School Library Journal Review

Gr 10 Up-This powerful story is told through the alternating voices of high school seniors Finch and Violet, who meet atop the school bell tower, both contemplating a jump to their deaths. Nearly a year after the death of her sister in an auto accident, which she survived, Violet is plagued with guilt and fear, despite being beautiful and popular. Finch, on the other hand, is labeled a "freak" by classmates because of his occasional bizarre behavior. Although Violet is out of his league, Finch pursues her and, with time, his quirkiness attracts her. As Violet falls in love with Finch, she and readers see glimpses of Finch careening out of control. Besides his suicidal tendencies, his counselor suggests he may be bipolar, which pushes him to withdraw further from normal activities. The voices of Finch and Violet are convincingly read by Kirby Heyborne and Ariadne Meyers. The thoughts and words of these intelligent teens ring true, as does the current-day setting. Episodes in this story involving sex make this selection most appropriate for older teens. VERDICT A poignant, but ultimately hopeful, exploration of some emotionally tough issues, to which many teens will relate.-Ann Weber, Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA © Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.