~Spring Into Summer - Update #7~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 1
• Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: 0
• Pages Read since last update: 115 Pages
• Total time read: 2.5 hours
• What I'm currently reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
• How I'm currently feeling: Mom & Dad are sleeping, and I have some quiet time before Dad wakes up, and we wish him a Happy Birthday, and create a big fuss over him! =) I know I'll get sidetracked then, because I am a total Daddy's Girl/Daddy's Little Princess being an only-child, so for now I'm just clamoring to get as much reading out of the way as I possibly can!

Mini Challenge:

Name one book you think should be taught in school, grade of your choice.

19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult 

You can read my Goodreads review of 19 Minutes , but I am presenting this book to you, not as a reviewer or a blogger. As a matter of fact, I think this has become about more than just the mini-challenge, at this point. I am choosing this book because I find it to be so important, and it is so very close to my heart. I think that 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult is the kind of book that must be MANDATORY reading for high school level students. As a matter of fact, I believe that it should be the first book that 9th graders, or all Freshman should read as soon as they return from their summer vacations to start high school. On the surface it merely seems like a sad story about a high school shooting, but beneath the surface, this book explores the entire inter-personal mechanism of a student population, and the dynamics of personal relationships, such as friendship, mother-child relationships, romantic relationships etc.

I know you are wondering to yourself, "But why? What is so important about this book?" Speaking not merely about the harmful effects of bullying, but of the perils of coming of age and the rifts it creates, this book was truly an insight into the young and fragile psyche of teenagers today. The constantly changing and evolving canvas of the teenage life is chronicled in such a subtle, yet effective manner, that I felt akin to every character in this book, regardless of his/her age. Also, it presents the perspectives of both the victim, and the victimized - and never judges you for the opinion you hold. What I love best about the writing of Jodi Picoult is that she never presents a one-dimensional argument - she allows for their to be love and acceptance for all characters, even if they are at odds with each other, or are standing on two different sides of a line. 

I think reading this book would help teenagers realize what kind of power their words, and their actions, hold - how the warp of merely 19 Minutes can totally tilt the axis of their world, all because they couldn't show respect, tolerance or acceptance to one person. I believe not only would this book be educational, it would be a meaningful way for teachers and students to bond, as well as for a way for students to make more meaningful connections, and engage in open discussion and dialogue regardless of their clique, their race, their age, etc. I know, for a FACT, that my children would most definitely be advised to read this book, when they reach the appropriate age - I would definitely want to teach them acceptance, tolerance, pride in oneself, the importance of communication, and the detrimental affects of bullying. I believe young adults AND adults, alike, ought to read this book.