Jodi Picoult is, probably, one of the most cherished writers of contemporary fiction. Her emotionally charged novels make a beeline for some pretty complex subjects with profound sensitivity and insight.
Many of her books are deeply concerned with family, love, ethics, and social justice, thus appealing to readers who enjoy an intellect-stimulating read.
If you have not read one of her Jodi Picoult book list, or would like to read them in order, then let this guide be your companion into the bibliography left behind by Jodi Picoult.
Contents
- Jodi Picoult Book List
- Songs of the Humpback Whale (1992)
- Harvesting the Heart (1993)
- Picture Perfect (1995)
- Mercy (1996)
- The Pact — 1998
- Keeping Faith (1999)
- Plain Truth (2000)
- Salem Falls, 2001
- Perfect Match (2002)
- Second Glance (2003)
- My Sister’s Keeper (2004)
- Vanishing Acts (2005)
- The Tenth Circle, 2006
- Nineteen Minutes (2007)
- Change of Heart (2008)
- Handle with Care (2009)
- House Rules (2010)
- Sing You Home (2011)
- The Book of Two Ways (2020)
- Wish You Were Here (2021)
Jodi Picoult Book List
Given is the Jodi Picoult book list, have a look:
Songs of the Humpback Whale (1992)
In Songs of the Humpback Whale, Jodi Picoult gives root to her proto-style: the complex tapestry of family dynamic with small, incremental works leading to actual self-improvement. A mother and daughter go on a cross-country journey to explore their knotty relationship, finding healing from trauma.
Harvesting the Heart (1993)
In her second novel, Harvesting the Heart, Picoult wrote about the theme of motherhood. The main character, Paige, is a young woman who struggles with the demands of motherhood while coming to terms with her past. This novel really established Picoult’s signature style: being able to capture the intricacies of human emotions and relationships.
Picture Perfect (1995)
Picture Perfect treats one of the most burning issues—that of domestic violence within a picture-perfect marriage. It is the story of anthropologist Cassie Barrett, who has to return to her roots while being in an abusive relationship and to find out who she really is. Details, Picoult’s attention and her way of dealing with difficult topics, make this a compelling read.
Mercy (1996)
In the book, mercy killing is explored through the story of a man who helps his terminally ill wife end her life. The novel raises questions and moral dilemmas related to euthanasia, thus showing one of the most thoughtful issues in Picoult’s body of work.
The Pact — 1998
One of Picoult’s earlier bestsellers, The Pact narrates the tale of two teens who make a suicide pact. The story of what occurs after this happens, the punishments from the families, the emotional and legal retributions that came along with such an act. The Pact is an intriguing story of love, loss, and complicated relationships.
Keeping Faith (1999)
Keeping Faith is centered upon a young girl who all of a sudden begins developing the symptoms of stigmata and claims to have seen God. The novel intertwines the treads of faith, religion, and the con touch point between belief and science as her mother battles to protect her. Picoult handles such sensitive themes in the book telling a very moving story.
Plain Truth (2000)
In Plain Truth the reader is faced with the world of the Amish community, in which a young Amish girl is accused of killing her new-born baby. This novel is a combination of courtroom drama and cultural differences, which goes far to prove that Picoult can come up with such stories as well that would challenge the reader’s thinking of the story they are reading.
Salem Falls, 2001
Salem Falls is Picoult’s version of a witch hunt in contemporary fiction, in which a rapist seeks to clear his name. The thematic concerns of the novel involved looking at the perils of mob mentality, the power of rumors, and the effect of prior mistakes on the present. Before Perfect Match tells itself, Picoult moves the plot into a high degree of suspense.
Perfect Match (2002)
In Perfect Match, Picoult discusses another very heavy matter of child abuse with the story that has been given to a mother to take into her own hands in the instance of her son’s molestation. The novel follows how far a parent will go to protect their child and also the resultant legalities and morals that come with this kind of action.
Second Glance (2003)
Second Glance is quite a departure from any of Picoult’s other books; it is what the author describes as a ghost story within a historical novel. The novel revolves around a town haunted by ghosts and a hunter who eventually reveals the town’s long-guarded secrets. Infinitely layered, the book narrates the epic of love, loss, and time.
My Sister’s Keeper (2004)
Probably Picoult’s best known book, My Sister’s Keeper tells the tale of a young girl born into the world as a bone marrow donor for her sister, stricken with leukemia. The ethical questions this brings up regarding medical decision-making, rights of children and family loyalty present a somewhat gripping backcloth for this novel. My Sister’s Keeper was later adapted into a successful film.
Vanishing Acts (2005)
In Vanishing Acts, Picoult tackles the subject of memory and identity when a young woman learns her father kidnapped her as a child. The rest of the novel questions how far ago someone might go to ensure the protector does not become the violator as one tries to struggle with the idea that the past becomes the self.
The Tenth Circle, 2006
The Tenth Circle is a novel of a family coming apart at the seams after the daughter is raped by one of her classmates. Added to thee story is Dante’s Inferno to lend some literary quality to this melodrama. This book wrestles with guilt, redemption and father-daughter issues.
Nineteen Minutes (2007)
Nineteen Minutes is a crushing novel revolving around a school shooting and its aftermath. Picoult elegantly unfolds the subtle lines around the shooter, his victims, and their families in an intricate ballet of bullying, violence, and the search for justice. At the same time, the novel is to be reckoned a substantial social comment on the effects the pressures of society bear on young shoulders.
Change of Heart (2008)
In Change of Heart, Picoult delves into the world of capital punishment and faith as she tells of a death row inmate willing to give up his heart to his victim’s daughter. ‘The moral of the story is that we are supposed to be examining what forgiveness and redemption really mean, how they can be achieved, and what the nature of justice really is.’
Handle with Care (2009)
House Rules is about a family facing the challenge of a child with extreme medical needs. From this novel, we learn how to face the ethical and emotional challenges of upbringing a child with special needs and, at the same time, fight legal battles against the doctor due to wrongful birth.
House Rules (2010)
In House Rules, Picoult tackles the subject of Asperger’s syndrome as she narrates a teenager accused of murder. This book thoughtfully takes into account the various issues is able to befall individuals with autism, their families, and friends, and further, the criminal laws touching on brain-based differences.
Sing You Home (2011)
Sing You Home is able to deal with such a touchy controversial issue: same-sex marriage and parent rights. It is recorded through the troubles of a music therapist who is trying to get a baby with her lover – another female. It is sensitive and empathetic with fertility problems, religion, and rights of LGBTQ+ people.
The Book of Two Ways (2020)
The Book of Two Ways reaches a crescendo with alternative lives and the choices that lead to them. The novel follows a woman who, after surviving a plane crash, gets a second chance at life because the crash somehow enlightened her on the life she was supposed to live. It dwells on issues of love, regret, and the mysteries of life and death.
Wish You Were Here (2021)
Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wish You Were Here follows a young woman who finds her life entirely altered by becoming stranded on the Galápagos Islands. The themes developed in the novel are isolation, self-discovery, and global events that impact personal life.
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