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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
So, my official rating for this book would be 4.5 stars.
I really enjoy Jodi Picoult books, although I hadn't read one since high school. I picked this one up at a second hand bookstore for a couple of dollars without really knowing what it was about beyond a quick scan of the summary on the back of the book. The summary doesn't mention it's a school shooting, but I had pretty much inferred it before I started the book.
This was a tough read because it asked a lot of questions I've thought a lot about. I remember, in high school, writing a paper comparing the Columbine shooters to Frankenstein's monster. I don't necessarily agree with everything I said in that paper anymore (which is growth, because I was seventeen then and twenty-four now) but it's still easy for me to want to sympathize with people who have been mistreated their whole lives.
So I sympathized with Peter. And I sympathized with Josie. I have NO sympathy for abusers.
However, being able to sympathize with fictional school shooters definitely leaves an icky feeling in my tummy. I know this was released in 2007, before mass/school shootings were as common as they are now, with really only Columbine and a few other examples to look towards. But for me, now, there's the conflicting emotions of shooters who do it for attention, for racist or sexist or homophobic reasons, who have no reasoning besides wanting to cause others pain, and it's hard to see that and then turn around and say, "oh, but THIS shooter was sympathetic!"
I don't know. It's just a lot of conflicting emotions. It gets 4.5 stars because I didn't LOVE the final chapter rounding everything up.
But overall, I really liked the book. It made me cry. It made me think. It made me feel a lot of things, like a good book should. I'm glad I picked it up and read it. I'll probably look into more Jodi Picoult books in the future, or reread the ones from my past I barely remember.
I really enjoy Jodi Picoult books, although I hadn't read one since high school. I picked this one up at a second hand bookstore for a couple of dollars without really knowing what it was about beyond a quick scan of the summary on the back of the book. The summary doesn't mention it's a school shooting, but I had pretty much inferred it before I started the book.
This was a tough read because it asked a lot of questions I've thought a lot about. I remember, in high school, writing a paper comparing the Columbine shooters to Frankenstein's monster. I don't necessarily agree with everything I said in that paper anymore (which is growth, because I was seventeen then and twenty-four now) but it's still easy for me to want to sympathize with people who have been mistreated their whole lives.
So I sympathized with Peter. And I sympathized with Josie. I have NO sympathy for abusers.
Spoiler
I didn't care that Matt died. I didn't even really care that Josie shot him. Josie (and Peter, to an extent) was an abuse victim who reacted on impulse because she feared she had no other way out. I don't begrudge abuse victims their violent thoughts, even if I don't condone violent actions, because as an abuse victim myself...I've been there. So when it comes to fictional scenarios, abuse victims getting the last laugh, in a way, over their abusers? I see no problem with it.However, being able to sympathize with fictional school shooters definitely leaves an icky feeling in my tummy. I know this was released in 2007, before mass/school shootings were as common as they are now, with really only Columbine and a few other examples to look towards. But for me, now, there's the conflicting emotions of shooters who do it for attention, for racist or sexist or homophobic reasons, who have no reasoning besides wanting to cause others pain, and it's hard to see that and then turn around and say, "oh, but THIS shooter was sympathetic!"
I don't know. It's just a lot of conflicting emotions. It gets 4.5 stars because I didn't LOVE the final chapter rounding everything up.
Spoiler
I knew Peter was going to commit suicide, but I'm disappointed we didn't see Lacy or Lewis' reactions. I don't really understand Josie getting five years in prison when we don't get any of her trial or like. Did she get to tell everyone how abusive Matt was towards her? Did she explain that he had threatened suicide if she had left him? Did she get to share her story about the fact that he would physically hurt her, would try and isolate her, would degrade her? That felt...bad to me. Also Alex being pregnant again?? Okay.But overall, I really liked the book. It made me cry. It made me think. It made me feel a lot of things, like a good book should. I'm glad I picked it up and read it. I'll probably look into more Jodi Picoult books in the future, or reread the ones from my past I barely remember.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a book that all teenagers and parents of teenagers, especially in America, must read. And then talk about it together. It is recognizable on so many levels. I just can't fathom why this book is banned in America, just because it has the word "erection" in if somewhere. Very close minded, when bullying, popularity and guns are such important topics.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jodi Picoult is a gifted writer, but her formula grows weary after the 2nd or 3rd book. By page 160/455, I skipped to the end to successfully prove my predictions correct ...
4,5 tähteä. Teos on tiiliskivi, jonka lopulta luin parissa päivässä. En malttanut laskea kirjaa käsistäni, mikä on yleensä hyvän kirjan merkki. Kirja käsittelee kouluampumista useasta eri näkökulmasta ja eri aikakerroksissa: Kuinka murhaajaksi kasvetaan? Miltä urhien ja tekijän vanhemmista tuntuu? Millainen on tutkina- ja oikeusprosessi? Eri näkökulmat toivat teokseen syvyyttä ja vivahteikuutta. Teos kysyy, kenellä on vastuu tapahtumista ja kenellä on oikeus tuomita. Nuorten klikkiytymistä ja sosiaalista asemaa kuvataan tarkasti ja oivaltavasti, ja etenkin koulukiusaamisen kuvaus tuntui luissa ja ytimissä. Teoksessa on melko paljon ennalta arvattavia käänteitä, mutta ne on tarpeeksi mielenkiintoisesti kirjoitettu, etteivät haitanneet lukukokemusta. Hahmot ovat moniulotteisia, vaikkakin muutamiin avainkäänteisiin olisin kaivannut hieman lisää pohjustusta heidän kokemusmaailmastaan ja persoonastaan. Usean tietokirjan pohjalta olen ymmärtänyt, että kouluampujilla on usein jokin vakava persoonallisuushäiriö, minkä vuoksi odotin myös tämän puolen käsittelyä teoksessa. Tämän puute sekä yksi juoniaukko jäi kaivelemaan puolikkaan tähden verran. Teos on aiheeltaan raskas, mutta kerronnallisesti kevyt luettava. Suomennoksesta on paljonkin sanottavaa, mutta luulen teoksen ytimen kuitenkin välittyneen. Lukukokemuksessa oli jotain samaa Pienen elämän kanssa.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes