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Second Glance

by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)

3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 · rating details · 22,956 ratings · 1,720 reviews

From the moment Ross's fiancee Aimee was killed in a car accident, he's been trying to die too. But life won't let him go. His only hope now is that Aimee will come to him.
So when he hears of strange happenings at an ancient Indian burial ground near his sister's home, he heads to Comtossok- desperate for the rumours of a haunting to be true.
What he finds there is not Aime...more

Paperback, 483 pages

Published 2008 by Hodder (first published April 1st 2002)

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Mar 31, 2007 Wormie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Jodi Picoult is a fabulous story teller. She has a gift for sharing compelling stories, and for weaving intricate plot lines and interesting characters into a rich literary tapestry. In Second Glance Ms. Picoult has reached new highs. She introduces us to many different characters and story lines; she intertwines those characters to tell one fascinating fictional story; and she throws in a lesson about American history that is quite disturbing and educational. In Second Glance Picoult writes wit...more Jodi Picoult is a fabulous story teller. She has a gift for sharing compelling stories, and for weaving intricate plot lines and interesting characters into a rich literary tapestry. In Second Glance Ms. Picoult has reached new highs. She introduces us to many different characters and story lines; she intertwines those characters to tell one fascinating fictional story; and she throws in a lesson about American history that is quite disturbing and educational. In Second Glance Picoult writes with a magical descriptive quality that is reminiscent of Alice Hoffman, but undeniably Picoult in its detail, compassion, and intricacy. She talks of love and romance; reality and truth; guilt and responsibility; and science and the supernatural.

Second Glance is, on one level, a ghost story. When a developer tries to build on a piece of land in Comtosook, Vermont, strange things begin to happen. The ground freezes in August; the sky rains down rose petals; and the home that is being demolished somehow rebuilds itself at night. Ross Wakeman, a retired “ghost-hunter”, haunted by the death of his own fianc�, agrees to study the construction site for proof of ghosts. His work not only forces the locals to consider the existence of ghosts, but leads to the re-opening of a 70 year old murder case.

More than just a ghost story, Second Glance also teaches us about the horrors of the 1920s-1930s Vermont Eugenics project. In the 20s and 30s, some “learned” men in Vermont wanted to “preserve the state’s rural charm” by systematically eliminating “bad” genes from the reproductive gene pool. Violent tendencies, simple-mindedness, loose morals, etc, were believed to be the result of a poor genetic makeup, and Vermont’s population could be “cleansed” by eliminating these bad genes through forced sterilization. The local Abenaki Indians, having their own language and lifestyle, were victimized by the Eugenics laws, and often committed to mental hospitals and jails, and forced to undergo sterilization.

Beyond these two stories, Picoult shares several love stories. Ross is consumed by his love for Aimee, his fianc�, and is over-ridden by guilt that he could not save her from death. He flirts with death as a way of re-connecting with Aimee, and feels trapped on earth until he is smitten by a new mystery lady. Shelby loves her brother Ross, is completely devoted to her son Ethan, but longs for romantic love. Meredith loves her daughter Lucy and her grandmother Ruby, but is too absorbed in her work to find time for romantic love. Cissy loves her husband and her unborn child, but has difficulty in loving herself.

While I strongly recommend this novel, I find myself unable to summarize the plot. The story has twists and turns, rich detail, and interwoven story lines; and I fear that in attempting to summarize it, I would do a great disservice to the novel and to Jodi Picoult. Second Glance is at once a ghost story, a love story, and a murder mystery. It questions truth and reality, and opens the door to an acceptance of the supernatural. Second Glance also is a historical novel, sharing the sad truth of the Vermont Eugenics project and how that project effected the Abenaki. In the end, Second Glance is a compelling novel that should attract many readers and keep them up at night turning pages.
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Jan 14, 2009 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, reviewed

I really like Jodi Picoult, but the problem with reading many books by one author is that you start to recognize certain patterns and be able to predict the outcome of any given situation. I knew very early on what happened to Cecilia's baby, as I'm sure most readers did. I was also pretty sure I knew how Cecilia died because of a riddle I learned in elementary school. When the truth was revealed and I found I was right, I wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. I'm not trying to brag or anythin...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Athira rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: smthng-moves-inside-my-head

