Peter Houghton was the “weird” kid in Sterling High School; he tended to pull away from others and I think he lacks a connection with someone…anyone that could make him feel important and worth while to be friends with. No one likes him.

On page 98 the author describes Peter being “skinny, freckled, four-eyed kid” after I read that visualized him way differently. When first pictured Peter, the guy that killed ten people and injured nineteen I thought he would be tough, bigger muscles, not skinny but not fat..average, and I did not visualize him having freckles or have glasses just because I didn’t picture him the “nerdy” type. I thought he would be a mean despicable ruff teenager that has long scruffy brown hair, and been a bully to everyone even when he was in elementary school.

I can not imagine an in school shooting, it would be terrifying. It does not just affect one person, but it affects everyone in the school and the community. Everyone woke up that morning had a shower, eat breakfast expecting a normal day, when it was the day that changed their life forever.

On page 116 Jodi Picoult writes “Everyday after the shooting they had a different funeral to go to” Wow. Picture yourself in this situation… how sad and difficult it would be. Your friends all just died, it would be so lonely… at a time when you need them most, and they are all gone.

Peter’s mother heard about the shooting at the school, so she left work early and went to the school. She was scared that her son was dead. Then when everyone gave her dirty looks, and ran away from her she knew something was up. Can you imagine finding out your son killed ten people? In this situation what would you think… it’s not real and they are talking about someone else’s kid? Or would you think that you did something wrong raising him? Not enough quality time together? Or would you just wonder what was Peter thinking when killed ten people?