When We Collided

When We Collided is a young adult novel written by Emery Lord and published in 2016. The novel explores themes of mental illness, grief, and familial bonds. Lord presents the story to her readers through alternating chapters between two characters: Vivi and Jonah. They are the main protagonists of the novel who find themselves in a summer romance that changes them forever. Through their bond, both Jonah and Vivi learn more about themselves, their families, and the world around them.

Vivi is a 16-year-old girl from Seattle. Although she has only been in Verona Cove for a week, she is already in love with it. Her mother, Carrie, is an artist and has moved them there to paint. Verona Cove is a tiny coastal town in California. Vivi has breakfast with Officer Hayashi every morning before going to work at the pottery store. There, she meets Jonah Daniels. Jonah is a 17-year-old boy from Verona Cove. He is part of a big family that has recently been wracked by the death of his father. Jonah’s mother’s grief has morphed into a debilitating depression, leaving Jonah and his two older siblings responsible for their three younger siblings.

Vivi has stopped taking the medication for her bipolar disorder. While she does not behave abnormally at the beginning of the summer, her symptoms slowly begin to manifest. Vivi was diagnosed with the mental illness after she had a bout of mania back in Seattle. There, Vivi got a water-lily tattoo that she regrets, slept with her friend’s ex-boyfriend, and spent money recklessly. As the summer passes, Jonah and Vivi continue to spend more time with each other. Vivi is initially bright and bubbly; she sets up a waterslide in the Daniels’ backyard, takes the younger Daniels kids to the beach, and is a loving girlfriend to Jonah. She listens to Jonah and does not push him to talk about his father. Vivi plays a central role in bringing Jonah’s family back together again. She speaks to Mrs. Daniels about depression and how anti-depressants have helped her.

As the summer goes on, Vivi’s medications begin to wear off. Vivi becomes more selfish and reckless. Vivi and Jonah begin having a sexual relationship, but Vivi uses sex as a replacement for communication. After Vivi’s birthday, she goes to find her father after ransacking her mother’s room for clues to his identity. The encounter ends poorly when Vivi realizes that her father is keeping her a secret from his real family. She ensures that his wife hears her shouting at him and calls Jonah to pick her up. Later, when Jonah tries to speak to Vivi about losing his temper on his younger siblings, she is unable to listen. Jonah is furious with her and they get into an argument.

Vivi begins to reach the height of her hypomanic episode. She begins seeing numeric patterns everywhere and believes that the universe has a divine plan for her. On her way to San Diego with Jonah, she leaps off the bike and gets incredibly hurt. Jonah escapes unharmed. After, when Jonah’s mother picks him up from the hospital, they have their first honest talk since his father died. This is the turning point for Mrs. Daniels, and she begins going to grief counseling. Jonah’s father’s restaurant has also been revived with the help of Jonah and his friend Ellie. Jonah is happy that his family is beginning to heal; for the first time, he is excited about his own future. Jonah wants to become a chef like his father.

Vivi wakes up in the hospital and speaks to a therapist. The therapist agrees that the only way Vivi will accept her diagnosis and medication is if she has a say in the type of treatment she will undergo. Vivi decides that she wants to return to Seattle. Carrie agrees. Vivi says goodbye to the friends she made in Verona Cove. She speaks with Jonah and they break up, promising each other that they might be together again someday. Vivi paints a mural on the porch of the restaurant of the Daniels family, with seven ships in the harbor and one large ship—Jonah’s dad—heading out on the horizon, “sailing away for new adventures” (231). Vivi has taught Jonah to find “happiness even in uncertainty” (232).