Do you believe in ghosts? or in what we call paranormal activity? I used to watch a show called 'Ghost Hunters'. As the name suggests, in this show they hunt ghosts from attics and old mansions; they kind of showed us the presence of an energy in these places with the help of some devices. I was actually piqued by the idea. I always believed in the unknown energy around us; something like the existence of a sixth sense. But when I picked 'Second Glance' to read I never expected the story to be s...more

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Aug 13, 2010 Marleen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This was an amazing read! Reading this story re-confirms why Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors.
I believe it's one of her finest. Not only do I sincerely enjoy her prose and expressive style, but I also love the fact that every time I read a Jodi Picoult book I learn something new and interesting. In this case she weaves the issues of eugenics and genetics into an original story of a love lost.
There are so many layers to this book, that’s what's so fascinating. The fact that there was a...more

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Feb 03, 2009 Deanna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Deanna by: Jennifer Bennett Trefz

Again, another book for me where you have to suspend your belief now and again. But a good story if you are easily amused. The end was the hardest to swallow.

Ross Wakeman has repeatedly puts his life at risk after the love of his life dies. When nothing works, and a job with a paranormal investigator brings him no closer to his former love, he moves in with his sister. As chance would have it, strange phenomena are plaguing the town, and Ross is drawn into an investigation of a piece of land th...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Marie Mengel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: picoult-jodi

As much as Picoult is a storyteller...she is also very good at writing history. She was able to intertwine so many important subjects into this book- that I had to remind myself that I was really only reading one novel and not twelve short stories.

AHHH...This book was so good with so many twists and turns. There are so many characters in this book that I had a difficult time keeping up--but eventually they all intertwine for a purpose.

It was eerie, scandalish, poetic, exaggerated, and right on...more

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May 10, 2008 Hirondelle rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-my-cup-of-tea, mystery, don´t-own

I used to read a lot of mystery novels, specially those which are plot dependent, when I was a kid so maybe that caused me to treat any given dates and little details as CLUES on which the mystery can turn, to always try to guess what could possibly happen. And I tend to do the math instinctively of ages and dates. It´s hard to stop that terrierlike reading mode. This book did not survive the terrier attack, way the plot turns just does not work with the dates and ages given. Maybe it was a bug...more

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Mar 29, 2009 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Tori

I had trouble getting into this, at first. I found the changing pov choppy. But about halfway through the book I found myself caught up in the story. As usual her work is frightening in how it describes the myriad positive and negative emotions involved in motherhood.

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Dec 30, 2008 Tira rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: someone who REALLY enjoys Jodi Picoult

Shelves: uh-no

This was another one of my attempts at listening to a book on cd while in the car. Unfortunately this one was a flop. I'm used to Jodi Picoult using lots of characters in her stories because I have read two of her other books. However this one just never seemed to gel in anyway. I have to admit that I only made it about 2 chapters into the book before I completely lost interest. The characters did not seem like that needed to have any connection to each other what so ever. I felt like I needed t...more

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Mar 25, 2009 Sage rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is Picoult's personal favourite of her novels, and I can see why. It embodies the main elements of her style which make them appealing to her readership. Having an appreciation for her style, and being a good sport about the daliances into chick lit or cheesy scifi territory, I found the story quite enjoyable.
That said in the abstract, this is clearly not world rocking literature. The ghost story, in the historical and paranormal aspects, was very interesting and well done. I even lea...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Latham rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult is intense, intresting and absolutely phenomonal. It makes you think about your beliefs and seeing is not always what it seems. A plot of land is sold in Comtoosok, Vermont, and is ready to be built. There are strange occurences happening around the land and is frightening many people. This is when Ross Wakemen gets involved. He's a ghost hunter who only does ghost hunting in hopes of finding his dead ex Aimee. He 'retires' in ghost hunting and moves in with he's si...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Jandy James added it · review of another edition

As previously stated, the thing I love about Jodi Picoult’s books are the ethical dilemmas. In this book the issue is one that I debate internally all the time: eugenics. It seems dangerous to have an official policy regulating reproduction. And yet I am sympathetic to the desire to have healthy children. The “slippery-slope” argument is often used here and it does not convince me. Choosing to not have a child with a genetic disease such as Muscular Dystrophy or Cystic Fibrosis is not the same a...more

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Dec 19, 2012 MC rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you're going to write a book from the perspective of a dozen different characters, then you better do it right.

