Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.  This timely novel starts with a high school shooting.  But that is not the start of the problem.  As the author puts piece by piece together about the involved characters, causes, and complications, one realizes the shooter, Peter, was headed this direction for a long time.  But nobody put the pieces together to stop it.  I’m sure there are thousands of young people who have been teased, ignored, shoved around and tormented at school and at every group in which they have participated.  For Peter it started in pre-school.  It is pointed out over and over that if the bullied kids “tattle” the taunting is worse when no adults catch them at it.  Peter had had one friend, but in her determination to be one of the “in” kids, he lost her, too. The ending for her will surprise you.  The ending for Peter never seems very promising, as has been the case for all of his life. The anguish of the families is a main stay of the plot, too. No matter where your children are in the social pecking order, every parent should read this.  So should teachers, administrators, church adults, neighbors, grandparents,  coaches...everyone.  We need to come to a better understanding of what goes on and why some people are turning to violence to stop the violence against themselves.  Rates a 10 out of 10.  For more book reviews: http://queenbeewritings.blogspot.com/2013/07/one-second-after-by-william-r-forstchen.html