Jodi Picoult
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Jodi Lynn Picoult () is an American writer. Picoult has published 28 novels, accompanying short stories, and has also written several issues of
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
. Approximately 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide, translated into 34 languages. She was awarded the New England Bookseller Award for fiction in 2003. Picoult writes popular fiction which can be characterised as
family saga The family saga is a genre of literature which chronicles the lives and doings of a family or a number of related or interconnected families over a period of time. In novels (or sometimes sequences of novels) with a serious intent, this is often ...
. She frequently centres storylines around a moral dilemma or a procedural drama which pits family members against one another. Although she is often characterised as an author of
chick-lit Chick lit is a term used to describe a type of popular fiction targeted at younger women. Widely used in the 1990s and 2000s, the term has fallen out of fashion with publishers while writers and critics have rejected its inherent sexism. Novels id ...
, over her career, Picoult has covered a wide range of controversial or moral issues, including
abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
,
assisted suicide Assisted suicide is suicide undertaken with the aid of another person. The term usually refers to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which is suicide that is assisted by a physician or other healthcare provider. Once it is determined that the p ...
,
race relations Race relations is a sociological concept that emerged in Chicago in connection with the work of sociologist Robert E. Park and the Chicago race riot of 1919. Race relations designates a paradigm or field in sociology and a legal concept in the ...
,
eugenics Eugenics ( ; ) is a fringe set of beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter human gene pools by excluding people and groups judged to be inferior or ...
,
LGBT rights Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Notably, , 33 ...
, fertility issues, religion, the
death penalty Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the state-sanctioned practice of deliberately killing a person as a punishment for an actual or supposed crime, usually following an authorized, rule-governed process to conclude that t ...
, and
school shootings A school shooting is an attack at an educational institution, such as a primary school, secondary school, high school or university, involving the use of firearms. Many school shootings are also categorized as mass shootings due to multiple ...
. She has been described as, "a paradox, a hugely popular, at times controversial writer, ignored by academia, who questions notions of what constitutes literature simply by doing what she does best."


Early life

Picoult was born in
Nesconset, New York Nesconset is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Smithtown, located in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, United States. The population was 13,387 at the 2010 census. Geography Nesconset is located at (40.846090, -73.1 ...
, on
Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...
and has one younger brother. She graduated from Smithtown High School East in June, 1983. She has described her family as "non-practicing Jewish". Picoult wrote her first story at age five, titled "The Lobster Which Misunderstood". Picoult's mother and grandmother were both teachers, and she says that their influence on her was very important.


Education

Picoult studied creative writing at
Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
with
Mary Morris Mary Lilian Agnes Morris (13 December 1915 – 14 October 1988) was a Fijian born British actress. Life and career Morris was the daughter of Herbert Stanley Morris, a botanist, and his wife, Sylvia Ena de Creft-Harford. She trained at the Roy ...
, and graduated in 1987 with an A.B. in English after completing a 320-page-long senior thesis titled "Developments." She published two short stories in ''
Seventeen Seventeen or 17 may refer to: *17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18 * one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017 Literature Magazines * ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine * ''Seventeen'' (Japanese m ...
'' magazine while still in college. Immediately after graduation, she began a variety of jobs, ranging from editing
textbook A textbook is a book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining it. Textbooks are produced to meet the needs of educators, usually at educational institutions. Schoolbooks are textboo ...
s to teaching eighth-grade English. She earned a master's degree in education from
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
. Picoult has two honorary Doctor of Letters degrees; one from
Dartmouth College Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...
in 2010, the other from the University of New Haven in 2012. In 2016, Picoult was selected to be Princeton's Class Day Speaker before commencement.