Unfortunately, Picoult doesn't do it right. Not even close. I only got as far as Chapter 3 or so and couldn't stomach the obviously dated speech and unconvincing behaviors of the characters. No self-respecting teenage boy would use the phrase "As if" or still use a Game Boy. And how can Ross just abandon his camera equipment most likely worth thousands of dollars and blithely refer t...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Brynn Sugarman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In "Second Glance," Picoult confronts the paranormal, which is not usually a chosen theme of hers. As someone who has just written a time travel novel ("Midnight at the Taj Mahal," for Middle Grade readers,) I appreciate the theory of time warp presented in this book: that what may seem like a ghost may simply be a "wrinkle in time," allowing us to witness a past which preexisted in a given location, and which is not malevolent but as fully human as we are, and wholly oblivious to us and our pre...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Tracey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bestselling author Jodi Picoult has published an astounding twenty novels, and has achieved global success as a writer. Probably best known for her novel My Sister's Keeper published in 2004 and later made into a movie in 2009, reading Second Glance was my first introduction to Jodi Picoult's work.

The blurb describes Second Glance as: "One of Jodi Picoult's eeriest and most engrossing works, this is a story about the things that come back to haunt us - literally and metaphorically." Reading this...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Arlene Hayman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I want to thank the ladies in my book club for urging me to continue reading this novel. Because the story seemed to be so fragmented and disjointed in the beginning chapters, I had difficulty in following it and in maintaining an interest in the novel. As a result of our group discussion (in which I asked to have the ending revealed to me), I persevered, and my interest was piqued as I began to understand the relationships between characters who seemed unrelated in the beginning. As I neared th...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Nate Irvin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a fairly decent book, but I did not enjoy it. Reading it felt less like enjoying a story than digesting a bunch of facts. I did think the character of Ross was interesting, but his self-loathing got very tiresome; eventually I no longer felt sympathy for him, but irritation. Considering his turmoil is in some ways the focal point on which the whole story turns, that presents a problem. The rest of the characters had great potential - Ethan especially - but were kind of only one-dimensio...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Jessica Imhoff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Second Glance is my most recent Jodi Picoult novel, as I am making an effort to read her books in order for the purpose of seeing her progression. As always, there are several characters that seem to be completely unrelated, but as the plot unfolds, the connections become revealed. Full of many plot twists, Second Glance not only educates about the issue of genetics, but offers a unique experience with the paranormal. Upon stumbling upon this book, I was unsure of how I should perceive it becaus...more

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Jun 25, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit

One of the better Picoult books that I have read lately. Took a while to get into it, as it like starts off with a trillion characters and going one direction, but then right before it reaches the end of "Book One" it twists and the rest of the book makes itself clear. "Book Two" was fantastic and my favourite part of the book while "Book Three" ("Part"?) just kind of wraps everything up.

It starts off a ghost story, which was kind of lame, but then it gets into the moral code of sending Indians...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Before I go on, I just want to make it clear, I am not a fan of ghost stories. I don't mind suspense films or books, but ghosts? It's not that I do not believe in them, I can't disprove they don't exist so I am willing to keep an open mind. I don't watch the endless amounts of 'ghost hunter' programmes that litter the TV channels, nor do I wish to. I would rather not go messing around in that world thank you very much.

Having said all that, this is a Jodi Picoult book, and regardless of the subje...more Before I go on, I just want to make it clear, I am not a fan of ghost stories. I don't mind suspense films or books, but ghosts? It's not that I do not believe in them, I can't disprove they don't exist so I am willing to keep an open mind. I don't watch the endless amounts of 'ghost hunter' programmes that litter the TV channels, nor do I wish to. I would rather not go messing around in that world thank you very much.

