jenniferbbookdragon 's review for:

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

5.0

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Powerful and surprising,  with a twist at the end. Picoult takes us into a school shooting,  the events leading up to it and the aftermath. This brought up a lot of feelings about bullying,  parenting,  education,  and guns in a way that defies the politics and focuses on people. There are no winners,  only survivors,  and a community forever scarred and changed. The equal focus on the high schoolers, parents, police, and lawyers highlighted the humanity of all the characters and reminded me that we all contribute to the environment that creates tragedy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Murder

The main focus is a school shooting with bullying over 10 years.