19 minutes is a thriller novel by Jodi Picoult that follows the case of a young man, pushed to the edge by abuse, and doing the unthinkable.
It was just another normal day in Sterling, New Hampshire, a tranquil town where nothing really happened. That all changed on March 6, 2007. 17 year-old high school student, Peter Houghton, after years of physical and verbally abuse by his peers, had enough and decided to commit a violent act against Sterling High School. The act would change the lives of Sterling’s residents.
A court case ensues, and during the case, Alex Cormier, the superior court judge, struggles with whether to stay on the case that was assigned to her or to step down since her daughter, Josie, was a witness on the event that occurred in the school. She battles between one of the biggest cases that could ever happen during her career or being there for her daughter, whom she already has a strained relationship with. Throughout the book you will be able to see the aftermath of this violent event and how it affected Lewis and Lacy Houghton, Peter’s parents, Josie and Alex, plus the students and residents of the town.
Jodi Picoult is known for writing about controversial topics, and this one is no different. You will be able to see the ‘flashbacks’ that led to this event, and it contains different point of views that will let you see how each of the main characters thinks and feels. 19 minutes lets you see that there is always more to the story that you know, that you need to be able to look at all of the angles and not just narrow it down to one. It shows how one single moment or experience could affect someone and create an everlasting impact in their life. 19 minutes keeps you at the edge of your seat, it keeps you turning the pages just to discover why Peter did what he did, what his reasons were, and how the trial unfolds and concludes.
If you’d like to discuss this book or others, join Ollie’s Book Club today after school in the library.