Rating: 
Summary: This book left a lasting impression...
Review: Jodi Picoult has the knack for character development like no other.
She has created individuals in this intense story that you love, hate, but definately care about. When I finished this story (don't want to give anything away..) I found myself wondering what the characters might be doing now.. That's not an easy task for a writer! The storyline of a botched double suicide, love, courtroom
suspense adds up to nothing but addictive reading!
Rating: 
Summary: The Strength of Love and Friendship
Review: Jodi Picoult's The Pact (A Love Story) is a sad, but eye-opening novel about two-teenagers lives that are instantly changed with the pull of a trigger. Not only are the teenagers affected, but their parents as well. The Golds and the Hartes have been next-door neighbors since their children were born. Chris and Emily grew up together and were never apart. There was not a memory to look back on that didn't include the two of them together. Then suddenly, Chris Harte, a popular high school swimming sensation, is thrown into a court battle after his long time sweetheart, Emily Gold, is dead. By being with her at the time of her death, Chris is accused of murdering Emily, the shy, quiet girl that meant the world to him. Both families are torn at the seams and the friendship between them soon disintegrates due to the murder. Was it a suicide pact or not? I would recommend this book to anyone, of any age, because both parents and teenagers can relate to the circumstances that occur in this novel. Jodi Picoult's colorful descriptions give an accurate view of how love and friendship can be bent and distorted. The novel was a little slow during a few parts, but was well worth the wait for the surprising and unexpected outcome of the trial. This compelling novel is a must read for any reader who is truly interested in a great book.
Rating:
Summary: The Pact
Review: My friend was supposed to read this book for school, so I found it in his backpack while we were in Europe.For the next two days after, I read it all the time. No matter where we were. The bus, the lobby of the hotel waiting for everyone, lunch, etc. I sat up one night until 2:45 reading. I loved how it went from Past to Present. And the twist at the end, really makes it interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Down We Forget As Up We Grow
Review: The Hartes and the Golds are inseparable and have been for 18 years. Their children, Chris and Emily, have been entwined since babyhood. Under the parents' fond and loving eyes, the two develop into best friends and on to romance as they reach their teens. The children are so close they have a private language and can finish one another's thoughts. Does this sound like trouble waiting to happen? Indeed it is. Julie is under claustrophobic pressure that she doesn't understand, and in despair, wants to commit suicide and have Chris help her. When the police find the pair, Julie is dead and Chris has a head wound and is unconscious. Suicide pact gone wrong? Murder? We don't know. The story is told in two voices "Then" and "Now." We learn about the childhood, friendships and daily lives of these upscale New Hampshire neighbors. With the tragedy, the friendship shatters, the marriages are strained to the breaking point, and Chris is arrested for murder. A well-written tale with a few wrinkles that lift it out of the ordinary: Chris's defense lawyer is about as far from a father figure as you can get. He is interested in getting Chris off and his fee. He has no interest whatsoever in what really happened, thus closing another door in the boy's face at this terrible time. My sympathies were with Chris throughout, partly because he was the best-realized figure and partly because he was suffering for all the sins he didn't commit, even if in fact, he pulled the trigger that killed Emily. I stayed irritated at the four parents because I could not believe they would not even notice the deadly "fusion" that was growing between their two children and what implications this melding of characters meant. This is a good read and the suspense builds nicely until you are totally focused on figuring out what actually occurred the last few minutes of Emily's life. You know why, but not who.
Rating:
Summary: A sad and disturbing story wonderfully told
Review: When I first picked up "The Pact", I was a bit skeptical. The book had been made into a Lifetime network film, so I was a little bit worried that the book might read like a script from a B-movie. I almost put the book down after the first scene in the Chinese restaurant because the dialog seemed to be something right out of a movie of the week. Although I've never seen the Lifetime movie, I suspect that this scene is included in the film.
Fortunately, I had the good sense to read beyond the first scene. The characters in this book, particularly Emily and Chris, will stay with you for days. I still get teary about Emily because suicide was not her only option. It never is! Several times I felt myself almost yelling at the Emily character to reach out for help. Although I've never been suicidal or gone through situations like Emily's (I don't want to spoil anything to future readers by giving out too much information), I really related to her. I remember being a confused 17-year old too.
I liked Chris, but I can't comprehend why he chose to do what he did. Still, the character was likeable and I genuinely cared about what happened to him.
As a parent of a young child, I found this book hit me close in the heart. Just afer finishing the book, I made certain to tell my child how much I love her and that she should know that I am always there for her, no matter what.
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