Agh! Too many heavy reads all at the same time! I finished Hausfrau just before this *on the same day.* Yiiiikes. First up, All the Bright Places might be my first encounter with a manic pixie dream boy. True, you get some of the story from Finch's perspective, but his role is really to pull Violet out of her unhappy funk and make her happy with all his whimsy, charm, vigor, and - of course - his crooked smile. *smalleyeroll* 
 I think YA lit does need books that raise awareness of mental illness and the challenges and feasibility of maintaining mental health. It's a bit disconcerting then that All the Bright Places is more a cautionary tale than a success story. The book is a call to parents, friends, and teachers to be accountable for helping those who show warning signs of depression, self-harm, suicide, and violent tendencies....while at the same time showing the deception, shame, and denial that many go through in response to their suffering. (view spoiler)[Why though does Finch's bipolar disorder have to be so big and devastating? Yes, of course, those eccentric behaviors can happen, but it's also a manageable condition. Is the whole point really just to show how ridiculous his parents are for ignoring him? I appreciate the author's afterward, because then I can see where she was coming from with this story. However, the book felt so heavy for Violet and so manipulative in regard to Finch and his role in Violet's life - hence the manic pixie comparison. Suicide does need to be depicted in books for teens...but, as someone who identified more with Finch than Violet, I found myself feeling like his fate was inevitable rather than an unexpected tragedy. Violet's depression entered via her sister's death which rocks her world. So, those who struggle with depression and despair that doesn't have an identifiable catalyst may see her as the one who gets to survive, who has the capacity to heal, and who wasn't destined for an early death. Gahh...can you see why this book took me to all the dark places??? (hide spoiler)] 
 I'm starting to understand why I love genre YA rather than realistic fiction. The real stuff is just so painful. I happily picked up A Thousand Pieces of You last night and sighed over time-travel amulets and shiny jackets with built-in keyboards.