105 pages • 3 hours read
Jodi PicoultNineteen Minutes
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Part One, Chapters 7-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part One
Chapter 7 Summary: “Ten Days After”
Josie watches videos of her friends. In one video that was taken during a birthday party for her, she watches Matt and remembers how much she always melted when he was around. She tries to remember him, yet she rips off the necklace he gave her and shoves it under a couch cushion.
The town continues reeling from the effects of the school shooting. Lacy goes to get milk from a gas station and ruminates on whether she could have done anything different. She feels that she has nothing left inside of her because she gave all that she could to Peter. The cashier begins talking about the memorial and how horrible the incident is, and Lacy feels as if the man might know who she is and hurries off without the milk she’s paid for, racked by guilt. Ervin Peabody holds a grief session that most of the town attends. People try and talk through their grief. Courtney’s father, Mark Ignatio, riles everyone up by telling them that they should be glad they at least have their children and are not directly affected by the shooting like he is. He then turns to Jordan and asks him how he can help a monster like Peter. Mark becomes violent and Patrick must ease the situation by escorting him outside. Jordan tells everyone that he too lives in the town, to which Mark replies, “not for long”(168).
Alex thinks about her relationship with her father and notes that the two never really had one. She doesn’t want this type of relationship to continue with Josie but knows it’s too late. It’s also revealed that Alex isn’t short for anything; her father named her what he would have named a son. Also, her mother died from cancer. Alex is perturbed because, as a judge, she’s read a lot of information about grief and school shootings. Yet when it comes to reaching out to her own daughter, she is unable to do so. She tries to bond with Josie and it feels forced. One day she goes to Josie and tries to bond. She then tells Josie that they need to go out. This is a notion that terrifies Josie, but Alex plays “tough mom” and makes Josie come with her. Josie does mostly fine on the drive to the diner. When they leave the car and prepare to enter, however, a car backfires and Josie is traumatized. Alex realizes her mistake and takes Josie home.
Patrick meets with Mr. McCabe’s sister and learns that the teacher, who once had Peter for Math in the tenth grade, was gay. He notes that another victim was the leader of the LGBT group on campus and wonders if Peter might have been homophobic. He tells Joan that he wants to speak with Mr. McCabe’s partner, Philip. Meanwhile, Selena McAfee meets with Lacy to better understand Peter. Selena learns that Joey, their eldest son, died in a car accident. Moreover, Lacy had found drugs in his room when she had begun to clean his things. This reason prompted her to not want to know about what Peter might have been doing. Also, she and Lewis trusted him, and they imagined his reclusiveness was a symptom of him being a teenager. At one point, Lacy gets defensive and, when explaining how she, too, has lost someone, begins to cry. Selena stops writing and comforts Lacy.
Patrick meets with the leader of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Natalie Zlenko, in the hospital. She confirms that Peter attended a meeting—only one—and that he was getting picked on far before he attended the meeting. While Selena interviews Lacy, Jordan tries to put their child, Sam, to sleep. He decides to take the toddler for a car ride, only to find that his tires have been slashed. Selena returns home and informs him that Peter had a brother who died; the family was deep in tragedy and grief and, more than likely, weren’t there for Peter, who had his own problems. Jordan sees a way to use this new information into making Peter appear more likeable.
School begins again for the survivors of the shooting. The town is still on edge, and Josie’s mother tells her that she doesn’t have to go to school. Though Josie doesn’t want to, she eventually realizes that going to school is better than dealing with her awkwardly-doting mother. Alex decides to return to work the same day that Josie goes back to school, angering Josie. She knows things must return to normal, yet she doesn’t know why she can’t accept it. Drew arrives, and she decides to go to school with him. They talk about who’s left of their group, and how their injured friends are doing. Drew gives her one of Matt’s old hats, which causes Josie to become emotional again. Alex, meanwhile, is concerned about Josie and finds being back at work hard to deal with. She takes a break for a cigarette and sees Patrick, who tells her that smoking is a vice. He informs her that he went to the school and nothing happened. Alex begins to cry, and as she leaves, Patricktells her he’ll leave her to her vices when she says nothing is wrong. She realizes that he’s caught her lying about feeling okay.
