Nineteen Minutes

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult many times takes on current and hot issues. This book was no let down. For starters the book is about bullying at school which lead to a school shooting (which took nineteen minutes, killed ten high schoolers, and injured many more). We learn about the family that the child/shooter (Peter) came from along with the other main characters. The story also involves the judge Alex Cormier and her daughter Josie, one time friend of Peter.
Peter begins life as a sensitive, sweet boy and is quickly preyed upon by the 'popular' kids. He is physically assaulted and mentally tormented from kindergarten to high school.
Josie starts out as Peter's only friend and protector until she makes it into the 'in' crowd and leaves Peter behind.
Alex begins as a public defender and works her way up to judge. She seems to be unable to relate with Josie in anyway besides through the law and talks about justice.
Peter's parents are loving but oblivious and very wrapped up in their own careers. They seem to be of the mind that he should just toughen up and fight back. Peter's father is a university professor that is an expert on happiness (IRONIC!) and is mother is a midwife. He also had an older brother, Joey, the golden child. Joey was just another person Peter could never live up to. Joey is killed by a drunk driver.
In Peter's defense, his lawyer uses PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder and likens it to battered woman syndrome). It is a genius defense.
This book made me question my own parenting style, the parenting of just about everyone I know......and if I ever want my kids to go back to school.
Picoult is one of my favorite authors for the topics she is willing to take on and the twists and turns she takes in order to show the side of the story usually not mentioned by the media.

Rating 4.75 I loved this book. It would be a good book to discuss. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because I don't know if I could read it again.
Rating R Bullying, violence, sexual conduct, foul language.