The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Continuing on my glomming of Jodi Picoult's books, I got this one from the library. It sounded promising and a little different than other books written. In between the chapters, there were comics that contain a hidden message. It was fun to look for, and even more fun and pleasurable to read. Another solid A-.

Trixie Stone is fourteen years old and in love for the first time. She's also the light of her father's life- a straight A student; a freshman in high school who is pretty and popular; a girl who's always looked up to Daniel Stone as a hero. Until, that is, her world is turned upside down with a single act of violence... and suddenly everything Trixie has believed about her family and her herself seems to be a lie.

For fifteen years, Daniel Stone has been an even-tempered, mild-mannered man: a stay-at-home dad to Trixie and a husband who has put his own career as a comic book artist behind that of his wife, Laura, who teaches Dante's Inferno at a local college. But years ago, he was completely different: growing up as the only white boy in an Eskimo village, he was teased mercilessly for the color of his skin. He learned to fight back: stealing, drinking, robbing, and cheating his way out of the Alaskan bush. To become part of a family, he reinvented himself, channeling his rage onto the page and burying his past completely... until now. Could the young boy who once made Trixie's face fill with light when he came to the door have been the one to end her childhood forever? She says that he is, and that is all it takes to make Daniel, a man with a history he has hidden even from his family, venture to hell and back in order to protect his daughter.

I really enjoyed this book, just like the others. You really get to the depths of the three main characters' minds and how all of the events that take place effect everyone. My heart really bleeds for Trixie and her parents, and the way that some of the citizens of the town act and behave is disgusting. Ms. Picoult's writing is so descriptive and I feel that I am in the little town of Maine where the story takes place. Ms. Picoult is a wonderful treasure that I am so glad I discovered. In fact, I got another one of her books from the library today, Perfect Match, and am looking forward to starting it.

If anyone has read The Tenth Circle and have found the secret quotation hidden in the pages, please let me know. While I had fun trying to find all of the letters, it was hard on the eyes after reading 150+ pages to finish this book. I really want to know what the secret is!

I may take a quick break from Ms. Picoult's novels to keep me waiting and torturing myself. I think I am going to pick up on of Allison Brennan's novels, probably from the old series. I read the first one in the first trilogy, and I think I may pick up the second one. Then maybe on to Perfect Match and then finish it off. I think I may just appreicate it even more. Have a great night and happy reading!