it can make a difference in understanding and coping.

I know that All the Bright Places, like Thirteen Reasons Why, will be very popular, especially if the promised movie is produced. I applaud Jennifer Niven for her bravery and honest portrayal in tackling the tough issues of bullying, labels, and mental health and will look for titles by this very talented author. I hope that she and publisher Random House will use the interest in All the Bright Places to actively share timely information like the November 2014 School Library Journal article “Books that Help” about bibliotherapy for teens, or the many excellent articles from Phi Delta Kappan’s December 2014 issue on Learning and Mental Health or the teen-friendly and doctor-reviewed materials posted at TeensHealth.org. The list could go on and All the Bright Places has already made a start by including a short appendix with other recommended sites and organizations. As Niven says,
.

“If you think something is wrong, speak up. 

You are not alone.

 It is not your fault. 

Help is out there.”

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Friendship, relationships, journeys, family, siblings, mental health, death, survivor's guilt, and suicide are major themes in All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. These serious topics are handled with warmth, concern, humor, and genuine emotion. Finch and Violet meet each other in the oddest of places, support one another in the best of ways, bring out laughter, hope, and love from deep within, and illustrate a true sense of humanity that is hard to find in the world around us.

I laughed, I hoped, I cried, and I turned the pages through the story, only to turn back to earlier pages for significant lines and ideas.

I think this book could be read by all teenagers, even boys (despite the cover that is more oriented towards girls), and adults, too.  The themes relate and apply to adult-life just as much, with a significant dose of thought-provoking topics. 

Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff

There is so much emotional pain and growth in Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff. This novel, set in a contemporary high school, is simultaneously full of astute introspection and denial or avoidance. Places No One Knows is a powerful read by a talented author.

The story is told in alternating voices by Waverly Camdenmar and Marshall Holt. She is the seemingly perfect girl who excels at academics and cross-country running, but she cannot sleep and at times seems barely in touch with reality.  He is dealing with a dysfunctional family by self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, hoping to feel less sensitive while also gaining a reputation as a loser. 

Somehow, they find each other – sort of. Waverly's dreams lead them to meet at night; ignoring each other during the school day. Each shares secrets – places no one knows – as they deal with the angst of being an older teenager – concerns about self-identity ("the gap between myself and the facade of myself must be growing exponentially"), family, truth, manipulative friends, peer pressure – and more peer pressure ("if you can prove someone else is a disaster, you never have to let them see what's wrong with you."). Places No One Knows has been called “achingly real” and is a very moving story with well-developed characters beyond Waverly and Marshall.  On her website, Yovanoff says, "It's about boys and girls and ideas and feelings and the towering shower of sparks that happens when all those things collide."

We will certainly be booktalking this title next Fall, particularly for fans of All the Bright Places or We Were Liars. Places No One Knows received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.

The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd

THE MUSEUM OF US by Tara Wilson Redd is one of those books which I am definitely looking forward to discussing with other readers. The writing in this debut young adult novel is magical. I loved the first half of this book where readers meet Sadie and experience her fantastic imagination:

“George didn’t sit with her in the library. Why would he, when there were pages and pages to explore? She followed him down into the depths of the catacombs of Paris, and to the top of the world’s highest mountains. She sat alone, though she was never truly alone. After all, she wasn’t really there.”

But about halfway through, the novel turns very dark with a surprising cutting incident and Sadie subsequently grapples with intense emotional pain as she eventually chooses between George in her fantasy world and her loyal support system including boyfriend Henry and best friend Lucie. Like All the Bright Places, THE MUSEUM OF US may be emotionally difficult to read in part, but it will prompt some important, reflective discussions. As Sadie muses, “you have to wonder, is it fate or could we have changed it? .... Life only goes one direction, and this moment, and the next moment, once they’re in the past you can’t change them....” “What happens to all those forgotten thoughts? If no one remembers something, did it even really happen?”  “What happens to a thought when you are not thinking it?”

Tara Wilson Redd’s THE MUSEUM OF US received a starred review from School Library Journal: “Readers will identify strongly with Sadie and her journey as she struggles to cope with trauma and let go of her secrets.” Here's a related story in the news recently: I’m Not OK app developed by teens using technology to help those struggling with depression and anxiety.