Having said all that, this is a Jodi Picoult book, and regardless of the subject matter, you know you are in for a great read and a whole new perspective. Yes she will include your viewpoint, but she'll also include everyone else's too, just to make sure you have seen the debate from all sides.

Combining the world of ghosts, Native American history and burial grounds, the past and the future, a multitude of characters connected in every way imaginable, without being contrived, was a task and a half. And Jodi pulled it off like a dream! She captured the times so well, you know that whilst writing this book her walls must have been covered with family trees, organagrams, images and photos, maps and goodness knows what else. How she manages to research all the things she does for her books the technicalities of law, medicine and the subtleties of cultural understandings, I am amazed she has time to write the amount of books she does.

I was engrossed from the first page, with 480 pages read in 3 days, I was blown away by this book. The story of how a man is constantly searching for something to fill the void after the love of his life dies, made me wonder what my own husband would be like if I died. Reading about the treatment of the Native Americans in the early 1900's came as no surprise and made me realise that 'Red Queen' theory (Matt Ridley) is still very much at play even today. It also made me keen to learn more about Native American people, having 2 friends with Native American heritage, it now seems more important than ever. One of the gifts Jodi's writing gives to people, she makes them wake up to things that they should have been aware of previously.

At several points in the story, I found myself hoping, and wondering whether the skin disease Ethan suffered from, keeping himself and his mum Shelby from living a 'normal' life would go away once the issue around the burial grounds had gone away, but it didn't, and it was good that it didn't; it was also good to re look at my view of normal lives, do any of us have them?

As the story progressed it was interesting to see how people were reacting to the changes in the world around them, views they held about the Native Americans, about ghosts and about themselves. I was shocked to see HELLP syndrome mentioned when Lia's notes were examined. I had at moments suspected it whilst reading the story, but seeing as though my own midwife had not diagnosed it within me, the chance that Jodi had it in her book were very slim in deed; so to see the words HELLP syndrome jump out of the page at me, I will admit brought tears to my eyes and a flicker of hope. It also raised the level of respect I had for Jodi to an even greater level, making me think "well if a writer can research it and make mention of it in her fictional book, then why the heck did my midwife not research it? She is a midwife afterall!!"

This was a huge plot with so many story lines to consider, and yet, it all flowed really well. It was seamless, the twists and turns, the yearning for the characters to connect the dots and finally the joy when they did. A few nice surprises at the end and overall another great read from Jodi. Not what I expected, but then are any of Jodi's books what you expect; we may be in the same sport but I doubt any of us are in the same league.

I have another four Jodi Picoult books to read, and even my husband is in agreement, if Jodi's written it, we'll read it! (less)

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Nov 20, 2010 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Anyone who knows me knows that I have this love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. (Well, it's sort of a one-way thing, really.) I think she is a wonderful, fluid writer with a powerful gift for altering her voice to suit each character. So when she screws something up, I get madder at her than I do at other, less talented writers.

Second Glance indulges in a typical Picoult conceit: it is told from a number of perspectives, and many of them seem unrelated at first; as the novel progresses, the...more

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Oct 23, 2010 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do love Jodi Picoult books, even if I occasionally feel guilty for reading what sometimes feel like junk food literature. Even if it is empty calories, I can't deny that I love her writing and her pop psychology insights into the human mind. She is a writer with a witty turn of phrase and although there is a strong tendency to desperately make you emotional, it's often worth persevering. It's escapism, after all.

If you have read any of her other well researched and sentimental books, you'll al...more

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Aug 08, 2010 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookring

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 20, 2010 Tifnie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Jodi Picoult fans, of course.

Shelves: historical-fiction

I was told I wouldn't be able to sleep during and after reading Dante's Inferno. However, no one prepared me for the sleepless nights while reading Picoult's Second Glance.

Second Glance is about the paranormal, scientific genetic testing, fate, destiny, and love.