Jordan interviews Peter again and finds that Peter hated his brother. In fact, Joey was as much a bully as other kids. He was popular and well-loved, and he never wanted to be seen with Peter. Peter admits that he’s glad Joey died, which shocks Jordan. Jordan then asks Peter if he truly meant to kill people, and Peter responds with his own question: “what would you have done?” (186). Later, Jordan talks with Selena about prejudice and fitting in. When Selena talks about being black and not fitting in at times, she mentions something from one of Jordan’s previous cases, about a woman with battered-woman syndrome. Jordan then realizes that Peter fits the same profile: he’s a kid, so he didn’t know what he was doing, like a battered woman; he was bullied and bullied until he became traumatized and felt the only recourse was to fight back for fear of it happening again. Selena reminds him that this has never been attempted before, but Jordan willingly accepts the challenge.
Patrick sits in his office playing Peter’s computer game. The game’s levels are floorplans for Sterling High, and the object is to kill the popular kids, the jocks and the bullies with whatever means one has. Meanwhile, the probable-cause hearing is underway. Jordan manages to get a paper from Selena, who has slipped into the courtroom unnoticed. Jordan then goes to meet Peter and informs him that they are going to waive the hearing. Peter is initially upset and demands a new lawyer. Jordan explains to him that the hearing will just give the prosecution sound bites to demonize him further. If they waive the hearing, they might spare him some of the demonizing that the media and prosecution are looking for. Peter finally relents and signs the paper. After the judge accepts the waiver, Lacy and Lewis confront Jordan. Though they’re angry, he informs them that he has done them a kindness. Because of the waiver, they have a bit more privacy until their personal lives are thrown open for the world to gawk at.
Patrick is on his way to the hearing when he gets a call about an incident at a local gun shop. When he arrives, the grieving owner informs him that he turned his back for a second to get the customer the literature she requested, and the woman killed herself with the gun she was looking at. The owner says the woman must have brought the bullets in her purse. Patrick goes inside and finds Yvette Harvey, the mother of Kaitlyn—the victim with Down Syndrome—dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Patrick realizes that Peter’s actions have far-reaching effects, and they are continuing to haunt the town.
Jordan talks again with Peter on a particularly hot day. Both are antsy, and Jordan is trying to understand why Peter was stockpiling guns if his rampage wasn’t premeditated. He then asks Peter about the people in the yearbook, and the girl he said he should “let live” (93). Peter mentions who she is, and Jordan realizes that she is Alex Cormier’s daughter. Though he likes Alex as a judge and realizes that she is the fairest judge for Peter’s case, Jordan wonders if there is a connection between Josie and Peter that he can use to Peter’s advantage. If there is, Alex Cormier would have to recuse herself. Peter then admits that the one person he wanted to kill that day more than anyone else was himself.
Chapter 8 Summary: “One Year Before”
The narrative flashes back to when the Houghton’s dog, Dozer, had to be put to sleep. Lacy insisted that the boys accompany them to the vet because Dozer is family. No one really wants to go, however. The boys are sullen, as is Lewis. Despite the family not wanting to go, Lacy feels very emotional about the dog dying. She is hurt, and she assumes the family feels this way as well. When it’s time for Dozer to be put down, she wants everyone to talk about their favorite Dozer moment. No one says anything. Lacy becomes overwhelmed with grief and begins sobbing loudly. It’s Peter who comes to her rescue; he comforts her and tells her his favorite Dozer memory.
Another flashback is of Josie in bio lab. She’s partnered with Courtney. Josie is thinking about how she doesn’t know anything about her father. She knows his name is Logan Rourke, but her mother won’t reveal anything else about him. While they look on a laptop, she accidently hits a browser and the news pops up. On the page is a picture of Logan Rourke and an article about him, shocking Josie. While this is taking place, Peter goes to the restroom. It’s explained that Peter doesn’t like to use the urinals because he is self-conscious about his genitals in relation to older students. He uses the stalls instead. He also likes to read the comments that are etched on the bathroom walls. While in the stall, Peter hears two students come in and, as they’re messing around, one says that he looks as gay as Peter. Peter swings open the door to see that the kid making fun of him is his brother Joey. Joey simply tells him to get lost.
