Reading Response #3 to Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

       Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is an incredible book.  It tells the story of a school shooter and how he is dealing with all of the pressure and realizing what he did.  This is such an interesting and conflicting element of the story.  I understand Peter's, the shooter's, side but also feel for all of the families that were either directly or indirectly affected by this terrible tragedy.  Peter doesn't feel what he did was wrong because he had no one.  All of the 'popular' had ruined his life so he believed he had the right to ruin theirs'.
       Another reason this book is so amazing is that there is a character for every reader to relate to, with their own problems.  The plot line is so intense that it is some times difficult to keep up with who is who.  There is everything from gay, to suicidal, to special ed, to popular, to nerd, to distressed mother.  I think it is interesting because all of these people are so different and have hardly anything in common. Though one thing that will bond them together for the rest of their lives, is the shooting.  This connects them in a way that nothing else can.  No one else, parents or police officers, can truly understand what they are going through.  The only people they can rely on to relate to is each other.  This is a really intense way for the author to bring all of the tons of characters with their different personalities together.
       Another issue in this book is gun violence.  I do not believe there is enough action against gun violence right now.  There have been too many school shootings, though gun violence doesn't just apply to this.  Though this is where the media stresses it.  This book truly touched me and made me realize just how hard it must be to go to school with people you know and love in the morning and then when you come home they will never be there again.  I really like this book and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.