Jodi Picoult takes a unique piece of Vermont history and weaves it into a gripping tale. One of her more complex novels, it takes a while for the reader to understand and keep track of the many characters. Once you are more than half way...more

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Sep 01, 2009 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Strange things are happening in Comtosook, Vermont. It's August and temperature is fluctuating wildly, rose petals are falling like snow, and large chunks of land are freezing. We meet Ross, a young man devastated by the death of his fiancé, who has attempted suicide numerous times in hopes of reuniting with her. He takes a job with a company that investigates paranormal activities, hoping to be able to reconnect with her. The company is hired to investigate a controversial building site, which...more

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May 03, 2010 Bryanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

By the title, it's not that hard to guess and/or assume that paranormal activity will be involved. And sure enough, starting at like, page 9, Ross Wakeman is trying to hunt down a ghost that is huanting a couple's bedroom. Anywho, this book is... I don't know, the plot is kind of everywhere. Okay, let's see if I can draw up some sort of review, everything is so muddled right now...

What if... *thinking* you wanted death, and badly, if only it meant being with the one person that meant the most to...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Gabbi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adolescence, love, detective

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Jodi Picoult
Iš antro žvilgsnio

Iš viso: 429 p.

***Jau trečią kartą rašau... Ir kaskart kas nors nutinka ir recenzija išsitrina, todėl šįkart rašysiu trumpai***

Ši knyga manęs nesužavėjo taip kaip kitos šios autorės istorijos. Vienintelis joje patikęs dalykas - idėja, romano pagrindas. Tai eugenikos projektas, iš tiesų įvykdytas Vermonte XX a. 3-4 dešimtmečiuose. Eugenika - tai nekuklus projektas, užsibrėžęs tikslą "išvalyti" miestelį nuo įvairių rūšių padugnių, kaip silpnapročiai, žudikai, maniakai...more Jodi Picoult
Iš antro žvilgsnio

Iš viso: 429 p.

***Jau trečią kartą rašau... Ir kaskart kas nors nutinka ir recenzija išsitrina, todėl šįkart rašysiu trumpai***

Ši knyga manęs nesužavėjo taip kaip kitos šios autorės istorijos. Vienintelis joje patikęs dalykas - idėja, romano pagrindas. Tai eugenikos projektas, iš tiesų įvykdytas Vermonte XX a. 3-4 dešimtmečiuose. Eugenika - tai nekuklus projektas, užsibrėžęs tikslą "išvalyti" miestelį nuo įvairių rūšių padugnių, kaip silpnapročiai, žudikai, maniakai, girtuokliai, prievartautojai, bepročiai ir panašiai. Primena Hitlerį. Ir ši sąsaja savaime intriguoja.

Be pačios idėjos, man patiko ir išradingas autorės humoras. Kartais tiesiog nesusilaikydavau nesusijuokusi.

Bet vis dėlto, mano nuomone, trūkumai nusveria privalumus. Visų pirma, kai kurie siužeto vingiai buvo visai neįtikinami. Kaip, pavyzdžiui, du vaikai nukeliavo į karjerą abu išliko gyvi po sprogdinimo, ir netgi su duaugusieji - Mereditė, kurios koją sutraišk nuolauža ir Rosas, kurio rankoje sprogo dinamitas. Rosas, beje, pabudo lavoninėje. Apskritai, pabaiga sutapo su kulminacija ir ji buvo gerokai perdėta sprogimais, griuvimais, nuolaužų liūtimis ir visa kita.

Keisčiausia buvo, jog nežuvo nė vienas dabarties pasakojimo laiko vekėjas, nors buvo pakankamai tokių galimybių. Tą akimirką, kai žuvo Rosas aš net sušukau mintyse: "Pagaliau!", nes tai buvo vienintelis dramatiškas ir sukrečiantis įvykis. Bet jis, žinoma, vėliau atsigavo lavoninėje ir tai viską sugadino. Man labiausiai nepatiko, kad daugiausia veiksmo vyko praeityje, o ne dabartyje, nes, kam tada reikia dabarties, jei ji ne tokia įdomi?