Alex is in court, trying a case that shouldn’t have even made it onto her docket. She tells the two parties to essentially settle the matter by giving the money owed—four dollars—to the sheriff and he will pay it to the grieved party. She then goes outside to smoke. When she hands Liz, the groundskeeper, a cigarette, Liz knows something is wrong. Liz asks Alex bluntly if she’s had sex recently, and she says that Alex’s problems stem from this. She makes a promise to set Alex up on a date, despite Alex’s protestations.
Peter has a job at a place called QuikCopy. He needs a new computer with better graphics. Though Peter doesn’t like the job, he does like the fact that no one from school works at the copy center. The place feels like a haven to him. His boss informs him, however, that he’s hired another high school student. Peter is anxious because he knows that anything he does or say will now be repeated at school. He’s relieved, however, to find that Josie is the high school student who’s been hired. The two haven’t spoken in a long time, and though they do know each other, Josie acts like she’s never met Peter before, barely even making small talk. Peter notes how Josie even dresses differently now. She looks like the popular kids, and she is friends with them. At one point, Peter asks a question and the two begin playing a game. It feels just like old times, until Matt Royston shows up and Josie’s demeanor changes. Peter interrupts the two and tells Josie that she needs to get back to work. Matt gets angry but Josie steps between the two and changes the subject. When Matt leaves, Josie no longer wants to play. Peter asks her if she likes Matt, and then he asks her what it’s like being at the top. Josie says it feels like if she takes one wrong step, she’s“going to fall” (205).Peter wonders if Josie might not want to hang out with the popular kids if she remembers what it’s like to hang out with him. He also wonders why he doesn’t feel anything for Josie and wonders again if he is gay. He then shows Josie their boss’s secret computer stash of porn. They laugh over it, and then Josie asks him to find a person’s address. The person is Logan Rourke, and Peter finds the address for her.
The narrative then fleshes out Lewis’s field of economics and how he studies the effects of happiness. Things like having regular sex, going to church, and one’s country of origin play a role. Marriage, also, is the equivalent of getting a 100,000 dollar raise. Lewis often plays a game where hewonders what it would take for him to be reduced to nothing: losing his career, a child or his marriage. Lewis also notes that happiness is how people choose to remember past events. Happiness is also U-shaped, with the happiest times being near birth and death.
In Mr. McCabe’s math class, the students are working on graphing. It’s Peter’s turn to present his chart. Peter, as usual, is oblivious to what he should or shouldn’t say. He presents a chart that graphs the groups of students at school, including the popular kids, the loners and those, like Josie, who he calls bridges, or people who go back and forth between groups. Peter smiles at Josie as he clarifies the bridge component to Matt and the entire class.Josie is mortified; Peter has just ensured that she will be ridiculed by her peers for seeming to hang out with him. She knows she will no longer be a popular kid now. Mr. McCabe attempts to stop Peter (the graph is quite insulting to several groups that Peter has detailed) but the damage has already been done. In the hallway after class, Josie drops her books. Peter tries to help her pick them up and she tells him to leave her alone. Matt shows up, and Josie is expecting to be made fun of. To her surprise, Matt tells her that Peter (Matt refers to Peter as “homo” throughout the book) is right and that he too thinks of her as a bridge that links Josie to his heart. He then places Josie’s hands on his chest and kisses her to prove he isn’t lying. When Josie admits that it is her first kiss, Matt says that it won’t be her last.
When Alex is preparing for her blind date, Josie wanders in and the two begin bonding as Josie helps her get ready. Alex thinks back to all the times that she has never done this with Josie, and how Josie seems like a different person now, as if she’s grown up without Alex’s help. She almost feels jealous of her daughter. When her date arrives, Alex is relieved to find that he looks normal. When he speaks, however, he’s extremely crude and makes sexual jokes. Alex realizes she can’t go on a date with him. She lies and says she must return to work. Josie leaves to get ready for her own date with Matt. Alex thinks to go into Josie’s room and help her get ready, as Josie did with her, but decides not to.