Career

Picoult became the writer of the
DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...
series ''
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
'' (vol. 3), following the departure of
Allan Heinberg Allan Heinberg (born June 29, 1967) is an American film screenwriter, television writer and producer and comic book writer. Heinberg is the screenwriter of the 2017 film ''Wonder Woman'', directed by Patty Jenkins. His television writing and p ...
. Her first issue (number 6) was released on March 28, 2007, and her last was issue number 10, released on June 27, 2007. ''
Nineteen Minutes ''Nineteen Minutes'' (2007) is the fourteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. It was Picoult's first book to debut at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. This novel follows the unfolding of a school shooting, including the eve ...
'', Picoult's novel about the aftermath of a school shooting in a small town, published on the 9th March 2007, was her first book to debut at number 1 on the ''New York Times'' best-seller list. Her book '' Change of Heart'', published on March 4, 2008, was her second novel to debut at number 1 on that list. '' Handle with Care'' in 2009 and ''
House Rules House rules are unofficial modifications to official game rules adopted by individual groups of players. House rules may include the removal or alteration of existing rules, or the addition of new rules. Such modifications are common in board g ...
'' in 2010 also reached number 1 on the ''New York Times'' best-seller list. Jodi Picoult is aware that she is often pigeon-holed as
chick-lit Chick lit is a term used to describe a type of popular fiction targeted at younger women. Widely used in the 1990s and 2000s, the term has fallen out of fashion with publishers while writers and critics have rejected its inherent sexism. Novels id ...
author, but stated that what she loses in critical acclaim, she gains in influence: "I’m never going to win the Nobel prize for literature, not going to win a National Book award, never even going to be nominated. What you trade for that is sales and readership. And I would rather reach more people. It would be very nice to not be unfairly accused of being a bad writer, but hopefully if you do pick up one of my books, you will be quickly disabused of that notion." In November 2019, Picoult participated in the criticism of Brooke Nelson, a college student who was mentioned in her local newspaper as saying she thought that author
Sarah Dessen Sarah Dessen (born June 6, 1970) is an American novelist who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Born in Illinois, Dessen graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her first book, ''That Summer'', was published in 1996. She ...
's YA novels were not suitable for the Common Read program run by
Northern State University Northern State University (NSU) is a public university in Aberdeen, South Dakota. NSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and offers 45 bachelor's degrees, 53 minors, six associate degrees, 16 pre-professional programs, 23 certif ...
, Aberdeen, and had instead advocated for the inclusion of ''Just Mercy,'' a memoir by civil rights attorney
Bryan Stevenson Bryan Stevenson (born November 14, 1959) is an American lawyer, social justice activist, law professor at New York University School of Law, and the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, h ...
. Picoult described Nelson's views as "sinister" and "demeaning to women", and encouraged her followers on Twitter to "fight the patriarchy" in response to Nelson's comments. When the story was reported in Jezebel, The Guardian, the Washington Post, and Slate, Picoult posted an apology on Twitter, noting that her remarks had resulted in harassment and bullying of Nelson.


Advocacy

In 2016, Picoult joined the advisory board of Vida: Women in Literary Arts, a "non-profit feminist organization committed to creating transparency around the lack of gender parity in the literary landscape and to amplifying historically-marginalized voices, including people of color; writers with disabilities; and queer, trans and gender nonconforming individuals". Picoult's website says that VIDA: Women in Literary Arts is a research-driven organization. She was a member of the inaugural Writers Council of the
National Writing Project The National Writing Project (NWP) is a United States professional development network that serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects. Unique in breadth and scale, the NWP is a network of sites ...
in 2013, an organization which recognizes the "universality of writing as a communicative tool and helps teachers enhance student writing". This inaugural group consisted of 30 published authors. She was a spokesperson for Positive Tracks, which empowers young people to fundraise through the power of athletics and partners with other charitable organizations. In 2010, Picoult led the 5th Annual Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hero Half Marathon & Relay 5K Walk around Occom Pond and through the town of
Hanover, New Hampshire Hanover is a town located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,870. The town is home to the Ivy League university Dartmouth College, the U.S. Army Corps of Eng ...
. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the New Hampshire Coalition Against the Death Penalty, an organization that successfully sought to end the death penalty in the state of New Hampshire through outreach, education and advocacy. She was the co-founder, with Marjorie Rose, of the Trumbull Hall Troupe in 2004 as a means of providing children with a fun, educational theatre experience. Children from grade 6 through grade 12 audition to be in an original musical written by Picoult and composer Ellen Wilber. The proceeds are donated to local charities. The organization's contributions since its founding have exceeded $120,000. On January 21, 2017, Picoult spoke at the New Hampshire Women's Day of Action and Unity in support of the Women's March on Washington.


Honors and awards

* New England Bookseller Award for Fiction (2003) * Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association (2005) * Book Browse Diamond Award for novel of the year (2005) * Lifetime Achievement Award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America * Fearless Fiction Award from ''Cosmopolitan'' magazine (2007) * Waterstone's Author of the Year (UK) * Vermont Green Mountain Book Award (2007) * New Hampshire Granite State Book Award * Virginia Reader's Choice Award (2007) * Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award (2006) * Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award (2007) * New Hampshire Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit (2013–14) *
Princeton Alumni Weekly The ''Princeton Alumni Weekly'' (''PAW'') is a magazine published for the alumni of Princeton University. It was founded in 1900 and, until 1977, it was the only weekly college alumni magazine in the United States. Upon changing to biweekly ...
''Our Most Influential Alumni'' list *
Sarah Josepha Hale Sarah Josepha Buell Hale (October 24, 1788April 30, 1879) was an American writer, activist, and editor of ''Godey's Lady's Book''. She was the author of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Hale famously campaigned for the creation of the ...
Award Medalist (2019)


