Jodi Picoult published her first book in 1992. Since then, she has published about one book every year, though some years have seen multimedia events and the publication of additional short ebooks.
Picoult’s books usually deal with ethical issues and are told from a variety of viewpoints, with each chapter written in a different character’s voice. She uses this technique to show multiple sides of a situation and underscore areas of moral ambiguity. To see this in action, you can read a novel from the following complete list of Jodi Picoult books.
1992: ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult’s debut novel tells the story of a mother who leaves her husband and takes a cross-country road trip with her daughter. It is told in five voices, each recounting the events of a fateful summer. While Picoult uses multiple voices in her later novels as well, readers of her later works might find “Songs of the Humpback Whale" slower-paced than her more popular books.
1993: ‘Harvesting the Heart’
Penguin Group
“Harvesting the Heart” is the story of Paige O’Toole, a woman who was abandoned by her mother when she was five and is plagued with self-doubt from then on. Her dreams and marriage suffer as a result, and eventually, she decides to look for her mother.
1995: ‘Picture Perfect’
Penguin Group
“Picture Perfect” tells the tale of a famous anthropologist who marries a movie star. Shortly after getting married, he begins abusing her. The protagonist must work out what to do with the relationship.
1996: ‘Mercy’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult explores the idea of mercy killing in "Mercy.” When the police chief’s nephew kills his wife—who is dying of cancer and wants him to kill her—the chief is torn between family loyalty and his duty as an officer. In addition to the trial, the novel also deals with the chief’s extramarital affair.
1998: ‘The Pact’
HarperCollins
“The Pact” tells the story of two teenagers who grew up together and fell in love. When the girl becomes depressed, though, she convinces her boyfriend to kill her. The novel deals with the aftermath and trial.
1999: ‘Keeping Faith’
HarperCollins
The “Faith” in the title is character Mariah’s daughter, Faith, but the term does double duty here. It also refers to the fact that the young girl can see God and heal people. Religious controversy is the catalyst for this courtroom drama, which actually centers on a custody case between Faith’s mother and father.
2000: ‘Plain Truth’
Simon & Schuster
In “Plain Truth,” Picoult explores the life of the Amish in Pennsylvania. When a dead infant is found in a barn, a controversy ensues in the local community and impacts the life of one teenage girl.
2001: ‘Salem Falls’
Simon & Schuster
“Salem Falls” is loosely based on “The Crucible.” The main character, Jack St. Bride, moves to Salem Falls after getting out of prison on a false statutory rape conviction. He hopes to start a new life there, but suspicious townspeople and some malicious teenage girls make that hard for him.
2002: ‘Perfect Match’
Simon & Schuster
“Perfect Match” is the tale of a district attorney whose five-year-old son is sexually molested. The boy is left mute, and the family must deal with the aftermath of the crime.
2003: ‘Second Glance’
Simon & Schuster
When an old man in Comtosook, Vermont puts a piece of land up for sale, the local Abenaki tribe protests, insisting the land is a burial ground. A series of supernatural events follows, and eventually a ghost hunter is hired to help convince the residents that there’s nothing unusual about the property.
2004: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’
Simon & Schuster
“My Sister’s Keeper” is the story of a girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions. Anna was conceived after her older sister was diagnosed with leukemia. She is a perfect match for her sister and spends her life in the hospital donating blood, marrow, and whatever else her sister needs to live. As a teenager, Anna sues so that she will not have to give her sister a kidney. “My Sister’s Keeper” covers the life of this family during the trial.
Are you part of a book club? See this article for discussion questions on “My Sister’s Keeper.”
2005: ‘Vanishing Acts’
Simon & Schuster
“Vanishing Acts” is about Delia, a woman who searches for missing people but whose own life has so far seemed idyllic. One day, Delia has a memory that seems out of place with her life. Suddenly the missing person she is searching for is herself. She must find out what truly happened in her past and who she is.
2006: ‘The Tenth Circle’
Simon & Schuster
“The Tenth Circle” is about a 14-year-old girl who is raped by her boyfriend. It is also about her father, whose identity as a good man is shook in his desire to protect and avenge his daughter.
2007: ‘Nineteen Minutes’
Simon & Schuster
In “Nineteen Minutes,” Picoult uses her signature style of telling a story from a variety of viewpoints in order to raise ethical questions. This time, the topic at hand is a school shooting, and the characters include teenagers who experience violence at their school.
2007: ‘Wonder Woman: Love and Murder’
DC Comics
Jodi Picoult took a break from her usual novel work to act as lead writer for DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman” series. It tells the story of a disguised Wonder Woman taking on an assignment that puts her secret identity at risk.
2008: ‘Change of Heart’
Atria
June Nealon’s daughter needs a heart transplant, and the man on death row for killing the rest of her family wants to donate his. Can June accept his heart? That is the dilemma in “Change of Heart.”
2009: ‘Handle with Care’
Simon & Schuster
“Handle with Care” is the story of a family with a daughter, Willow, who was born with brittle bone disease—a condition that makes her bones break easily and limits her height and movement. When Willow is four, her parents decide to sue their obstetrician for “wrongful birth,” claiming that Willow’s condition should have been diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy so that they could have terminated it. Sound controversial? Add to it the fact that the OB is the mother’s best friend—who has remained close to the family since the birth—and then throw in a neglected and bulimic older sibling. There you have classic Picoult.
2010: ‘House Rules’
Atria
Jodi Picoult is known for combining controversial issues, courtroom scenes, and family drama. This shows in "House Rules," where a boy with Asperger’s syndrome is accused of murder. Picoult shifts viewpoints and examines the prejudices surrounding the boy’s social disability.
2011: ‘Sing You Home’
Atria
Jodi Picoult’s 2011 release, “Sing You Home,” focuses on a lesbian couple who is fighting for the right to start a family. The book includes a unique multimedia feature—a CD of music that readers are supposed to imagine was written by the main character, who is a music therapist and musician.
2012: ‘Lone Wolf’
Atria
“Lone Wolf" is about a man estranged from his father who comes home after his sister and said father are in a serious accident. He wants to stop life support to his father so the organs can be donated to his sister, but the decision is complicated by tensions within the family.
2012: ‘Between the Lines’
Atria
“Between the Lines” is a young adult novel that Picoult co-wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer. It tells the story of a teenage girl who is a loner and obsessed with a book. Is it possible that the prince in the story could be real?
2013: ‘The Storyteller’
Atria
“The Storyteller” relays the story of the unlikely friendship between Sage Singer and Josef Weber. As the two become closer, Josef tells Sage his darkest, most shameful secret that he has kept buried for many years.
2013: ‘The Color War’ (short story)
“The Color War” is a coming-of-age story of a young boy battling racism and class divisions.
2014: ‘Leaving Time’
Ballantine Books
In "Leaving Time,” protagonist Jenna Metcalf goes to great lengths to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother, Alice, who had mysteriously disappeared ages ago.
2014: ‘Larger Than Life’ (short story)
2014 also saw Picoult publish the ebook short “Larger Than Life.” Set in Africa, the story follows a researcher studying elephants.
2014: ‘Where There’s Smoke’ (short story)
Last in 2014 was “Where There’s Smoke.” It is the story of a psychic with her own TV show, which is not without controversy.
2015: ‘Off the Page’
Ember
Picoult again teams up with daughter Samantha van Leer in “Off the Page,” a story about fairytale characters coming to life. As Oliver and Delilah live their lives in the real world, they soon realize that their story back in the book is being rewritten without their control.
2016: ‘Shine’ (short story)
Picoult introduces the world to her character of Ruth Brooks, a Harlem girl who attends a prestigious new school and faces racism and class issues.
2016: ‘Small Great Things’
Ballantine Books
“Small Great Things” follows the trial of a Black labor and delivery nurse who is charged with failing to comply with the request of white supremacist parents not to touch their newborn—which she had to do to save its life. For a prequel to the book, check out the ebook short story, “Shine.”
2017: ‘Mermaid’
Kindle Single
In “Mermaid,” an enhanced ebook/audiobook novella, the main character is former mermaid Hope Payne. She and her marine biologist husband have stocked their pool with flounder for a study, but they all seem to have disappeared.
2018: ‘A Spark of Light’
Ballantine Books
New in fall 2018 for Picoult was “A Spark of Light.” The cast of characters in this novel is in crisis—literally. People inside a women’s health clinic have been taken hostage by a gunman. This is the story of doctors, nurses, hostage negotiators, hostages, and the gun-wielding.
Jodi Picoult published her first book in 1992. Since then, she has published about one book every year, though some years have seen multimedia events and the publication of additional short ebooks.
Picoult’s books usually deal with ethical issues and are told from a variety of viewpoints, with each chapter written in a different character’s voice. She uses this technique to show multiple sides of a situation and underscore areas of moral ambiguity. To see this in action, you can read a novel from the following complete list of Jodi Picoult books.
1992: ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult’s debut novel tells the story of a mother who leaves her husband and takes a cross-country road trip with her daughter. It is told in five voices, each recounting the events of a fateful summer. While Picoult uses multiple voices in her later novels as well, readers of her later works might find “Songs of the Humpback Whale" slower-paced than her more popular books.
1993: ‘Harvesting the Heart’
Penguin Group
“Harvesting the Heart” is the story of Paige O’Toole, a woman who was abandoned by her mother when she was five and is plagued with self-doubt from then on. Her dreams and marriage suffer as a result, and eventually, she decides to look for her mother.
1995: ‘Picture Perfect’
Penguin Group
“Picture Perfect” tells the tale of a famous anthropologist who marries a movie star. Shortly after getting married, he begins abusing her. The protagonist must work out what to do with the relationship.
1996: ‘Mercy’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult explores the idea of mercy killing in "Mercy.” When the police chief’s nephew kills his wife—who is dying of cancer and wants him to kill her—the chief is torn between family loyalty and his duty as an officer. In addition to the trial, the novel also deals with the chief’s extramarital affair.
1998: ‘The Pact’
HarperCollins
“The Pact” tells the story of two teenagers who grew up together and fell in love. When the girl becomes depressed, though, she convinces her boyfriend to kill her. The novel deals with the aftermath and trial.
1999: ‘Keeping Faith’
HarperCollins
The “Faith” in the title is character Mariah’s daughter, Faith, but the term does double duty here. It also refers to the fact that the young girl can see God and heal people. Religious controversy is the catalyst for this courtroom drama, which actually centers on a custody case between Faith’s mother and father.
2000: ‘Plain Truth’
Simon & Schuster
In “Plain Truth,” Picoult explores the life of the Amish in Pennsylvania. When a dead infant is found in a barn, a controversy ensues in the local community and impacts the life of one teenage girl.
2001: ‘Salem Falls’
Simon & Schuster
“Salem Falls” is loosely based on “The Crucible.” The main character, Jack St. Bride, moves to Salem Falls after getting out of prison on a false statutory rape conviction. He hopes to start a new life there, but suspicious townspeople and some malicious teenage girls make that hard for him.
2002: ‘Perfect Match’
Simon & Schuster
“Perfect Match” is the tale of a district attorney whose five-year-old son is sexually molested. The boy is left mute, and the family must deal with the aftermath of the crime.
2003: ‘Second Glance’
Simon & Schuster
When an old man in Comtosook, Vermont puts a piece of land up for sale, the local Abenaki tribe protests, insisting the land is a burial ground. A series of supernatural events follows, and eventually a ghost hunter is hired to help convince the residents that there’s nothing unusual about the property.
2004: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’
Simon & Schuster
“My Sister’s Keeper” is the story of a girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions. Anna was conceived after her older sister was diagnosed with leukemia. She is a perfect match for her sister and spends her life in the hospital donating blood, marrow, and whatever else her sister needs to live. As a teenager, Anna sues so that she will not have to give her sister a kidney. “My Sister’s Keeper” covers the life of this family during the trial.
Are you part of a book club? See this article for discussion questions on “My Sister’s Keeper.”
2005: ‘Vanishing Acts’
Simon & Schuster
“Vanishing Acts” is about Delia, a woman who searches for missing people but whose own life has so far seemed idyllic. One day, Delia has a memory that seems out of place with her life. Suddenly the missing person she is searching for is herself. She must find out what truly happened in her past and who she is.
2006: ‘The Tenth Circle’
Simon & Schuster
“The Tenth Circle” is about a 14-year-old girl who is raped by her boyfriend. It is also about her father, whose identity as a good man is shook in his desire to protect and avenge his daughter.
2007: ‘Nineteen Minutes’
Simon & Schuster
In “Nineteen Minutes,” Picoult uses her signature style of telling a story from a variety of viewpoints in order to raise ethical questions. This time, the topic at hand is a school shooting, and the characters include teenagers who experience violence at their school.
2007: ‘Wonder Woman: Love and Murder’
DC Comics
Jodi Picoult took a break from her usual novel work to act as lead writer for DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman” series. It tells the story of a disguised Wonder Woman taking on an assignment that puts her secret identity at risk.
2008: ‘Change of Heart’
Atria
June Nealon’s daughter needs a heart transplant, and the man on death row for killing the rest of her family wants to donate his. Can June accept his heart? That is the dilemma in “Change of Heart.”
2009: ‘Handle with Care’
Simon & Schuster
“Handle with Care” is the story of a family with a daughter, Willow, who was born with brittle bone disease—a condition that makes her bones break easily and limits her height and movement. When Willow is four, her parents decide to sue their obstetrician for “wrongful birth,” claiming that Willow’s condition should have been diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy so that they could have terminated it. Sound controversial? Add to it the fact that the OB is the mother’s best friend—who has remained close to the family since the birth—and then throw in a neglected and bulimic older sibling. There you have classic Picoult.
2010: ‘House Rules’
Atria
Jodi Picoult is known for combining controversial issues, courtroom scenes, and family drama. This shows in "House Rules," where a boy with Asperger’s syndrome is accused of murder. Picoult shifts viewpoints and examines the prejudices surrounding the boy’s social disability.
2011: ‘Sing You Home’
Atria
Jodi Picoult’s 2011 release, “Sing You Home,” focuses on a lesbian couple who is fighting for the right to start a family. The book includes a unique multimedia feature—a CD of music that readers are supposed to imagine was written by the main character, who is a music therapist and musician.
2012: ‘Lone Wolf’
Atria
“Lone Wolf" is about a man estranged from his father who comes home after his sister and said father are in a serious accident. He wants to stop life support to his father so the organs can be donated to his sister, but the decision is complicated by tensions within the family.
2012: ‘Between the Lines’
Atria
“Between the Lines” is a young adult novel that Picoult co-wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer. It tells the story of a teenage girl who is a loner and obsessed with a book. Is it possible that the prince in the story could be real?
2013: ‘The Storyteller’
Atria
“The Storyteller” relays the story of the unlikely friendship between Sage Singer and Josef Weber. As the two become closer, Josef tells Sage his darkest, most shameful secret that he has kept buried for many years.
2013: ‘The Color War’ (short story)
“The Color War” is a coming-of-age story of a young boy battling racism and class divisions.
2014: ‘Leaving Time’
Ballantine Books
In "Leaving Time,” protagonist Jenna Metcalf goes to great lengths to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother, Alice, who had mysteriously disappeared ages ago.
2014: ‘Larger Than Life’ (short story)
2014 also saw Picoult publish the ebook short “Larger Than Life.” Set in Africa, the story follows a researcher studying elephants.
2014: ‘Where There’s Smoke’ (short story)
Last in 2014 was “Where There’s Smoke.” It is the story of a psychic with her own TV show, which is not without controversy.
2015: ‘Off the Page’
Ember
Picoult again teams up with daughter Samantha van Leer in “Off the Page,” a story about fairytale characters coming to life. As Oliver and Delilah live their lives in the real world, they soon realize that their story back in the book is being rewritten without their control.
2016: ‘Shine’ (short story)
Picoult introduces the world to her character of Ruth Brooks, a Harlem girl who attends a prestigious new school and faces racism and class issues.
2016: ‘Small Great Things’
Ballantine Books
“Small Great Things” follows the trial of a Black labor and delivery nurse who is charged with failing to comply with the request of white supremacist parents not to touch their newborn—which she had to do to save its life. For a prequel to the book, check out the ebook short story, “Shine.”
2017: ‘Mermaid’
Kindle Single
In “Mermaid,” an enhanced ebook/audiobook novella, the main character is former mermaid Hope Payne. She and her marine biologist husband have stocked their pool with flounder for a study, but they all seem to have disappeared.
2018: ‘A Spark of Light’
Ballantine Books
New in fall 2018 for Picoult was “A Spark of Light.” The cast of characters in this novel is in crisis—literally. People inside a women’s health clinic have been taken hostage by a gunman. This is the story of doctors, nurses, hostage negotiators, hostages, and the gun-wielding.
Jodi Picoult published her first book in 1992. Since then, she has published about one book every year, though some years have seen multimedia events and the publication of additional short ebooks.
Picoult’s books usually deal with ethical issues and are told from a variety of viewpoints, with each chapter written in a different character’s voice. She uses this technique to show multiple sides of a situation and underscore areas of moral ambiguity. To see this in action, you can read a novel from the following complete list of Jodi Picoult books.
1992: ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult’s debut novel tells the story of a mother who leaves her husband and takes a cross-country road trip with her daughter. It is told in five voices, each recounting the events of a fateful summer. While Picoult uses multiple voices in her later novels as well, readers of her later works might find “Songs of the Humpback Whale" slower-paced than her more popular books.
1993: ‘Harvesting the Heart’
Penguin Group
“Harvesting the Heart” is the story of Paige O’Toole, a woman who was abandoned by her mother when she was five and is plagued with self-doubt from then on. Her dreams and marriage suffer as a result, and eventually, she decides to look for her mother.
1995: ‘Picture Perfect’
Penguin Group
“Picture Perfect” tells the tale of a famous anthropologist who marries a movie star. Shortly after getting married, he begins abusing her. The protagonist must work out what to do with the relationship.
1996: ‘Mercy’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult explores the idea of mercy killing in "Mercy.” When the police chief’s nephew kills his wife—who is dying of cancer and wants him to kill her—the chief is torn between family loyalty and his duty as an officer. In addition to the trial, the novel also deals with the chief’s extramarital affair.
1998: ‘The Pact’
HarperCollins
“The Pact” tells the story of two teenagers who grew up together and fell in love. When the girl becomes depressed, though, she convinces her boyfriend to kill her. The novel deals with the aftermath and trial.
1999: ‘Keeping Faith’
HarperCollins
The “Faith” in the title is character Mariah’s daughter, Faith, but the term does double duty here. It also refers to the fact that the young girl can see God and heal people. Religious controversy is the catalyst for this courtroom drama, which actually centers on a custody case between Faith’s mother and father.
2000: ‘Plain Truth’
Simon & Schuster
In “Plain Truth,” Picoult explores the life of the Amish in Pennsylvania. When a dead infant is found in a barn, a controversy ensues in the local community and impacts the life of one teenage girl.
2001: ‘Salem Falls’
Simon & Schuster
“Salem Falls” is loosely based on “The Crucible.” The main character, Jack St. Bride, moves to Salem Falls after getting out of prison on a false statutory rape conviction. He hopes to start a new life there, but suspicious townspeople and some malicious teenage girls make that hard for him.
2002: ‘Perfect Match’
Simon & Schuster
“Perfect Match” is the tale of a district attorney whose five-year-old son is sexually molested. The boy is left mute, and the family must deal with the aftermath of the crime.
2003: ‘Second Glance’
Simon & Schuster
When an old man in Comtosook, Vermont puts a piece of land up for sale, the local Abenaki tribe protests, insisting the land is a burial ground. A series of supernatural events follows, and eventually a ghost hunter is hired to help convince the residents that there’s nothing unusual about the property.
2004: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’
Simon & Schuster
“My Sister’s Keeper” is the story of a girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions. Anna was conceived after her older sister was diagnosed with leukemia. She is a perfect match for her sister and spends her life in the hospital donating blood, marrow, and whatever else her sister needs to live. As a teenager, Anna sues so that she will not have to give her sister a kidney. “My Sister’s Keeper” covers the life of this family during the trial.
Are you part of a book club? See this article for discussion questions on “My Sister’s Keeper.”
2005: ‘Vanishing Acts’
Simon & Schuster
“Vanishing Acts” is about Delia, a woman who searches for missing people but whose own life has so far seemed idyllic. One day, Delia has a memory that seems out of place with her life. Suddenly the missing person she is searching for is herself. She must find out what truly happened in her past and who she is.
2006: ‘The Tenth Circle’
Simon & Schuster
“The Tenth Circle” is about a 14-year-old girl who is raped by her boyfriend. It is also about her father, whose identity as a good man is shook in his desire to protect and avenge his daughter.
2007: ‘Nineteen Minutes’
Simon & Schuster
In “Nineteen Minutes,” Picoult uses her signature style of telling a story from a variety of viewpoints in order to raise ethical questions. This time, the topic at hand is a school shooting, and the characters include teenagers who experience violence at their school.