Pats laikas nupasakoti pagrindinius įvykius. Rosas Veikmanas- "nemirtingas" vyrukas. Kai jis neteko savo vienintelės meilės - Emilės, kelis kartus bandė nusižudytim, tačiau jam taip ir nepavyko to padaryti. Tuomet jis pradėjo jos ieškoti vaiduoklio pavidalu. Tačiau nė nepajuto, kaip įsipainiojo į klaikią praeities žmogžudystės istoriją. Pamilęs materializavusį vaiduoklį - Liją Bomont, netrukus sužino, jog ji tėra vaiduoklis, praeities šmėkla. Jis pradeda narplioti nusikaltimą, remdamasis vien neramios sielos egzistavimu, tačiau prie jo palaipsniui prisijungia ir miestelio detektyvas, sesuo Šelbė, rankiojusi informaciją bibliotekoje. Galiausiai išaiškinus sudėtingą bylą, Rosas suranda nužudytosios dukraitę Mereditę ir pabudęs iš mirties patalo supranta, jog visą tą laiką mylėjo ne Emilę, ne Liją, o Mereditę, kurią atsitiktinumo dėka Rosas išgelbėjimo avarijos metu, kai žuvo Emilė.

Rosas yra itin depresuota, jautri asmenybė. Jis kenčia nuo pat tos akimirkos, kai avarijoje žūsta Emilė - jo gyvenimo meilė. Išgyvenęs skaudžią netektį jis bando žudytis - pirmą kartą patekęs į elektros audrą, antrą - automobiliu nulėkęs nuo kelio į ežerą, trečią - buvo užpultas Niujorke, ketvirtą - persipjovė venas. Tačiau jam velnioniškai pasisekė, nes visais kartais jis liko gyvas. Tai šiek tiek prieštarauja logikai, nes dievaži, ne vienas norėtų būti nemirtingas. Tačiau Rosas nerodo savo liūdesio, jis mieliau kenačia vienas. Taip pat jis yra savanaudiškas. Jis nori mirti ir nė nesusimąsto, kas nutiks Šelbei, Etanui, jei jam vis dėlto pavyktų nusižudyti. Tačiau jis nuoširdus ir stengiasi sakyti tiesą, nors kartais ji ir žeidžia. Jis tarsi koks herojus, didvyris visame romane - tragiškas, nesuprastas, vienišas, pasiaukojantis ir, svarbiausia, nemirtingas.

VIs dėlto manau, kad autorė romanu norėjo pasakyti tai, jog joks žmogus negali manipuliuoti kitais kaip lėlėmis, žaislais, tarsi jis būtų valdovas, galintis nulemti, kas gyvens, o kas mirs, kas galės susilaukti atžalų, o kas tam tiesiog netinka, kas turi teisę į žmogiškumą, o kas yra jo nevertas.

