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Amanda Little
College Composition I
Mrs. Cramer
11 November, 2016

The Significance of 19 Minutes

"Can you hate someone for what theyve done, but still love them for who they had
been?" (5, Piccoult). This question coursed through Josie Cormier's mind as her finger rested on
the trigger of a loaded gun. The novel 19 Minutes included several diverse characters that each
contributed a special part to the final outcome of the book. Throughout the novel, the opening
scene that included characters Peter Houghton, Josie Cormier, and Matt Royston in a locker
room of Sterling High is explained with through flashbacks and alternating points of view. The
main characters all had a purpose in being included in the story, and this is revealed to the reader
with the various flashbacks and changes in the points of view. The alternating points of view and
tenses aided the reader in being able to relate and understand each of the characters in the novel
19 Minutes.
The character that needed the most understanding in 19 Minutes was Peter Houghton, the
teenage boy responsible for the shooting that occurred in Sterling High. Flashbacks in his point
of view revealed that Peter had factors ever since he was young that drove him to the point of
acting violent. While the book switched to his point of view the reader found that Peter was
subject to relentless bullying every day in school. This constant harassment inevitably took a toll

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on Peter, and is one of the main motives for picking up a gun and using it on his peers. The
flashbacks revealed that the bullying began as early as grade school, it progressed well into his
high school years (12, Picoult). From Peter's point of view, it was also revealed that he was often
overlooked by his parents because of his both academic and athletic brother. He escaped his less
than perfect reality through the world of video games, where he created one himself that was a
direct foreshadowing of the shooting. As the points of view changed and time progressed close to
the initial time of the shooting, it became more clear to the reader why Peter felt that he had to
act in the violent way he did.
Relationships between characters are clarified through flashbacks and changes in points
of view. Another large factor of the shooting was revealed that Josie Cormier and Peter were
close friends all through grade school up until high school. Through Josie's point of view, the
reader found that she no longer wanted to be friends with Peter due to the fear of being seen as
weird by her peers (128, Picoult). Through Josie's eyes, the reader learned that she was having an
internal conflict. Josie faked how she felt and did not do what she truly wanted, and this internal
conflict affected her and her decisions throughout the book. As time continues to move forward
towards the present, more complications and circumstances appeared in several relationships.
One relationship that was misunderstood was between two prominent characters. Josie
Cormier and her boyfriend Matt Royston were both looked at as the flawless couple in Sterling
High, but the reader learned quickly through Josie's point of view that this is far from the truth.
The unfortunate reality of abuse and rigidity in their relationship is told by Josie, who did not
feel comfortable doing most things Matt forced her to do. Matt was possessive and demanding
towards Josie. Matt was also an antagonist towards Peter, especially regarding Josie (Picoult,

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204-218). Matt would constantly call Peter a homo or gay (Picoult, 148), which only caused
Peter's hatred for him to grow even stronger.
Near the end of the novel, the significant scene in the locker room was unfolded from
Josie's point of view. Matt Royston was shot twice, once by Josie and once by Peter. Josie was
presented with the opportunity of shooting Peter, but shot Matt instead. This choice may have
been decided by who Josie actually believed deserved to receive the bullet. The reader could see
why Josie would have shot Matt from the flashbacks and memories of abuse she endured, and
how Peter had tried to be a friend even after she abandoned him. If the author did not include
these thoughts from the past and different viewpoints, several of the conflicts that took place
within and between the characters would not have made sense.
19 Minutes had several young characters that were relatable to multiple readers,
especially ones going through high school. Through Peter's point of view, the reader saw how he
had to endure relentless bullying and harassment by his peers. As the reader was exposed to this
interaction between Peter and people in school, more empathy was felt for him rather than just
seeing him as a detached killer. Through Josie's point of view, the reader learned that Peter had
ample significance to her. Without having the insight that the flashbacks of when Peter and Josie
were younger and used to be friends, the reader would never see the powerful connection they
had. The conflict and hurt that was felt by both Peter and Josie affected the choices they made
and their actions throughout the book.
The structure of 19 Minutes using different points of view and points in time greatly
affected the understanding the reader had of the characters. If the book was written any
differently, the reader would not have been able to have a personal understanding for each of the
characters in the story. Seeing the main conflict through several of the characters eyes made the

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plot come alive, and the reader was able to see from all sides the motives behind each of their
actions. The framework of the novel 19 Minutes made it possible for the reader to relate to each
of the characters and helped them seem believable.