Bibliographic Information:
- Title: The Bridge
- Author: Bill Konigsberg
- ISBN: 978-1338325034
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Copyright Date: 2020
Genre / Format of the Title:
- Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Romance [book]
- Subject tags/trigger warning: suicide, depression
- none as of April 2021; only recently published 9/2020.
- Grade 7 - 12 (TeachingBooks.net, 2020); interest level: this book has broad appeal and appropriate for 12+ reader.
Plot Summary:
Aaron and Tillie do not know each other but they find each other on the George Washington Bridge at the same time, both aware that they were about to jump to their deaths. The book follows each character’s life based on the choice each makes. Four different scenarios happen and each leads to completely different outcomes that affect not just the two suicidal teens but their family, friends, and everyone they encounter in their life.
Aaron and Tillie do not know each other but they find each other on the George Washington Bridge at the same time, both aware that they were about to jump to their deaths. The book follows each character’s life based on the choice each makes. Four different scenarios happen and each leads to completely different outcomes that affect not just the two suicidal teens but their family, friends, and everyone they encounter in their life.
Author Background:
Bill Konigsberg was born in 1970 in New York City. He has written five other novels before The Bridge. All of them feature gay characters or characters who are trying to figure out their identity. The two most popular are The porcupine of Truth and Openly Straight. His website is so robust and fun to explore as it has several pictures of him and his husband, Chuck, whom he married in 2013, and his two adorable dogs Mabel and Buford (Konigsberg, 2020). He has written several essays for various publications but a favorite of mine is a simple one he wrote in 2013 called Coming of Age in NYC, 1987 probably because I, too, was going through my own identity crisis of sorts at that time and this essay resonated. He currently lives in Chandler, Arizona and when he’s not writing his own novels, he provides mentorship to other writers.
Bill Konigsberg was born in 1970 in New York City. He has written five other novels before The Bridge. All of them feature gay characters or characters who are trying to figure out their identity. The two most popular are The porcupine of Truth and Openly Straight. His website is so robust and fun to explore as it has several pictures of him and his husband, Chuck, whom he married in 2013, and his two adorable dogs Mabel and Buford (Konigsberg, 2020). He has written several essays for various publications but a favorite of mine is a simple one he wrote in 2013 called Coming of Age in NYC, 1987 probably because I, too, was going through my own identity crisis of sorts at that time and this essay resonated. He currently lives in Chandler, Arizona and when he’s not writing his own novels, he provides mentorship to other writers.
Bill Konigsberg reads an excerpt from the beginning of the book.
Critical Evaluation for Books and Non-Print Items
Konigsberg approaches a touchy subject with sensitivity and empathy as we get to know all the characters, not just Aaron and Tillie but their family, friends, and frenemies. Suicide’s tentacles are wide-ranging and the choice doesn’t end with the end of one. Instead the choice reverberates, sometimes for generations and Konigsberg approaches the results so realistically that one becomes invested in each character’s survival. He renders the characters with realistic emotional responses to their situation that the reader believes in their lived experience. The pacing of the dialogue is so accurate that one can feel the mania while it’s being experienced by the character even as the character himself or herself doesn't’ realize what is happening to them.
Konigsberg introduces so many layers of issues from being gay and not out, being a transracial adoptee, being the bully or the bullied etc. Konigsberg’s characters all grapple with their sense of identity in all its iterations and navigating its murky waters becomes a reason for choosing either life or death. They are also desperately looking for love and approval in all the wrong places. Nevertheless, this is a hopeful book in the end and definitely worth reading.
Konigsberg approaches a touchy subject with sensitivity and empathy as we get to know all the characters, not just Aaron and Tillie but their family, friends, and frenemies. Suicide’s tentacles are wide-ranging and the choice doesn’t end with the end of one. Instead the choice reverberates, sometimes for generations and Konigsberg approaches the results so realistically that one becomes invested in each character’s survival. He renders the characters with realistic emotional responses to their situation that the reader believes in their lived experience. The pacing of the dialogue is so accurate that one can feel the mania while it’s being experienced by the character even as the character himself or herself doesn't’ realize what is happening to them.
