Readers United Book Reviews | Will Grayson, Will Grayson and All the Bright Places

Isabelle So '20 returns with two emotional and heartwarming stories told from the perspective of teenagers. 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan offers not only humor, but also moments that we wish could happen to us in real life. These two authors have managed to incorporate little details like text messages to make the story come alive more realistically and energetically. On a side note, this book is indeed the first gay-themed book that has ended up on The New York Times children’s best-seller list.

The book is about two young adults, Will Grayson and Will Grayson and their completely different lives. However, on one cold night, in the least-expected part of Chicago, they meet. Two completely pre-occupied kids running from their own struggles find themselves gearing their futures towards completely unexpected paths. They end up creating the most wonderful musical on the high school stage. Throughout the book, John Green and David Levithan create characters that break social norms. For instance, Tiny Cooper is football player that is "the world's largest person who is really, really gay". The narrative of the story is not only humorous, but also full of compassion, love, and support. 

This book didn’t have an extremely adventurous plot, but though it did have a simple theme, the authors have created a scenario that is sensitive and heartwarming. Even though the two perspectives are completely different, there is still that connection between the two that interlaces their stories in a creative and interesting way. The slow-pacing made the whole story come alive. This book truly made me feel as if the two Will Graysons were telling the stories themselves.

Verdict: I would recommend Will Grayson, Will Grayson to anyone interested in a story that is both humorous and heartfelt. Readers should be aware that there is a fair bit of foul language and some intimate/sensitive topics. 

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is a heart-throbbing, unflinching kind of love story. This book kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. The author created scenarios from both perspectives to keep the reader excited, terrified, and saddened all at the same time.

Like Will Grayson, Will Grayson, this book is told from the perspectives of two teenagers, Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. They live two completely different lives, and, though this is a love story, refreshingly, they don’t meet in some restaurant, ice skating rink, or any other cliché place. They first meet on the edge of a bell tower and, though they’re both running from different issues, they somehow always wind up together. But, tragically, as Violet Markey starts to enjoy life and stop counting the days until her death, Theodore Finch begins to fade.  

This book is filled with humor and tear-jerking moments. It may seem cliché at times, but the way the characters are portrayed makes it special and different every time you re-read it.

Verdict: I would recommend All the Bright Places to teenagers that enjoy (somewhat cliché, but entertaining) love stories that have interesting twists. This book is amazing because it is told from both perspectives, and it really makes you reconsider what you say or do when you’re around other people. This book is emotional and likely to inspire tears, laughter, and even anger.