Justine's Mini Thoughts: Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Change of Heart
By Jodi Picoult

Pages:

447

Book Description:

One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

A quote:

When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.

Any thoughts:

Jodi Picoult is wonderful. She always tackles strong subjects like an expert. In Change of Heart, she successfully dives into religious and political beliefs through the topic of the death penalty, exploring the opinions of many sides. It’s complicated, really, and I almost put the book down in the very beginning. But as I read more about Shay, and how much of a mystery he is, I wanted to find out in the end if his last request is fulfilled. He is the man who is convicted of murdering a child and a police officer, and waits for his execution in jail. Somehow, he performs “miracles” while in jail, and this catches my attention because of the question if whether or not those miracles can be scientifically explained. It’s interesting, yet it also touches the topic of religion, as some townspeople believe that he is the Messiah. All in all, this novel is thought provoking; Picoult leaves many questions unanswered, questions that some people would be reluctant to answer.