All the Bright Places: 28. Finch: Day 28 Summary & Analysis

John Ivers, an old man who lives out in the country, greets Finch and Violet when they pull into his yard. He leads them to the two roller coasters he built in his backyard, the Blue Flash and the Blue Too, and explains that he’s an “adrenaline junkie.” John says he loves “the thrill of impending, weightless doom.” Finch likes and understands that phrase—and he thinks that Violet makes him feel that way all the time. The roller coasters are built into the side of a shed. They only go 25 miles per hour, and the Flash is only a 10-second ride, but Finch is itching to ride it.

Finch climbs into the bucket seat, and John straps him in and tells him to hold on. Finch screams as the coaster goes and rides it five more times. Then, Violet takes her turn. She screams and rides it several times, taking turns with Finch. When Finch climbs out the last time, he reaches for Violet to steady himself. It feels natural. John asks if they want to ride the Blue Too. Finch doesn’t—he wants to be alone with Violet—but Violet runs for the roller coaster. The Blue Too isn’t as much fun, so they ride the Flash a few more times.

As they head for the car, Violet notes that this is the end of their wandering. But Finch suggests that they keep wandering, especially since Violet’s parents are on board. On the drive home, Violet rolls down the window and writes in their notebook. She explains that she started out making notes on the roller coasters, but now she just has ideas she’s trying to get out. After a few more miles of silent writing, Violet says she likes Finch because he’s interesting and different, and she can talk to him.

Suddenly, the air feels electric. Finch tells Violet he likes everything about her, and he takes the first exit off the highway. He pulls into a library parking lot, gets out and goes around to her door, and says he can’t wait anymore. Finch pulls Violet out of the car and kisses her, and Violet kisses him back. Then, Finch picks Violet up and puts her in the backseat of Little Bastard, where they start to undress. Violet laughs until Finch starts to slide his hand into her pants. When she pulls away, Finch realizes that she’s a virgin. He can’t believe she never had sex with Ryan Cross of all people, and he tells her, “someday.”

Later, in his room, Finch is “overcome by words.” He writes songs and then writes that he wasn’t even close to killing himself today. He writes about the theoretical Euthanasia Coaster, which is a three-minute ride that kills people with centrifugal force. Suddenly, “time folds,” and Finch comes to in the next town over, exhausted from his run. He walks the whole way home. On his walk, he thinks about the man who thought up the Euthanasia Coaster. The coaster would kill people “humanely—with elegance and euphoria.” Finch thinks “elegance and euphoria” describes how he feels about Violet. He suddenly wants to be the person Violet sees. This boy belongs in the world and “in his own skin.”