Nineteen Minutes
Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of My Sister's Keeper and Small Great Things, pens her most riveting book yet with a startling and poignant story about the devastating aftermath of a small-town tragedy.
Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by a school shooting. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be.
Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by a school shooting. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be.
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Community Reviews
What a very poignant view of something that is way too real in our country. Jodi always seems to hit exactly what every character is feeling in their mind and it's just amazing that an author can do that.
Not an easy book to read, but as usual Jody takes the reader through everyone's point of view and makes the journey so enjoyable.
I wanted to like this book more but there were a few things that stood in the way. But first I need to say that, as a mom of a high schooler, the first chunk of this book sent my anxiety soaring. I spend more time than I probably should being afraid of my kid being mowed down because someone did what Peter did. It happens regularly and it scares the shit out of me.
As far as the things that prevented me from being totally engrossed in the story... There were many sections that seemed to drag on for no reason. Too much detail about things that weren't moving the story forward had my attention straying. The constant back and forth in time was tough at times, too. I get the point and it certainly helped build up the tension but there were some points that it was more annoying than helpful. There were also weird POV shifts that were just for a line or two.
There was a lot of good stuff that made sticking with this very long novel worthwhile. While reading, I knew that there was something much more to the story than what we were being told but I didn't expect what actually happened. I love that. Being in the heads of the kids was well done and those were my favorite parts.
I don't see myself reading this one again but I'd still recommend it.
As far as the things that prevented me from being totally engrossed in the story... There were many sections that seemed to drag on for no reason. Too much detail about things that weren't moving the story forward had my attention straying. The constant back and forth in time was tough at times, too. I get the point and it certainly helped build up the tension but there were some points that it was more annoying than helpful. There were also weird POV shifts that were just for a line or two.
There was a lot of good stuff that made sticking with this very long novel worthwhile. While reading, I knew that there was something much more to the story than what we were being told but I didn't expect what actually happened. I love that. Being in the heads of the kids was well done and those were my favorite parts.
I don't see myself reading this one again but I'd still recommend it.
Excellent well told story about something that affects too many students today, Bullying!!! It is told from many people's perspective. I totally recommend the book.
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