A lot can happen in 19 minutes: you can mow your lawn, or drive to town, you can even bake scones… in this book the nineteen minutes refer to a school shooting. We learn about Peter, the shooter, who was bullied mercilessly from kindergarten through to high school, and how he just came to that straw that broke the camel’s back. We also learn from the survivors of the shooting, his former best friend Josie, the parents of the victims and the lawyers in the aftermath.
Jodi Picoult is a master storyteller and manages to weave a story where you simultaneously feel bad for the perpetrator and condemn his deeds at the same time.
For the life of me, I cannot fathom why this book is banned. I think it should be compulsory reading for bullies, so they can understand what their actions bring out in their victims. Peter’s reaction is extreme (although it seems to be happening on a weekly basis in the United States) but as someone who was bullied as a child, I understand his desire to strike back.
Read for A Librarian and her Books Reading Challenge 2025
Prompt 2: Banned Book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️