Nineteen Minutes in Crazy Challenge Connection

Feb 21, 2013 Connie N. rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, new-hampshire, realistic-fiction, white, hand-on-cover

Fascinating story of a bullied boy who becomes involved in a school shooting similar to Colombine. The 19 minutes of the title refers to the amount of time it took for him to destroy so many lives and rip apart a small NH town. I've always identified with the victims in these types of news stories and have been unable to sympathize or empathize with the shooter, but this book looked at all angles of this situation, describing the thoughts of the victims, the families of the victims, the shooter, Fascinating story of a bullied boy who becomes involved in a school shooting similar to Colombine. The 19 minutes of the title refers to the amount of time it took for him to destroy so many lives and rip apart a small NH town. I've always identified with the victims in these types of news stories and have been unable to sympathize or empathize with the shooter, but this book looked at all angles of this situation, describing the thoughts of the victims, the families of the victims, the shooter, the family of the shooter, and even the lawyers and judge. So many different viewpoints, all of them suffering in one way or another because this is just a horrible crime no matter how you look at it. I was shocked at the cruelty of the bullies who drove Peter to this crime, but their actions seemed pretty realistic. This book was extremely emotional and irritating and courageous and tragic, all rolled into one.

I liked the format the author used--talking in the present, then slipping back into the past for several chapters, then reminding us where we stand in the present again, then building the characters and the stories by reviewing the past. Interesting, and it kept the story moving forward very well. Also an interesting choice for the cover art--two young people holding hands. We're left to wonder whether it's Josie holding Peter's hand...or perhaps her boyfriend Matt's hand. Or it could be Lacy holding her son Peter's hand...see what I mean about different viewpoints? different angles?

I loved this poetic description of Josie's boyfriend, "Like always, he made her head swim with seasons--his hair was all the colors of autumn; his eyes the bright blue of a winter sky; his smile as wide as any summer sun."

I felt a lot of empathy for the mother of the shooter who really had no idea that this would happen. She faced the animosity of everyone in the town, particularly the parents of the victims, of course. But one friend spoke about the nice memories she had of Peter as a young child. "She took a step toward Lacy. Something still exists as long as there's someone around to remember it, right?" She wanted Lacy to hang on to those warm memories as she faced a new world with a son who had changed into someone who could commit such a heinous crime.

Here's a thought-provoking quote, "But then again, maybe bad things happen because it's the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look like." ...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Amy Hayes rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amy-s-big-book-challenge-2105

A tragic and eye opening story that forces you to see a tragedy through new eyes and explores a nationwide problem, bullying. This should be required reading for all high school students and their parents. Phenomenal! Jodi Picoult is a master!

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