Title: Nineteen Minutes

Author: Jodi Pocoult

Genre: A Novel, Thriller

Location: 154

(455)

Blog about this novel

“By the time you read this, I hope to be dead.

You can’t undo something that’s happened; you can’t take back a word that’s already been said out loud. You’ll think about me and wish that you had been able to talk me out of this. You’ll try to figure out what would have been the one right thing to say, to do. I guess I should tell you, Don’t blame yourself; this isn’t your fault, but that would be a lie. We both know that I didn’t get here by myself.

You’ll cry, at my funeral. You’ll say it didn’t have to be this way. You will act like everyone expects you to. But will you miss me?

More importantly—will I miss you?

Does either on of us really want to hear the answer to that question?” (p4)

SterlingHigh School students find out how long and scary nineteen minutes really can beas do their parents when they find out of the school shooting on the day of March 6, 2007. In the beginning of the book you learn of many characters who were affected by the shooting and you hear their story. Alex Cormier, a superior court judge, is rushing to get to work while Josie her daughter, a junior in high school, gets ready for a test after a long night of studying. Then you get to meet the other characters throughout the other chapters. The people you meet include Lacy and Peter Houghton, Detective Patrick Ducharme, Matt Royston and several victims-to-be. At the local high school, where they follow a daily routine of students in classes, at gym and in the cafeteria during lunch period. As one student eagerly runs out of class to leave for an orthodonist appointment, a loud bang is heard from the parking lot, which turns out to be a bomb set off in Matt's car. As the students are distracted by the noise, gun shots are fired. Patrick, the only detective on the Sterling police force, hears on his radio about the shooting at SterlingHigh School. He changes route to the school and when he arrives, he searches the school to seek out the gunman. After passing dozens of dead and wounded victims, he traps the shooter in the locker room and he is taken away. Patrick sees several students on the floor, surrounded in blood. The boy is dead and has a gunshot in his head while his girlfriend, Josie, awakens and cannot remember what happened.

Jodi Picoult gives you the story from many points of view. It is said that you always learn from many people, this is true in this book you learn how the different people felt from the shooting. She always keeps you wanting to read more.

In my opinion this book is wonderful, you get to see how many people felt the day of the shooting and months to a year after, you see how it affected people. Also in the end you find out a shocking truth, that Peter was going to keep secret but Josie told all in court and from the way the book goes you would never have guessed it would have happened that way. This book is a very good thrilling read.