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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Konisberg created a compelling read with a structure that I've never really read in a book before.
This book has four parts all stemming from an initial incident. Each of the four parts travels down the path of what would happen in four different scenarios all having to do with two teenagers who had never met before one day when they encounter each other on the titular bridge. When you get to the end of the book, Konisberg does not tell you which was the "real" story because in the end, they all are.
I really appreciated how he handled that as well as the way he explored the effects of the main characters choices on the people around them.
One of the few things that kept me from rating this five stars is the third perspective, the one in which Konisberg considers what would happen to those left behind if both teenagers chose to jump. In this perspective, the timeline spans multiple decades with only brief glimpses into the lives of those left behind. He also has some references to futuristic elements which do not seem real at all, rather they feel contrived and a bit ridiculous. I understand what he was trying for but wish that he had not gone as far in the future as he did in that particular portion of the book.
Ultimately, I really appreciated the seriousness with which he handled this sensitive issue as well as the normalization of the struggles that these teenagers endure.
I do recommend this book, with content warnings of course.
This book has four parts all stemming from an initial incident. Each of the four parts travels down the path of what would happen in four different scenarios all having to do with two teenagers who had never met before one day when they encounter each other on the titular bridge. When you get to the end of the book, Konisberg does not tell you which was the "real" story because in the end, they all are.
I really appreciated how he handled that as well as the way he explored the effects of the main characters choices on the people around them.
One of the few things that kept me from rating this five stars is the third perspective, the one in which Konisberg considers what would happen to those left behind if both teenagers chose to jump. In this perspective, the timeline spans multiple decades with only brief glimpses into the lives of those left behind. He also has some references to futuristic elements which do not seem real at all, rather they feel contrived and a bit ridiculous. I understand what he was trying for but wish that he had not gone as far in the future as he did in that particular portion of the book.
Ultimately, I really appreciated the seriousness with which he handled this sensitive issue as well as the normalization of the struggles that these teenagers endure.
I do recommend this book, with content warnings of course.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
good just not show stopping
More reviews on my Insta: https://www.instagram.com/hadias_bookstop
Tillie is being bullied because of her weight. Aaron wants everybody to love him and his songs. Both think the world is better off without them. Both end up at the George Washington Bridge, with the intention to jump.
Tillie is being bullied because of her weight. Aaron wants everybody to love him and his songs. Both think the world is better off without them. Both end up at the George Washington Bridge, with the intention to jump.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really intrigued by the concept and also think this is a great message and can give a lot to different people struggling with this topic.
My 2.5 Stars are my personal enjoyment and opinion. This really wasn’t for me.
At the beginning I was really into it. But the further I read, the more frustrated and bored I got. Don’t get me wrong there certainly were emotional and impactful scenes but I found myself not being emotionally invested in the characters overall at all.
I often had the feeling, that I only saw the author wanting to make it emotionally impactful.
It took me ages to finish it. After the halfway point we didn’t really get anything new. All the realizations we’ve already been through, and the thing I was interested in ist seeing the surroundings (which we got in Part 3 and I liked the most) but the truths the characters learned were repetitive? The writing wasn’t my taste at all but has nothing to do with the book generally. I would have loved to see the impact on family and friends with such a topic. Or more like: what does their life look like in coming years (in all parts! Not just part 3). A few parts felt very ‚look-how-sad-your-family-will-be‘ what a lot of people in those situations get to hear often and it rarely helps that person.
I really tried to connect to the characters. But I couldn’t.
All in all a solid YA Novel that I see being helpful to a certain audience.
Please reach out in ways you are able to if you are in this or similar situations! Talk to loved ones and find things as small or big as you want to help you get through this. You will!
My 2.5 Stars are my personal enjoyment and opinion. This really wasn’t for me.
At the beginning I was really into it. But the further I read, the more frustrated and bored I got. Don’t get me wrong there certainly were emotional and impactful scenes but I found myself not being emotionally invested in the characters overall at all.
I often had the feeling, that I only saw the author wanting to make it emotionally impactful.
It took me ages to finish it. After the halfway point we didn’t really get anything new. All the realizations we’ve already been through, and the thing I was interested in ist seeing the surroundings (which we got in Part 3 and I liked the most) but the truths the characters learned were repetitive? The writing wasn’t my taste at all but has nothing to do with the book generally. I would have loved to see the impact on family and friends with such a topic. Or more like: what does their life look like in coming years (in all parts! Not just part 3). A few parts felt very ‚look-how-sad-your-family-will-be‘ what a lot of people in those situations get to hear often and it rarely helps that person.
I really tried to connect to the characters. But I couldn’t.
All in all a solid YA Novel that I see being helpful to a certain audience.
Please reach out in ways you are able to if you are in this or similar situations! Talk to loved ones and find things as small or big as you want to help you get through this. You will!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Grief
I sit alone
in my corner
I sit alone
in my corner
I sit alone
depression goes down to the bone
won't call nobody on the phone
I oughta but myself a throne
So I can sit alone
In my corner
.
Tillie and Aaron meet on bridge. They're both at a low, and their eyes lock for a moment. In that moment there is chance, chaos and choice; will they jump, won't they. Bill explores 4 possible scenarios in this incredible Young Adult contemporary novel that focuses heavily on Mental Health representation - one where Tillie jumps, one where Aaron jumps, one where they both jump and one where they both choose to live.
.
I think it's important to mention there are a lot of triggers in this story, especially with the exploration of depression, anxiety and potential diagnosis of bipolar with hypo/hypermanic episodes. Alongside this, there are mentors of online bullying, relationship difficulties and LGBTQIA+ representation. The complex nature and importance of the topics explored makes a beautifully crafted narrative that focuses on identity in older teenagers, struggling with peer relations and finding purpose in a world of negative imbalance.
.
Aaron is a diverse character that experiences lows and highs in both scenarios that he is present. They are spurred by environmental situation and medication. He is a humerous character with great ambition but no connection to peers. There is no tether to bind him in the universe, and that's what leads to his decision-making.
.
Tillie is someone that struggles to engage and express her thoughts and feelings, but at the same time can be overtly open; projecting her heart in explicit and unapologetic ways that creates a paradoxical situation.
.
What I truly loved about this story, was the combination of chance. How the different versions of events created a cascaphony of diverse after effects. I particularly enjoyed reading scenario 3 (where neither survive) for the purpose of driving and understanding the side characters more - Molly, Amir and the parents of both Tillie and Aaron. I feel this was needed to consolidate their purpose in the progression of the narrative.
.
We do witness light hearted moments and glorious happiness throughout the scenarios with potential of 'being cured'. This had a positive impact on myself as a reader as it allowed a break from the triggering and sometimes difficult trajectory of the story. It's important to take breaks regularly when reading something so important and triggering. Bill's formatting allowed for regular pauses with page breaks to even out the constant stream of negative thoughts. This connection and understanding of reader awareness made me appreciate the author so much more.
in my corner
I sit alone
in my corner
I sit alone
depression goes down to the bone
won't call nobody on the phone
I oughta but myself a throne
So I can sit alone
In my corner
.
Tillie and Aaron meet on bridge. They're both at a low, and their eyes lock for a moment. In that moment there is chance, chaos and choice; will they jump, won't they. Bill explores 4 possible scenarios in this incredible Young Adult contemporary novel that focuses heavily on Mental Health representation - one where Tillie jumps, one where Aaron jumps, one where they both jump and one where they both choose to live.
.
I think it's important to mention there are a lot of triggers in this story, especially with the exploration of depression, anxiety and potential diagnosis of bipolar with hypo/hypermanic episodes. Alongside this, there are mentors of online bullying, relationship difficulties and LGBTQIA+ representation. The complex nature and importance of the topics explored makes a beautifully crafted narrative that focuses on identity in older teenagers, struggling with peer relations and finding purpose in a world of negative imbalance.
.
Aaron is a diverse character that experiences lows and highs in both scenarios that he is present. They are spurred by environmental situation and medication. He is a humerous character with great ambition but no connection to peers. There is no tether to bind him in the universe, and that's what leads to his decision-making.
.
Tillie is someone that struggles to engage and express her thoughts and feelings, but at the same time can be overtly open; projecting her heart in explicit and unapologetic ways that creates a paradoxical situation.
.
What I truly loved about this story, was the combination of chance. How the different versions of events created a cascaphony of diverse after effects. I particularly enjoyed reading scenario 3 (where neither survive) for the purpose of driving and understanding the side characters more - Molly, Amir and the parents of both Tillie and Aaron. I feel this was needed to consolidate their purpose in the progression of the narrative.
.
We do witness light hearted moments and glorious happiness throughout the scenarios with potential of 'being cured'. This had a positive impact on myself as a reader as it allowed a break from the triggering and sometimes difficult trajectory of the story. It's important to take breaks regularly when reading something so important and triggering. Bill's formatting allowed for regular pauses with page breaks to even out the constant stream of negative thoughts. This connection and understanding of reader awareness made me appreciate the author so much more.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I enjoyed this. It didn't pack as much of a punch as I had hoped but it was well written and well paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
I read it - loved it
This book doesn't talk about depression, suicide and the aftermath, but -as so often with Bill Konigsberg- lets you experience it AND eventually understand what's going on along with the characters
This book doesn't list x good reasons to continue living, instead it shows options, all the "what if"s good and bad - you choose
I loved it
I cried
I smiled
I'm grateful that Bill wrote this and his other books
I'm happy he's here doing what he does
Among other things this book is about:
feeling that who you are is sth to be ashamed off when really it makes you more loveable
feeling not good enough
feeling not loved enough
jumping to conclusions
family love, friendship
speaking up
being brave
being real
being you
feeling better
This book doesn't talk about depression, suicide and the aftermath, but -as so often with Bill Konigsberg- lets you experience it AND eventually understand what's going on along with the characters
This book doesn't list x good reasons to continue living, instead it shows options, all the "what if"s good and bad - you choose
I loved it
I cried
I smiled
I'm grateful that Bill wrote this and his other books
I'm happy he's here doing what he does
Among other things this book is about:
feeling that who you are is sth to be ashamed off when really it makes you more loveable
feeling not good enough
feeling not loved enough
jumping to conclusions
family love, friendship
speaking up
being brave
being real
being you
feeling better