After being a tad disappointed with the last Jodi Picoult I read I wasn't really too sure what to expect with Nineteen Minutes when my mother in law leant me her copy. It has certainly changed my mind about Jodi Picoult though.
One think I particularly liked about Picoult when I read my first book by her, Plain Truth, was how much she researches a story. That is very obviously the case in Nineteen Minutes, in a way which almost becomes painful at times.
One day seventeen year old Peter Houghton goes to school and shoots dead ten people – nine pupils and one teacher. On the surface it could look a relatively simple case of a screwed up teenager. By taking us back and forth through time Picoult shows us that things are no so clear cut. Peter has been bullied all the way through school, and although that doesn't excuse his actions, it does at least help to explain them.
Reading this book, the way that Picoult captures the impact this constant bullying has on Peter is unbelievably brilliant. I do strongly believe that any child that shows any bullying inclinations should be made to read this book to help them see how their actions affect others. There were points reading it where I felt close to tears so realistic it was.
Another small think I liked was the way that characters from other of Picoult's books were included. So often I finish a book and wonder what happens next to some of the characters. Well now I know about some of them.
I'd very highly recommend this book to anyone, but if you were ever not part of the post popular group at school then I'll warn you now that some bits are a tad raw emotionally. Picoult's totally won me over again!
Liz says
Great review. This is probably my favourite Picoult novel.
Mrs C says
Thank you LIz. I think it’s actually a pretty close toss up between this and Plain Truth as my favourite Picoult book. This one just seemed to speak on such a different level that it made it quite unique, yet Plain Truth gave me an insight the world of the Amish that I knew nothing about.