Meet The Author: Jennifer Niven Brief Summary Two high school students, Violet Markey and Theodore Finch meet on top of the school bell tower, where they both have gone to contemplate suicide by jumping off the building. And this is where the story first begins. The pair ends up not jumping and are, instead, paired up for a school project where they have to go explore the natural wonders of Indiana. As Violet and Theodore “wander” together, they start to open up to each other about their family, their past and start to give reasons as to why they wish to die. Although this seems like a typical love story, it is not since it battles topics like depression and suicide. All the Bright Places Quotes “Because you smiled at me.” “What?” “You asked why I wanted to do this with you. It’s not because you were up on the ledge too, even though, okay, that’s part of it. It’s not because I feel this weird responsibility to keep an eye on you, which is also part of it. It’s because you smiled at me that day in class. A real smile, not the bullshit one I see you give everyone all the time where your eyes are doing one thing and your mouth is doing another.” “It was just a smile.” “Maybe to you” (101-102). This passage is crucial because this scene is where readers can sense that Theodore Finch is slowly developing a crush on Violet and starts to try to help her out of her sadness/depression. This quote also notions the idea that people should always reach out when they think that someone is in need of help. “I guess you can be yourself, whatever that means- the best and worst of you. And they love you anyway. You can fight, but even when you’re mad at them, you know they’re not going to stop being your friend” (128). This quote is important because it let’s the readers know that in times of need you should always reach out to your friends and that they will understand what you are going through. Friendship is a strong element within because Niven wants her readers to know that there is help everywhere around you. “You can’t do this to me. You were the one who lectured me about living. You were the one who said I had to get out and see what was right in
Meet The Author: Jennifer Niven Brief Summary Two high school students, Violet Markey and Theodore Finch meet on top of the school bell tower, where they both have gone to contemplate suicide by jumping off the building. And this is where the story first begins. The pair ends up not jumping and are, instead, paired up for a school project where they have to go explore the natural wonders of Indiana. As Violet and Theodore “wander” together, they start to open up to each other about their family, their past and start to give reasons as to why they wish to die. Although this seems like a typical love story, it is not since it battles topics like depression and suicide. All the Bright Places Quotes “Because you smiled at me.” “What?” “You asked why I wanted to do this with you. It’s not because you were up on the ledge too, even though, okay, that’s part of it. It’s not because I feel this weird responsibility to keep an eye on you, which is also part of it. It’s because you smiled at me that day in class. A real smile, not the bullshit one I see you give everyone all the time where your eyes are doing one thing and your mouth is doing another.” “It was just a smile.” “Maybe to you” (101-102). This passage is crucial because this scene is where readers can sense that Theodore Finch is slowly developing a crush on Violet and starts to try to help her out of her sadness/depression. This quote also notions the idea that people should always reach out when they think that someone is in need of help. “I guess you can be yourself, whatever that means- the best and worst of you. And they love you anyway. You can fight, but even when you’re mad at them, you know they’re not going to stop being your friend” (128). This quote is important because it let’s the readers know that in times of need you should always reach out to your friends and that they will understand what you are going through. Friendship is a strong element within because Niven wants her readers to know that there is help everywhere around you. “You can’t do this to me. You were the one who lectured me about living. You were the one who said I had to get out and see what was right in