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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
Rounding up from 3.5
I found the first 2 parts to be so overwhelming (soul-crushingly) strong, but the story faltered a couple chapters into the third section.
It felt like the further out in time I got, the less real and grounded the tragedy felt which I couldn’t match with how very real the first 2 parts were. There were some chapters that I wasn’t sure if Aaron or Tillie was supposed to be the missing piece.
The final section felt extremely rushed. I had a hard time believing that their parents would just comes up with their whole plan so easily, especially Tillie’s mom. And then they don’t even follow through because after a while both of teens are just wandering off on their own. It also feels like Aaron and Tille both just decide they’re not okay but that’s okay and they’re just not going to be suicidal anymore, and that’s not how it works.
I found the first 2 parts to be so overwhelming (soul-crushingly) strong, but the story faltered a couple chapters into the third section.
It felt like the further out in time I got, the less real and grounded the tragedy felt which I couldn’t match with how very real the first 2 parts were. There were some chapters that I wasn’t sure if Aaron or Tillie was supposed to be the missing piece.
The final section felt extremely rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide attempt
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
TW for teenage suicide but this is one of the most moving and important books you'll read all year. Suicide shatters lives in a myriad of ways and this book unpacks exactly what that means and how it can play out across 4 separate scenarios involving two suicidal teens. Bill Konigsberg handles the topic with class and grace, giving this topic the tone it deserves.
Thank you Edelweiss and Scholastic for this advanced reader copy of The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg.
I saw Bill Konigsberg speak on a YALLWest panel about this novel and knew I had to read it. The concept of a “sliding doors” type narrative of two suicidal teens on the George Washington Bridge ticks a lot of boxes: mental health issues, LGBTQ youth, suicide and life (and death) in Manhattan.
I will say right off that this book is messy. Life is messy. Death is messy. Being a teenager is messy. But back to the book. Between the alternating POV’s of the two main characters, the four different outcomes (she jumps/he doesn’t, he jumps/she doesn’t, they both jump and neither jumps) plus the POV of their friends and family what I thought would be a tight suspenseful novel is a sprawling 400 page ocean of thoughts and feelings. A few times I felt myself lost in the grief and minutiae of everyone’s thoughts and daily routine and ready to climb out. But I will also admit that I’m glad I stuck it out until the end. Although the story was more complicated and meandering than I was prepared for it is an important story to tell. The fact is that suicide is now the second leading cause of death in youth aged 15-24 and The Bridge shows how some of these kids are not beyond reach. That their pain can be conquered and managed and that their loss can have far reaching effects to the people that love them and maybe the world.
I highly recommend The Bridge to anyone that is interested in reading about teen depression and suicide but also LGBQT issues, online bullying and parental absence/emotional neglect.
I saw Bill Konigsberg speak on a YALLWest panel about this novel and knew I had to read it. The concept of a “sliding doors” type narrative of two suicidal teens on the George Washington Bridge ticks a lot of boxes: mental health issues, LGBTQ youth, suicide and life (and death) in Manhattan.
I will say right off that this book is messy. Life is messy. Death is messy. Being a teenager is messy. But back to the book. Between the alternating POV’s of the two main characters, the four different outcomes (she jumps/he doesn’t, he jumps/she doesn’t, they both jump and neither jumps) plus the POV of their friends and family what I thought would be a tight suspenseful novel is a sprawling 400 page ocean of thoughts and feelings. A few times I felt myself lost in the grief and minutiae of everyone’s thoughts and daily routine and ready to climb out. But I will also admit that I’m glad I stuck it out until the end. Although the story was more complicated and meandering than I was prepared for it is an important story to tell. The fact is that suicide is now the second leading cause of death in youth aged 15-24 and The Bridge shows how some of these kids are not beyond reach. That their pain can be conquered and managed and that their loss can have far reaching effects to the people that love them and maybe the world.
I highly recommend The Bridge to anyone that is interested in reading about teen depression and suicide but also LGBQT issues, online bullying and parental absence/emotional neglect.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved Konigsberg's approach to this book. It was very thought provoking seeing the different chain of events kicked off in each scenario. I liked the emphasis on human connection, but what I really connected with was when the characters talked about "the mask". How often does someone ask you, "How are you?" and they really want to know? Someone dealing with depression often has to wear a mask, say they are fine. Konigsberg discussed this and how exhausting it is to keep up appearance, while acknowledging that this behavior keeps one from forming the type of connections they really need. He definitely nailed that for me. Oh, and I am glad he saved the best scenario for last.
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BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fictional account of a very real situation; depression and suicidal inclinations. The story introduces us to two teenagers that are sorting through their feelings in different ways and end up meeting on a Bridge. Their lives become intertwined because of the results of their decisions. The book uses the "Butterfly Effect" to show how things could be different with different choices made and how you are never alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief