House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.
Jacob Hunt knows a lot about forensic science. He knows how to take a fingerprint from even the trickiest and most delicate surfaces; how to analyze a crime scene in order to retrace the steps of those involved; and, armed with a police scanner, has a habit of showing up on the scene and dispensing advice—which is typically spot-on. Jacob Hunt is brilliant, and he has Asberger’s syndrome, which means that he perceives and interacts with the world a bit differently.
When the horrific murder of his social worker rocks his small town, Jacob is a primary suspect. And under legal scrutiny, the object of Jacob’s brilliance, and the hallmarks of his condition—not making eye contact; tics, twitches, and poor social skills—spell something a lot like guilty.
Told with great care through the varying perspectives of parties involved, House Rules explores how our society is built for people who can communicate a certain way, and that our legal system—and society in general—is not kind to people who cannot. For me, this novel was a fascinating and complete look into how autism can affect a family, and the way “difference” is so unkindly ostracized. Picoult masterfully handles how each thread of the story affects everything else, and deftly weaves a poignant take on an incredibly complicated topic.