Josie soon becomes Matt’s girlfriend, which saves her from being sent to the bottom of the social pecking order by Peter’s actions. Everyone is now envious of her, and anyone who might make fun of her has to deal with Matt. Peter, however, is clueless. He tries to talk to her still at work and thinks she is his friend. One day at work, she goes outside to throw trash out and, when she throws a bag in the dumpster, a fire starts. Peter is standing near the dumpster and Josie yells for him to get down. Peter then admits that he started the fire so that Josie might come out and save him. Josie, more annoyed than ever, tells Mr. Cargrew (their boss) that Peter started the fire. Peter is shocked that Josie has betrayed him. He is fired for his actions.
When Josie is waiting for Matt one day by the flagpole, Peter shows up. He wants Josie to talk to Mr. Cargrew about getting his old job back. Josie does not want to talk to Mr. Cargrew, though she does feel bad for Peter. She wonders if maybe she led him on in some way. She doesn’t consider herself to be mean, like her friends are, toward Peter. As she’s contemplating this, Matt arrives and shoves Peter so hard he falls. Peter attacks Matt verbally with a slur and the two boys begin fighting. Peter doesn’t stand a chance, and Josie intercedes. She and Matt argue for a bit about his treatment of Peter and he tells her that there can’t be a popular group without an unpopular group. She accepts this and leaves with Matt.
Josie asks Matt to take her to see her father. She’s nervous about seeing Logan Rourke and wonders how he’ll respond. When she knocks on the door, she introduces herself and it’s apparent that Logan isn’t happy to see her. He tells her that their meeting can look bad for him with the election for district attorney happening. Josie herself knew she shouldn’t have expected anything as Logan had wanted her mother to get an abortion. Logan gives Josie 300 dollars and tells her that they might be able to have lunch after the election. Driving back, Josie breaks down and asks Matt to pull over. Crying, Matt comforts her and tells her that he cares for her so much. He then starts making out with her and, upset and wanting comfort, Josie does not stop him. They have sex; it’s Josie’s first time. She notices how painful it is, but she likes Matt so continues with it.
Peter bases his computer gameoff the video game Deer Hunt, but he shoots people instead. He decides to make the game in a way where he can hunt the popular kids. He gets a yearbook and circles the faces he wants to make an avatar of to add to his game. It’s later revealed that Peter’s friend, Derek, is the one who decided to use whatever weapon was available. In other words, the player would use the deep fryer if he or she were in the cafeteria, or the kiln in art class, to kill students. Peter is later told by one of his favorite teachers that he has received an A on a paper. Though elated, he can’t tell his parents because the paper is about the fire he started at his old job. His parents still think he works at the copy place. His paper is about thinking things through so that one doesn’t get caught for certain actions. Peter throws the paper away as soon as he can.
At a party, Matt decides that he wants to leave and tells Josie he’s ready. She says she doesn’t want to go and continues to play with her friends. This makes Matt look bad in front of his friends and, when Josie later storms away to leave, Matt grabs her violently, leaving bruises, and tells her to never make him look bad again. Frightened and confused, Josie relents. He apologizes by saying that he doesn’t like to share her with others. Matt says that he loves her, shocking Josie. She becomes loving after hearing that he loves her, forgetting what it took for the two to get to this point (Matt’s violent behavior).
When the power goes out during a storm, Josie comes into her mother’s room like she always used to do. Josie asks Alex about Alex not marrying Logan Rourke. Though Alex is shocked and suspicious of the question, Josie plays it off as just wanting to know more about her mother’s past. Alex reveals that Logan never wanted to be a part of her life. She doesn’t know if she’s made the right choice by not having him be a part of Josie’s life, but Josie tells her mother that she has. When the lights come back on, Josie returns to her room.
