Thursday, March 4, 2010

House Rules Review

Fans and I raved when Picoult's Handle With Care was released and now, about one year later, fans cry again.  This time however, fans not only cried, they were forced to think.  House Rules, is about Jacob Hunt, an 18 year old boy, suffering from Asperger Syndrome, on the more severe spectrum of Autism.  Like all Asperger kids who have "special talents", some are good at math, while others good at art.  However, Jacob's "special talent" is forensic science.  His passion for it, has caused him to watch "Crimebusters" (basically CSI), every day at 4:30.  Yet, when his tutor is found dead, all the symptoms for Asperger, such as not looking at the cop in the eye or random fidgeting also seem like guilt.  All in all, mothers, and young teens like me who read this book, have to wonder, could their own child be capable of murder?  Who can you believe in times of great distress?  Your kid, or the painted hero?  This book, forces you to think about your own child.  House Rules, a new book from Jodi Picoult, and as thought provoking as ever.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

i need to read this
which is why...
you wanna lend it to me, pleaseee?

anna said...

i'm reading super slow. super super slow. i'm only half-way through :p
but so cool! you know she included 19 minutes in there!
look: "i used to worry he'd bring a gun into school one day, you know, to get even. like that boy over in Sterling, New Hampshire, a few years back."
how cool is that :D?!