2007: ‘Wonder Woman: Love and Murder’
DC Comics
Jodi Picoult took a break from her usual novel work to act as lead writer for DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman” series. It tells the story of a disguised Wonder Woman taking on an assignment that puts her secret identity at risk.
2008: ‘Change of Heart’
Atria
June Nealon’s daughter needs a heart transplant, and the man on death row for killing the rest of her family wants to donate his. Can June accept his heart? That is the dilemma in “Change of Heart.”
2009: ‘Handle with Care’
Simon & Schuster
“Handle with Care” is the story of a family with a daughter, Willow, who was born with brittle bone disease—a condition that makes her bones break easily and limits her height and movement. When Willow is four, her parents decide to sue their obstetrician for “wrongful birth,” claiming that Willow’s condition should have been diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy so that they could have terminated it. Sound controversial? Add to it the fact that the OB is the mother’s best friend—who has remained close to the family since the birth—and then throw in a neglected and bulimic older sibling. There you have classic Picoult.
2010: ‘House Rules’
Atria
Jodi Picoult is known for combining controversial issues, courtroom scenes, and family drama. This shows in "House Rules," where a boy with Asperger’s syndrome is accused of murder. Picoult shifts viewpoints and examines the prejudices surrounding the boy’s social disability.
2011: ‘Sing You Home’
Atria
Jodi Picoult’s 2011 release, “Sing You Home,” focuses on a lesbian couple who is fighting for the right to start a family. The book includes a unique multimedia feature—a CD of music that readers are supposed to imagine was written by the main character, who is a music therapist and musician.
2012: ‘Lone Wolf’
Atria
“Lone Wolf" is about a man estranged from his father who comes home after his sister and said father are in a serious accident. He wants to stop life support to his father so the organs can be donated to his sister, but the decision is complicated by tensions within the family.
2012: ‘Between the Lines’
Atria
“Between the Lines” is a young adult novel that Picoult co-wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer. It tells the story of a teenage girl who is a loner and obsessed with a book. Is it possible that the prince in the story could be real?
2013: ‘The Storyteller’
Atria
“The Storyteller” relays the story of the unlikely friendship between Sage Singer and Josef Weber. As the two become closer, Josef tells Sage his darkest, most shameful secret that he has kept buried for many years.
2013: ‘The Color War’ (short story)
“The Color War” is a coming-of-age story of a young boy battling racism and class divisions.
2014: ‘Leaving Time’
Ballantine Books
In "Leaving Time,” protagonist Jenna Metcalf goes to great lengths to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother, Alice, who had mysteriously disappeared ages ago.
2014: ‘Larger Than Life’ (short story)
2014 also saw Picoult publish the ebook short “Larger Than Life.” Set in Africa, the story follows a researcher studying elephants.
2014: ‘Where There’s Smoke’ (short story)
Last in 2014 was “Where There’s Smoke.” It is the story of a psychic with her own TV show, which is not without controversy.
2015: ‘Off the Page’
Ember
Picoult again teams up with daughter Samantha van Leer in “Off the Page,” a story about fairytale characters coming to life. As Oliver and Delilah live their lives in the real world, they soon realize that their story back in the book is being rewritten without their control.
2016: ‘Shine’ (short story)
Picoult introduces the world to her character of Ruth Brooks, a Harlem girl who attends a prestigious new school and faces racism and class issues.
2016: ‘Small Great Things’
Ballantine Books
“Small Great Things” follows the trial of a Black labor and delivery nurse who is charged with failing to comply with the request of white supremacist parents not to touch their newborn—which she had to do to save its life. For a prequel to the book, check out the ebook short story, “Shine.”
2017: ‘Mermaid’
Kindle Single
In “Mermaid,” an enhanced ebook/audiobook novella, the main character is former mermaid Hope Payne. She and her marine biologist husband have stocked their pool with flounder for a study, but they all seem to have disappeared.
2018: ‘A Spark of Light’
Ballantine Books
New in fall 2018 for Picoult was “A Spark of Light.” The cast of characters in this novel is in crisis—literally. People inside a women’s health clinic have been taken hostage by a gunman. This is the story of doctors, nurses, hostage negotiators, hostages, and the gun-wielding.
