Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes
By Jodi Picoult
4 stars (out of 5)

Horrendous events can occur where you least expect them. While Nineteen Minutes would be too shocking for some, Jodi Picoult tells an emotionally charged tale of heartbreak, torment, and retaliation. From the very first lines of the book, she highlights the contrast between the normality of everyday life and the awful reality of the school shooting which is the central event. The variation which results keeps the book moving at a riveting pace. Although the shooting happens at the beginning of the book, Picoult manages to retain an element of mystery which enthralls the reader on many levels. The greatest triumph of the novel, however, is the way in which the author enables the reader to feel sympathy for a character who is otherwise easily hated. Picoult provides an insight into the shooter's motives which turns him from monster to victim, giving the book a depth that would otherwise be lacking. Nineteen Minutes illustrates how tragedy can blossom from the most unlikely sources. Its heart wrenching plot and shocking conclusion will force the reader to redefine their beliefs about the appalling events which occur in the lives of those around us.

1. Do you feel sorry for Peter? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think Josie cannot remember what happened?

A brief history of school shootings around the world.