Personal life

Picoult has been married to Timothy Warren van Leer, whom she met in college, since 1989. They reside in
Hanover, New Hampshire Hanover is a town located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,870. The town is home to the Ivy League university Dartmouth College, the U.S. Army Corps of Eng ...
with their three children: Samantha, Kyle Ferreira, and Jake. Picoult has published two books with her daughter Samantha.


Recurring characters

* Jordan McAfee, his son Thomas, and his wife, Selena, are featured in the novels '' The Pact'', ''
Salem Falls ''Salem Falls'' (2001) is the eighth novel by the American author Jodi Picoult. The novel explores what happens to a person when he is given a label and is not allowed to escape from it. Plot summary Jack is a highly educated high school teacher ...
'', ''
Nineteen Minutes ''Nineteen Minutes'' (2007) is the fourteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. It was Picoult's first book to debut at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. This novel follows the unfolding of a school shooting, including the eve ...
, and Mad Honey (2022)''. * Patrick Ducharme, a detective, is featured in '' Perfect Match'' and ''
Nineteen Minutes ''Nineteen Minutes'' (2007) is the fourteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. It was Picoult's first book to debut at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. This novel follows the unfolding of a school shooting, including the eve ...
''. She has stated that she brought Patrick's character back for a second novel because she had a crush on him. * Ian Fletcher of ''
Keeping Faith ''Keeping Faith'' (1999) is the sixth novel by the bestselling American author Jodi Picoult. The book is about a custody battle involving a seven-year-old girl, Faith White, who may be seeing God. Plot summary When Mariah White catches her hu ...
'' makes a brief appearance in '' Change of Heart'', published in 2008. * Frankie Martine, first featured in ''
Salem Falls ''Salem Falls'' (2001) is the eighth novel by the American author Jodi Picoult. The novel explores what happens to a person when he is given a label and is not allowed to escape from it. Plot summary Jack is a highly educated high school teacher ...
'', returns in '' Second Glance'' and '' Perfect Match''. * Nina Frost, a main character in '' Perfect Match'', makes a cameo in ''
Nineteen Minutes ''Nineteen Minutes'' (2007) is the fourteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. It was Picoult's first book to debut at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. This novel follows the unfolding of a school shooting, including the eve ...
''. * Peter Houghton, a main character in ''
Nineteen Minutes ''Nineteen Minutes'' (2007) is the fourteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. It was Picoult's first book to debut at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. This novel follows the unfolding of a school shooting, including the eve ...
'', is mentioned briefly in ''
House Rules House rules are unofficial modifications to official game rules adopted by individual groups of players. House rules may include the removal or alteration of existing rules, or the addition of new rules. Such modifications are common in board g ...
'' and '' Mad Honey''. "It's always great fun to bring a character back, because you get to catch up on his/her life; and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel—you already know how he speaks, acts, thinks."