Jodi Picoult published her first book in 1992. Since then, she has published about one book every year, though some years have seen multimedia events and the publication of additional short ebooks.
Picoult’s books usually deal with ethical issues and are told from a variety of viewpoints, with each chapter written in a different character’s voice. She uses this technique to show multiple sides of a situation and underscore areas of moral ambiguity. To see this in action, you can read a novel from the following complete list of Jodi Picoult books.
1992: ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult’s debut novel tells the story of a mother who leaves her husband and takes a cross-country road trip with her daughter. It is told in five voices, each recounting the events of a fateful summer. While Picoult uses multiple voices in her later novels as well, readers of her later works might find “Songs of the Humpback Whale" slower-paced than her more popular books.
1993: ‘Harvesting the Heart’
Penguin Group
“Harvesting the Heart” is the story of Paige O’Toole, a woman who was abandoned by her mother when she was five and is plagued with self-doubt from then on. Her dreams and marriage suffer as a result, and eventually, she decides to look for her mother.
1995: ‘Picture Perfect’
Penguin Group
“Picture Perfect” tells the tale of a famous anthropologist who marries a movie star. Shortly after getting married, he begins abusing her. The protagonist must work out what to do with the relationship.
1996: ‘Mercy’
Simon & Schuster
Picoult explores the idea of mercy killing in "Mercy.” When the police chief’s nephew kills his wife—who is dying of cancer and wants him to kill her—the chief is torn between family loyalty and his duty as an officer. In addition to the trial, the novel also deals with the chief’s extramarital affair.
1998: ‘The Pact’
HarperCollins
“The Pact” tells the story of two teenagers who grew up together and fell in love. When the girl becomes depressed, though, she convinces her boyfriend to kill her. The novel deals with the aftermath and trial.
1999: ‘Keeping Faith’
HarperCollins
The “Faith” in the title is character Mariah’s daughter, Faith, but the term does double duty here. It also refers to the fact that the young girl can see God and heal people. Religious controversy is the catalyst for this courtroom drama, which actually centers on a custody case between Faith’s mother and father.
2000: ‘Plain Truth’
Simon & Schuster
In “Plain Truth,” Picoult explores the life of the Amish in Pennsylvania. When a dead infant is found in a barn, a controversy ensues in the local community and impacts the life of one teenage girl.
2001: ‘Salem Falls’
Simon & Schuster
“Salem Falls” is loosely based on “The Crucible.” The main character, Jack St. Bride, moves to Salem Falls after getting out of prison on a false statutory rape conviction. He hopes to start a new life there, but suspicious townspeople and some malicious teenage girls make that hard for him.
2002: ‘Perfect Match’
Simon & Schuster
“Perfect Match” is the tale of a district attorney whose five-year-old son is sexually molested. The boy is left mute, and the family must deal with the aftermath of the crime.
2003: ‘Second Glance’
Simon & Schuster
When an old man in Comtosook, Vermont puts a piece of land up for sale, the local Abenaki tribe protests, insisting the land is a burial ground. A series of supernatural events follows, and eventually a ghost hunter is hired to help convince the residents that there’s nothing unusual about the property.
2004: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’
Simon & Schuster
“My Sister’s Keeper” is the story of a girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions. Anna was conceived after her older sister was diagnosed with leukemia. She is a perfect match for her sister and spends her life in the hospital donating blood, marrow, and whatever else her sister needs to live. As a teenager, Anna sues so that she will not have to give her sister a kidney. “My Sister’s Keeper” covers the life of this family during the trial.
Are you part of a book club? See this article for discussion questions on “My Sister’s Keeper.”
2005: ‘Vanishing Acts’
Simon & Schuster
“Vanishing Acts” is about Delia, a woman who searches for missing people but whose own life has so far seemed idyllic. One day, Delia has a memory that seems out of place with her life. Suddenly the missing person she is searching for is herself. She must find out what truly happened in her past and who she is.
2006: ‘The Tenth Circle’
Simon & Schuster
“The Tenth Circle” is about a 14-year-old girl who is raped by her boyfriend. It is also about her father, whose identity as a good man is shook in his desire to protect and avenge his daughter.
