Nineteen MinutesNineteen Minutes
Score Modern
What it's about
In nineteen minutes, a bullied seventeen-year-old named Peter Houghton walks into his New Hampshire high school with guns and changes the small town of Sterling forever. Josie Cormier, his former best friend and the daughter of the judge assigned to the case, was there and says she remembers nothing. As the trial approaches, the book moves back through the years of torment and tries to understand how it happened.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and one of Picoult's most acclaimed books. It refuses easy answers about who is to blame, and the courtroom twist at the end is classic Picoult.
You'll love it if you liked
The Lovely Bones
Big Little Lies
House RulesGood to know
It depicts a school shooting and relentless bullying, and also includes sexual assault and self-harm. It has been challenged in some schools.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller80 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #41 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #181 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #363 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
More by Jodi Picoult
Small Great ThingsHouse Rules
Handle with Care
Mad HoneyIf you like this, read next
The Help
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Hate U Give
The Last Song
The Deal
RoomExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Nineteen Minutes worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and one of Picoult's most acclaimed books. It ranks #363 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Nineteen Minutes about?
In nineteen minutes, a bullied seventeen-year-old named Peter Houghton walks into his New Hampshire high school with guns and changes the small town of Sterling forever. Josie Cormier, his former best friend and the daughter of the judge assigned to the case, was there and says she remembers nothing. As the trial approaches, the book moves back through the years of torment and tries to understand how it happened.
How long does it take to read Nineteen Minutes?
About 11 hours (455 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Nineteen Minutes?
If you liked it, try The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty or House Rules by Jodi Picoult.