Bibliography

* '' Songs of the Humpback Whale'' (1992) * ''
Harvesting the Heart ''Harvesting the Heart'' is the second novel by the American author Jodi Picoult. The novel was published in 1993 by Viking. The book has three parts: Conception, Growth, and Delivery. Synopsis Paige O'Toole only has a few memories of her mother ...
'' (1993) * '' Picture Perfect'' (1995) * ''
Mercy Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, relig ...
'' (1996) * '' The Pact'' (1998) * ''
Keeping Faith ''Keeping Faith'' (1999) is the sixth novel by the bestselling American author Jodi Picoult. The book is about a custody battle involving a seven-year-old girl, Faith White, who may be seeing God. Plot summary When Mariah White catches her hu ...
'' (1999) * '' Plain Truth'' (2001) * ''
Salem Falls ''Salem Falls'' (2001) is the eighth novel by the American author Jodi Picoult. The novel explores what happens to a person when he is given a label and is not allowed to escape from it. Plot summary Jack is a highly educated high school teacher ...
'' (2001) * '' Perfect Match'' (2002) * '' Second Glance'' (2003) * '' My Sister's Keeper'' (2004) * ''
Vanishing Acts ''Vanishing Acts'' (2005) is the twelfth novel by the American author Jodi Picoult. The novel is set in rural New Hampshire, and the story focuses on Delia Hopkins, a missing persons' investigator, and her family, including her young daughter, S ...
'' (2005) * ''
The Tenth Circle ''The Tenth Circle'' (2006) is the thirteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. The novel deals with date rape, and father/daughter relationships. The novel heavily references Dante Alighieri's '' Inferno''. Plot When freshman Trixie ...
'' (2006) * ''
Nineteen Minutes ''Nineteen Minutes'' (2007) is the fourteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. It was Picoult's first book to debut at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. This novel follows the unfolding of a school shooting, including the eve ...
'' (2007) * ''
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
'' (vol. 3) #6–10 (
cover date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unusu ...
: late May 2007 – August 2007) * '' Wonder Woman: Love and Murder'' (2007) (hardcover volume collecting ''Wonder Woman'' #6–10) * '' Change of Heart'' (2008) * '' Handle with Care'' (2009) * ''
House Rules House rules are unofficial modifications to official game rules adopted by individual groups of players. House rules may include the removal or alteration of existing rules, or the addition of new rules. Such modifications are common in board g ...
'' (2010) * '' Leaving Home: Short Pieces'' (2011) * ''
Sing You Home ''Sing You Home'' (2011) is the nineteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. The novel was released on March 1, 2011, and follows the story of a bisexual woman fighting for the right to use the frozen embryos created by her and her ex-h ...
'' (2011) * ''Between the Lines'', co-written with Samantha van Leer (2012) * ''
Lone Wolf A lone wolf is a wolf not belonging to a pack. Lone wolf or Lone Wolf may also refer to: Literature *''Lone Wolf'', a book by Kathryn Lasky, part of the series called ''Wolves of the Beyond'' *''Lone Wolf and Cub'', a 1970 Japanese graphic nov ...
'' (2012) * '' The Storyteller'' (2013) * ''
Leaving Time ''Leaving Time'' is a 2014 novel by American writer Jodi Picoult. It is the twenty-third novel written by the author. The first edition was published on October 14, 2014, by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House. Plot summary Ten years ...
'' (2014) * ''Off the Page'', co-written with Samantha van Leer (2015) * ''
Small Great Things ''Small Great Things'' (2016) is the twenty-fifth novel by American author Jodi Picoult. The book focuses on race in America and revolves around the protagonist, a delivery nurse, named Ruth Jefferson. ''Small Great Things'' is being adapted into ...
'' (2016) * '' A Spark of Light'' (2018) *'' The Book of Two Ways'' (2020) * ''
Wish You Were Here Wish You Were Here may refer to: Film, television, and theater Film * ''Wish You Were Here'' (1987 film), a British comedy-drama film by David Leland * ''Wish You Were Here'' (2012 film), an Australian drama/mystery film by Kieran Darcy-Smith ...
'' (2021) * ''Mad Honey'', co-written with
Jennifer Finney Boylan Jennifer Finney Boylan (born June 22, 1958) is a bestselling author, transgender activist, professor at Barnard College, and a contributing opinion writer for the ''New York Times''. Early life and education Boylan was born in Valley Forge, Pen ...
(2022)


Film and television adaptations

*'' The Pact'' (2002) (Lifetime Original Movie) *'' Plain Truth'' (2004) (Lifetime Original Movie) *''
The Tenth Circle ''The Tenth Circle'' (2006) is the thirteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. The novel deals with date rape, and father/daughter relationships. The novel heavily references Dante Alighieri's '' Inferno''. Plot When freshman Trixie ...
'' (2008) (Lifetime Original Movie) *'' My Sister's Keeper'' (2009) (Feature film) *''
Salem Falls ''Salem Falls'' (2001) is the eighth novel by the American author Jodi Picoult. The novel explores what happens to a person when he is given a label and is not allowed to escape from it. Plot summary Jack is a highly educated high school teacher ...
'' (2011) (Lifetime Original Movie) *''
Wish You Were Here Wish You Were Here may refer to: Film, television, and theater Film * ''Wish You Were Here'' (1987 film), a British comedy-drama film by David Leland * ''Wish You Were Here'' (2012 film), an Australian drama/mystery film by Kieran Darcy-Smith ...
'' (TBA) (Netflix Original film)


References


Sources

* ''
Jewish Chronicle Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
'', April 27, 2007 p. 50: "The Jodi Picoult mystery"


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Picoult, Jodi 1966 births 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American comics writers American women novelists American chick lit writers Jewish American writers Female comics writers Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni Living people People from Hanover, New Hampshire People from Nesconset, New York Princeton University alumni Novelists from New Hampshire 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American women writers 21st-century American Jews