The Bridge Book

Reading level : 14 years and up.

"A powerful, honest, heart-tugging, nail-biting, so-real-it-reaches-into-your-bones story about suicide and mental health and the ways in which too many of us struggle alone. Except we're not alone. Bill Konigsberg makes that beautifully, movingly clear. Stunning." Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of All the Bright Places.

Aaron and Tillie don't know each other, but they are both struggling with life.

They arrive at a New York bridge at the same time, intending to jump  At that moment in time, there are four things that could happen:

Aaron jumps and Tillie doesn't.

Tillie jumps and Aaron doesn't.

They both jump.

Neither of them jumps. Or maybe all four things happen... A beautiful and honest story to break, and then mend, the heart.

“This absorbing, lifesaving novel is our teen Book of the Month pick for September. From acclaimed author Bill Konigsberg, the story is told across four alternate timelines. Heart-breaking, life-affirming and beautifully written, this perfectly pitched contemporary Young Adult novel sees a tough subject handled with humour, compassion and unflinching truth.

Two teenagers, strangers to each other, have decided to jump from the same bridge at the same time. Aaron and Tillie don’t know each other, but they are both feeling suicidal, and arrive at the George Washington Bridge at the same time, intending to jump. Aaron is a gay misfit struggling with depression and loneliness. Tillie isn’t sure what her problem is – only that she will never be good enough. On the bridge, there are four things that could happen: Aaron jumps and Tillie doesn’t. Tillie jumps and Aaron doesn’t. They both jump. Neither of them jumps. Or maybe all four things happen, in this astonishing and insightful novel.”