Konigsberg introduces so many layers of issues from being gay and not out, being a transracial adoptee, being the bully or the bullied etc. Konigsberg’s characters all grapple with their sense of identity in all its iterations and navigating its murky waters becomes a reason for choosing either life or death. They are also desperately looking for love and approval in all the wrong places. Nevertheless, this is a hopeful book in the end and definitely worth reading.
Creative Use for a Library Program:
Suicide awareness should be a year round and embedded program, not a month or week or however long series of events. Regardless, it is good that we have at least a few sessions dedicated to talking about this subject openly and with the school audience. The next time our counseling office hosts suicide awareness week, I plan to pull several books on mental health (using the non-fiction selection I curated along with Konigsberg’s book) and create a visible display in the commons so it reaches a larger audience and have the books available for any students to borrow.
Suicide awareness should be a year round and embedded program, not a month or week or however long series of events. Regardless, it is good that we have at least a few sessions dedicated to talking about this subject openly and with the school audience. The next time our counseling office hosts suicide awareness week, I plan to pull several books on mental health (using the non-fiction selection I curated along with Konigsberg’s book) and create a visible display in the commons so it reaches a larger audience and have the books available for any students to borrow.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer:
What happens after Aaron jumped off the George Washington Bridge while Tillie watched in horror? What if it were Tillie who jumped instead while Aaron watches helplessly? Or what if they both jump? Of if both decide not to jump? Each scenario is possible and you’ll have to read this to find out if there is a better option and what that is.
What happens after Aaron jumped off the George Washington Bridge while Tillie watched in horror? What if it were Tillie who jumped instead while Aaron watches helplessly? Or what if they both jump? Of if both decide not to jump? Each scenario is possible and you’ll have to read this to find out if there is a better option and what that is.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
This book is about suicide and that is, sadly, a taboo subject for so many people. But not talking or reading about it doesn’t make suicide and all its baggage go away. Censorship is not the answer to ensuring unsavory issues are resolved (American Library Association, 2019). We must remember the Library Bill of Rights calls upon librarians to “provide materials and information presenting all points of view” and provide “[b]ooks and other library resources... for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves” (American Library Association, 2020).
This book is about suicide and that is, sadly, a taboo subject for so many people. But not talking or reading about it doesn’t make suicide and all its baggage go away. Censorship is not the answer to ensuring unsavory issues are resolved (American Library Association, 2019). We must remember the Library Bill of Rights calls upon librarians to “provide materials and information presenting all points of view” and provide “[b]ooks and other library resources... for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves” (American Library Association, 2020).
Reason for Inclusion:
This fictional story reads like nonfiction and is so relatable to several students. We have a very high suicide rate in this state and while no one is counting in our isolated town, I can say anecdotally that every year, I know at least a couple sometimes more, current and former students (and sometimes their parent) who have died by suicide and it doesn’t get easier knowing and/or counting. I want everyone to read this book.
This fictional story reads like nonfiction and is so relatable to several students. We have a very high suicide rate in this state and while no one is counting in our isolated town, I can say anecdotally that every year, I know at least a couple sometimes more, current and former students (and sometimes their parent) who have died by suicide and it doesn’t get easier knowing and/or counting. I want everyone to read this book.
REFERENCES
American Library Association. (2019, July 13). First Amendment and Censorship. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorship.
American Library Association. (2020, September 25). Library Bill of Rights. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.
I Read YA. (2020, May 29). Friday Reads | Bill Konigsberg Reads The Bridge [Video File]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/m_hQSj68YgY
Konigsberg, B. (2020, December 8). About Bill Konigsberg, author of novels for young adults. Author Bill Konigsberg. https://billkonigsberg.com/about/.
American Library Association. (2020, September 25). Library Bill of Rights. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.
I Read YA. (2020, May 29). Friday Reads | Bill Konigsberg Reads The Bridge [Video File]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/m_hQSj68YgY
Konigsberg, B. (2020, December 8). About Bill Konigsberg, author of novels for young adults. Author Bill Konigsberg. https://billkonigsberg.com/about/.
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