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Jan 18, 2013 Shirley Truong rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Second Glance” by Jodi Picoult tells a story about complex love and haunting memories of Ross Wakeman. The novel is set in the small town of Comtosook, Vermont. When an old man sells his land to developers that have the mind set of creating a strip mall, he inadvertently stirs up protests among the town’s Abenaki tribe. Their goal is to prove that an ancestor of theirs had been laid to rest on the land. If they can prove that this is true, the developers have to leave the land alone. Because of...more “Second Glance” by Jodi Picoult tells a story about complex love and haunting memories of Ross Wakeman. The novel is set in the small town of Comtosook, Vermont. When an old man sells his land to developers that have the mind set of creating a strip mall, he inadvertently stirs up protests among the town’s Abenaki tribe. Their goal is to prove that an ancestor of theirs had been laid to rest on the land. If they can prove that this is true, the developers have to leave the land alone. Because of these events, Comtosook starts to have bizarre occurrences such as raining rose petals and changing weather patterns. People begin to believe that supernatural forces are trying to scare people and give the locals a warning of the possible things that may happen if they continue to create buildings and stir up the dead.
Ross Wakeman has survived many attempts of suicide. He has swallowed pills and has been hit by lightning, but by chance he can not seem to die. His only desire is to leave life behind in order to be with his lost love. Ross Wakeman takes up a job as a ghost hunter in order to find his fiancée, Aimee, who was killed in a car accident many years ago. He goes to visit his sister, Shelby, in hope of encountering Aimee’s spirit when he hears of the strange events that are happening. However, when he arrives in Comtosook, he meets a young woman named Lia Beaumont who ignites life in him for the first time in years. Like Ross, Lia is searching for answers. With the aid of a local from the area, Ross unearths the secrets of a scandal that has been forgotten. Ross helps to confirm that Comtosook had been used to bury Native Americans at one point in time, which saves the land from being turned into a recreational mall. As a result, Picoult skillfully sets the stage for the paranormal world, as well as, the redemption of heart’s painful pasts.
Picoult is known for producing novels that travel back and forth in time to uncover the answers of a current problem. She also uses the technique of using a single character to narrate each chapter. As the chapters change, so does the narrator. Although it may seem confusing at first, when the reader gets the characters straight, it brings the novel to a whole other level by incorporating multiple perspectives seamlessly. In doing so, Picoult weaves different personalities into a master work of fiction. This is an excellent novel. It is definitely a page- turner and makes the reader contemplate multifaceted problems that are not clear cut in solely black and white. She is a master of capturing the minds of people by revealing controversial topics. I personally, always take away a bit of a better understanding of the topic that Picoult writes about in her novel. I for one hate reading history. However, whether the novel is about a certain culture or history, I am able to appreciate the story. In this story in particular, Picoult questions the ethics of eugenics. It is basically the study of breeding better humans. In the novel, Spencer Pike, studies this in his youth and tries to create a unified race with the blue prints of many generations of genetics data. It explores America’s dark history for attempting to increase the White population while eliminating other races. Back in the day, surveys were used to map out extended degenerate families. These often provided family history about Abenaki Indians, French Canadians, and indigent folks. Laws were passed that supported “voluntary” sterilization of these individuals to prevent further births of a “wrong family.” However, people were taken against their will and sterilized just because two doctors had signed off the proper papers. This continues to happen even today though which makes it even more shocking. Human genome mapping and choosing certain genes to stop diseases in families, as well as, cloning are highly debated topics in today’s world. They raise the question of whether these practices are moral.
I have never disliked a novel of Picoult. The only thing that I find as a drawback from reading so many of her novels is the pattern that occurs in them. Yes, she tells amazing stories. However, the reader will be able to predict her endings after reading several books from her. This is true for any author. I knew that it had to be some sort of accident or a murder caused by a loved one. When the story and the truth are revealed at the end, it makes me feel relieved, but in a way I feel unsatisfied with the results. I like surprises in my novels and that does not happen that often when I read novels for Picoult. Yet her novels are still great. They tackle controversial issues that are questionable and never just black and white, but rather gray.
I loved it. I definitely would recommend this novel to anyone. This novel will cause people to think twice about the past history of the world. So even if you hate history, you will be exposed to it in a new light. Her novels are absolutely appropriate for high-school students and above. If you like a well-written novel with strong characters then read this novel. As an overview, you will feel heartbroken and disappointed in the history of America, but you will finish it feeling relieved with an insight of conflicts of the past and even today.

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Apr 13, 2012 Jennifer Edlund rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First of all I just have to say that this may be one of the worst Jodi Picoult books I've ever read--one of the most utterly and completely ridiculous storylines in her line of books so far. First off, the beginning is overwhemingly confusing---so many different characters I coudn't keep my focus. This was a huge flaw. Second, all the history and scientific crap really bored me out of my gord. Would have made this read so much smoother if she cut it down about 75 percent. It also rubbed me the w...more

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Apr 19, 2010 Ronda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ASTONISHING!!!! This book was sooooo amazing. It made me laugh and cry and sit dumbfounded at moments. It very intense the level of grief she was able to reveal in different ways in so many of the characters. I loved the twists and turn this story took as well. This story had so many levels both in the present, the past, and the distant past covering 4 different generations and somehow Picoult keeps it all together and spins a tale that truly touches the heart and reminds you how strong and how...more

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About Jodi Picoult

Picoult was born and raised in Nesconset on Long Island, New York. Her first story, at age 5 was "The Lobster Which Misunderstood." She studied writing at Princeton University, graduating in 1987, and had two short stories published by Seventeen magazine while still in college. Immediately after graduation, she took on a series of miscellaneous jobs, from editing at a textbook publishing company t...more

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“Love is not a because, it's a no matter what.” — 975 people liked it

“Did you ever walk through a room that's packed with people, and feel so lonely you can hardly take the next step?” — 956 people liked it

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