The book opens with one of the two narrators, Theodore Finch, reflecting upon the numerous occasions and circumstances when he has asked himself, “Is today a good day to die?” (3). He is standing on the narrow ledge of a bell tower on the grounds of his high school, feeling “deader than usual” (4), and has no memory of the several preceding weeks. He shouts an invitation to students milling below to witness his death, but he attracts no attention.

Finch suddenly realizes that another student, the beautiful, popular Violet Markey, is also poised to leap from another section of the precipice. He calms her by instructing her to climb back over the railing to safety. He uses macabre humor, noting that he does not want it to appear that “I’ve been run through the wood chipper at my funeral” and makes his way toward her (7). Finch also shouts to the crowd that Violet’s purpose for climbing the tower was to save him from suicide. After assuring her safety, Finch considers leaping from the height again; however, Violet reciprocates by talking to him until he relents. Charlie Donahue, Finch’s best friend, who casually mentions that pizza is being served in the cafeteria, joins them.