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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Too long and soooooo much research on Autism and Asperger's that was straight up regurgitated and repetitive. A promising start felt like it didn't go anywhere after all the Asperger's thesis started in the middle.
I liked this book a lot, but was disappointed in it at the same time. I don't know if Picoult is getting predictable, or if I have just read so many of her books now that I can see what is coming. Whatever it is, it makes me sad. I was able to predict the outcome of the last two of her books that I read within the first few chapters...
TW FOR ABLEISM. LOTS OF IT. Violence.
And murder. Read at your own risk.
Spoilers too, but I don’t reccomend reading this.
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Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.
I
I usually LOVE Jodi Picoult’s books. She writes in a style that I like and writes her characters and points of view differently.
But holy shit.
This was traumatising to read.
For context, I am autistic, I luckily have been professionally diagnosed when I was quite young. I live being autistic every day.
This book was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever read. I am genuinely shocked this got published and approved. If I could give this book 0 stars, I 100% would.
The harmful retoric that vaccines cause autism was mentioned and was BELIEVED BY THE MOTHER. Not only has it been debunked MULTIPLE TIMES by scientists, but it is harmful. If you don’t give the kids vaccines, you’re scared of autism (an eyebrow raise imo) but you’re putting your kid at risk to harmful and life threatening diseases that you could have prevented with a simple vaccine. The doctor also believes it in one of the testimonies. Absolutely fucking sick. How did someone approve this shit???
Theo also is one of rhe most least likeable characters ever. He calls his brother the r slur (retard, i won’t say it again since it is triggering), says he doesn’t want kids because he spent his “whole childhood dealing with autism, I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life dealing with it too”, says he wishes his brother would be gone as it would solve all of his problems. It made me really upset, as I wonderes if anyone, even my own sister, might have felt this about me too. It was reallt hard to get through, and allistic (non-autistic) people might turn a blind eye, but it was reallt hard to get through. He also spied on her while she was nakedbecause he had the hots for her which I was like...ew.
And do not get me STARTED on Emma (the mother). She believed vaccines caused autism for one which I mentioned earlier, and she also completely disregarded Theo. She says “quirks” which made me stare in disgust. Like.....? She also says autism is a different ability which is
And murder. Read at your own risk.
Spoilers too, but I don’t reccomend reading this.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.
I
I usually LOVE Jodi Picoult’s books. She writes in a style that I like and writes her characters and points of view differently.
But holy shit.
This was traumatising to read.
For context, I am autistic, I luckily have been professionally diagnosed when I was quite young. I live being autistic every day.
This book was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever read. I am genuinely shocked this got published and approved. If I could give this book 0 stars, I 100% would.
The harmful retoric that vaccines cause autism was mentioned and was BELIEVED BY THE MOTHER. Not only has it been debunked MULTIPLE TIMES by scientists, but it is harmful. If you don’t give the kids vaccines, you’re scared of autism (an eyebrow raise imo) but you’re putting your kid at risk to harmful and life threatening diseases that you could have prevented with a simple vaccine. The doctor also believes it in one of the testimonies. Absolutely fucking sick. How did someone approve this shit???
Theo also is one of rhe most least likeable characters ever. He calls his brother the r slur (retard, i won’t say it again since it is triggering), says he doesn’t want kids because he spent his “whole childhood dealing with autism, I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life dealing with it too”, says he wishes his brother would be gone as it would solve all of his problems. It made me really upset, as I wonderes if anyone, even my own sister, might have felt this about me too. It was reallt hard to get through, and allistic (non-autistic) people might turn a blind eye, but it was reallt hard to get through. He also spied on her while she was nakedbecause he had the hots for her which I was like...ew.
And do not get me STARTED on Emma (the mother). She believed vaccines caused autism for one which I mentioned earlier, and she also completely disregarded Theo. She says “quirks” which made me stare in disgust. Like.....? She also says autism is a different ability which is
It bugs me when I have an entire story figured out from the beginning. No real mystery in this book. It was interesting to read all of the different perspectives of what it is like to deal with Aspberger's.
Definitely a solid four to four and a half stars. Not my favorite book of hers and not my least favorite either. My biggest complaint about the book are the mentions that vaccines cause autism. It’s mentioned a handful of times with no opposing views. It makes it sound like fact when it’s not and that was extremely frustrating. There were other bits and pieces about they story itself that I wished were different or aspects of the story that I wish she dove into a little more.