Peter makes a fake ID and goes to a gay bar. He gets hit on by a shady character, and when things start to get tense, Mr. McCabe comes to Peter’s rescue. Mr. McCabe then drives Peter home and tells him that he can always talk if need be. Peter reiterates to Mr. McCabe that he isn’t gay.
Another scene reveals that when Matt and Josie have sex one night, Matt mentions that he can easily kill Josie. He then chokes her playfully while they’re having sex. She says not to, but he ignores her. Later, Josie goes to the library and gets trapped in an elevator with Peter, who now works at the library. Josie is in a cast, and she panics as there is no way out. Peter tries to calm her nerves. The two eventually play Truth or Dare and Josie reveals that Mattwas being rough with her during an argument and she fell. She swears Peter to secrecy. Peter is angered over the news. He then dares Josie to kiss him and she does. He instantly gets an erection, and he is overjoyed that he has proof that he isn’t gay. Someone then knocks on the doors, and Josie and Peter are saved by Matt and a coworker. Josie kisses Matt, and Peter is angered when remembering that Matt injured her. When Peter returns home, he sees that his parents are crying. He thinks that they have been worried about him and feels sympathy for them. He’s elated. First, Josie kisses him and then his parents show concern for him. He then finds out from his father that his older brother, Joey, has died.
Another journal entry ends the section. It talks about popularity. The writer mentions that every girl will choose being popular over survival because being popular is survival. The entry also mentions that high school students work the hardest, as they must constantly work at being popular. The catch is that popularity isn’t up to one person; rather, it’s how a person is perceived by the actions one takes.
Chapters 7-8 Analysis
Anger becomes the norm in Sterling as people seek answers. A specialist is brought in to help people cope, but the tragedy is too great for many. Jordan is verbally attacked by a parent of one of the deceased for his role in helping “a monster.” Josie, too, is angry at how things have changed and angry that she can’t remember what happened on the day of the shooting. Even Alex gets angry and enacts a tough-love scenario that ends in disaster. A car backfires as she takes Josie to dinner, thus triggering Josie’s trauma. Jordan is frustrated as well. He keeps trying to get answers from Peter but can’t make any progress. He learns that Peter, instead of being sad and depressed about his older brother, Joey, dying, is elated this his brother died, as Joey, too, was a bully. Peter’s actions also engender other tragedies. The mother of Kaitlyn Harvey—Kaitlyn is one of Peter’s victims—shoots herself in a gun store. Lacy continues to wonder if she is a bad mother. Lacy reveals that her eldest son, her golden child, was on drugs. After his death, she never told anyone. Her focus on Joey’s memory perhaps clouded her knowledge of anything being wrong with Peter.
Flashbacks also reveal that both Josie and Peter questioned their own identities. Because Peter was always called gay, he wondered if he was. He went to a gay club and was almost picked up by someone but was rescued by his math teacher, Mr. McCabe. This revelation makes the present timeline even sadder as Mr. McCabe, who had been trying to help Peter, is one of the shooting victims. Peter attempts to restart his friendship with Josie and finds brief success. Matt arrives, however, and ruins the moment. Peter wonders if he can get Josie to see who she really is by hanging out with her more. Later, Josie kisses Peter on a dare and he’s relieved that he gets turned on by Josie. This scene indicates that Peter likes Josie as more than just friends and that he wants to try his best to get back in Josie’s life.
Flashbacks further highlight how Lacy may have been out of touch with her children. When the family dog needs to be put down, she thinks that everyone wants to go. She projects her ideas and feelings onto her family and they suffer along. When things don’t go as she planned, Peter comforts her. Yet the narrative indicates that none of the family wanted to accompany her to the vet.
Josie, too, questions her identity in flashbacks that reveal her troubled relationship with Matt. Matt doted on her, yet he also had a violent streak. He physically harms Josie several times, and he chokes her and jokes about being able to kill her while they have sex. Josie doesn’t respond to these actions because she wants to fit in. Also, she thinks that Matt loves her, and she wants to fit in in this way as well. The journal entry at the end underscores the message of these chapters. People will do what it takes to be loved, successful and fit in.
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