All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is a heartwarming, emotional novel that focuses on the main characters, Theodore Finch, often referred to as “Finch” and Violet Markey. The two high school seniors first meet at the top of the school’s bell tower, where Finch loiters. Finch sees Violet standing on the ledge contemplating jumping, however in that moment of disparity, Finch is able to talk her down. Those who witnessed the incident from below believe it was Violet who talked Finch down from the edge after he yells down to the crowd that Violent should not have tried to save him. The other school students do not bother questioning what really happened at the bell tower mainly because Finch had a reputation for acting out in various ways.

Once their Geography teacher schedules a partner assignment, Finch asks Violet to work on a “Wonders of Indiana” project, which ultimately allows Finch to spend more time with Violet. This project is the beginning of Finch and Violet’s relationship.

As the two begin to grow closer, Finch finds out that Violet stopped living her life after her older sister was killed in a car accident, however he is able to push Violet to start living again.

The character evolution of Violet is drastic, as in the beginning of the novel when Finch met her on top of the bell tower, she had no will to live. Before her sister’s accident, Violet speaks about how she was a different person and how she could never be that person again. Finch encourages Violet to do things her parents thought they would never see her do again and change her perspective on life in a positive light.

The way Niven writes out Finch’s character displays the significant shifts in mood and personality he has. Finch is a confused person who is trying to figure himself out, often changing his identity and referring to different names such as “80’s Finch” who is a vegetarian or “British Finch” who has an Irish girlfriend. He is constantly looking for some kind of belonging, but wants to avoid being labeled.

Violet and Finch grow closer as time progresses and their project begins to come to an end. Their relationship blooms and the world Violet once knew begins to expand and things start to finally look up for her.

The plot begins to change once Finch battles his own internal battles while slowly losing control of himself. Violet, the girl who he spent time on helping, then has to come to his rescue.