But overall, Picoult is simply a phenomenal author. Her characters are complex and well thought out. The relationships in her books, this included, are realistically complicated and discussed at a length that the reader truly understands the emotions and thoughts behind the actions and choices of the characters. Specifically in this book, Jacob’s relationships with the other characters were particularly interesting to consider and read about. As someone that has worked, like Jess, with kids with autism, it was amazing how many of my kids I saw in Jacob. He was well written, and a truly likable character.
Picoult’s books always leave me wanting more. I’m always left wondering what happens next for the characters? Getting that sort of reader engagement and investment is the mark of great author. I can’t wait to dive into more of her books and characters soon.
But overall, Picoult is simply a phenomenal author. Her characters are complex and well thought out. The relationships in her books, this included, are realistically complicated and discussed at a length that the reader truly understands the emotions and thoughts behind the actions and choices of the characters. Specifically in this book, Jacob’s relationships with the other characters were particularly interesting to consider and read about. As someone that has worked, like Jess, with kids with autism, it was amazing how many of my kids I saw in Jacob. He was well written, and a truly likable character.
Picoult’s books always leave me wanting more. I’m always left wondering what happens next for the characters? Getting that sort of reader engagement and investment is the mark of great author. I can’t wait to dive into more of her books and characters soon.
Summary: Jacob has Asperger's syndrome and an obsession with forensic analysis. When his social skills tutor is found dead, Jacob ends up the prime suspect. His mother Emma and his brother Theo are caught up too wondering if he could have done it...
Why I Read: I've enjoyed Jodi Picoult since I read My Sister's Keeper so I haunted the library until this was put on the shelves.
My Thoughts: While I read Handle With Care and Nineteen Minutes, I didn't like them that much; it felt more obligatory. I loved House Rules though. I feel like autism in general has become such an important topic as some parents refuse to vaccinate and blame vaccinations for causing autism which creates conditions for possible pandemics so I liked learning a little bit more about it (I realize that I will have to read more extensively to understand better but this provided a window for me to peek in.)
I really liked the characters, which is very important to me in a book. One thing I love in fictional characters is when they can spout off random facts, such as that one intern on Bones and Jacob who knows basically everything about whatever he becomes obsessed with. I loved Emma, a single mother struggling to care for Jacob and in the process somewhat ignoring Theo. I did not like Theo as much (he has a habit of breaking in to houses) but his feelings toward his brother reflected some of the feelings I've felt toward my neurotypical (ie "normal") sister so an accurate description of sibling relations. I also liked their lawyer Oliver, whose first case this basically is.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5. I loved this and found it much better than the last couple of Picoult books although it did not make me cry like Sister.
Title: Very important to the mystery.
Cover: I think it's really cute although the boy ought to be a teenager in order to accurately reflect the story.
Why I Read: I've enjoyed Jodi Picoult since I read My Sister's Keeper so I haunted the library until this was put on the shelves.
My Thoughts: While I read Handle With Care and Nineteen Minutes, I didn't like them that much; it felt more obligatory. I loved House Rules though. I feel like autism in general has become such an important topic as some parents refuse to vaccinate and blame vaccinations for causing autism which creates conditions for possible pandemics so I liked learning a little bit more about it (I realize that I will have to read more extensively to understand better but this provided a window for me to peek in.)
I really liked the characters, which is very important to me in a book. One thing I love in fictional characters is when they can spout off random facts, such as that one intern on Bones and Jacob who knows basically everything about whatever he becomes obsessed with. I loved Emma, a single mother struggling to care for Jacob and in the process somewhat ignoring Theo. I did not like Theo as much (he has a habit of breaking in to houses) but his feelings toward his brother reflected some of the feelings I've felt toward my neurotypical (ie "normal") sister so an accurate description of sibling relations. I also liked their lawyer Oliver, whose first case this basically is.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5. I loved this and found it much better than the last couple of Picoult books although it did not make me cry like Sister.
Title: Very important to the mystery.
Cover: I think it's really cute although the boy ought to be a teenager in order to accurately reflect the story.
I enjoyed reading this book and learning some aspects of Asperger Syndrome that I didn't know. A mother's love for her son, a son's caring about his brother and caring about someone he fell in love with. A very tight provoking read that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end.
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Another great book from Jodi! Working with kids with ASD, this book was so intriguing to me. Reading how she wrote Jacob’s chapters to try to help her readers learn more about Asperger’s syndrome, while also trying to solve this murder was brilliant! I also love the multiple POVs in this novel.
Not my favourite Jodi Picoult book (and yes, I have read them all.) I found that I was always waiting for the twist or the unknown to happen and then the book ended and it didn't happen. I did enjoy the story line and found that it was decently written. It was a fast and easy read.