by Jodi Picoult
Oh my god this book. Powerful, thought provoking, well researched, beautifully written, and with well developed characters (even if you vehemently dislike some of them at times!). Deals with racism in a way I haven’t seen a book do in… well, ever! It is gripping. Also, as a lawyer, I found all of the legal elements fascinating.
It was so hard to put down. Even when I wasn’t reading it, I found myself thinking about it and talking about it. I wish this could be required reading, especially in high schools, to be honest. But my hope is that some people read it that actually need to change their behavior. I think it definitely helps you walk in someone else’s shoes and it deals with racism in a way that is very different than other books. I feel like it’s actually somewhat revolutionary.
The author’s note at the end is so revealing and powerful. She says that she did a ton of research and conducted interviews and it shows. She also says that this was an important book for her to write and that she learned the most from it of any of her books.
Bravo! A tour de force indeed.