2007: ‘Nineteen Minutes’
Simon & Schuster
In “Nineteen Minutes,” Picoult uses her signature style of telling a story from a variety of viewpoints in order to raise ethical questions. This time, the topic at hand is a school shooting, and the characters include teenagers who experience violence at their school.
2007: ‘Wonder Woman: Love and Murder’
DC Comics
Jodi Picoult took a break from her usual novel work to act as lead writer for DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman” series. It tells the story of a disguised Wonder Woman taking on an assignment that puts her secret identity at risk.
2008: ‘Change of Heart’
Atria
June Nealon’s daughter needs a heart transplant, and the man on death row for killing the rest of her family wants to donate his. Can June accept his heart? That is the dilemma in “Change of Heart.”
2009: ‘Handle with Care’
Simon & Schuster
“Handle with Care” is the story of a family with a daughter, Willow, who was born with brittle bone disease—a condition that makes her bones break easily and limits her height and movement. When Willow is four, her parents decide to sue their obstetrician for “wrongful birth,” claiming that Willow’s condition should have been diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy so that they could have terminated it. Sound controversial? Add to it the fact that the OB is the mother’s best friend—who has remained close to the family since the birth—and then throw in a neglected and bulimic older sibling. There you have classic Picoult.
2010: ‘House Rules’
Atria
Jodi Picoult is known for combining controversial issues, courtroom scenes, and family drama. This shows in "House Rules," where a boy with Asperger’s syndrome is accused of murder. Picoult shifts viewpoints and examines the prejudices surrounding the boy’s social disability.
2011: ‘Sing You Home’
Atria
Jodi Picoult’s 2011 release, “Sing You Home,” focuses on a lesbian couple who is fighting for the right to start a family. The book includes a unique multimedia feature—a CD of music that readers are supposed to imagine was written by the main character, who is a music therapist and musician.
2012: ‘Lone Wolf’
Atria
“Lone Wolf" is about a man estranged from his father who comes home after his sister and said father are in a serious accident. He wants to stop life support to his father so the organs can be donated to his sister, but the decision is complicated by tensions within the family.
2012: ‘Between the Lines’
Atria
“Between the Lines” is a young adult novel that Picoult co-wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer. It tells the story of a teenage girl who is a loner and obsessed with a book. Is it possible that the prince in the story could be real?
2013: ‘The Storyteller’
Atria
“The Storyteller” relays the story of the unlikely friendship between Sage Singer and Josef Weber. As the two become closer, Josef tells Sage his darkest, most shameful secret that he has kept buried for many years.
2013: ‘The Color War’ (short story)
“The Color War” is a coming-of-age story of a young boy battling racism and class divisions.
2014: ‘Leaving Time’
Ballantine Books
In "Leaving Time,” protagonist Jenna Metcalf goes to great lengths to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother, Alice, who had mysteriously disappeared ages ago.
2014: ‘Larger Than Life’ (short story)
2014 also saw Picoult publish the ebook short “Larger Than Life.” Set in Africa, the story follows a researcher studying elephants.
2014: ‘Where There’s Smoke’ (short story)
Last in 2014 was “Where There’s Smoke.” It is the story of a psychic with her own TV show, which is not without controversy.
2015: ‘Off the Page’
Ember
Picoult again teams up with daughter Samantha van Leer in “Off the Page,” a story about fairytale characters coming to life. As Oliver and Delilah live their lives in the real world, they soon realize that their story back in the book is being rewritten without their control.
2016: ‘Shine’ (short story)
Picoult introduces the world to her character of Ruth Brooks, a Harlem girl who attends a prestigious new school and faces racism and class issues.
2016: ‘Small Great Things’
Ballantine Books
“Small Great Things” follows the trial of a Black labor and delivery nurse who is charged with failing to comply with the request of white supremacist parents not to touch their newborn—which she had to do to save its life. For a prequel to the book, check out the ebook short story, “Shine.”
2017: ‘Mermaid’
Kindle Single
In “Mermaid,” an enhanced ebook/audiobook novella, the main character is former mermaid Hope Payne. She and her marine biologist husband have stocked their pool with flounder for a study, but they all seem to have disappeared.
2018: ‘A Spark of Light’
Ballantine Books
New in fall 2018 for Picoult was “A Spark of Light.” The cast of characters in this novel is in crisis—literally. People inside a women’s health clinic have been taken hostage by a gunman. This is the story of doctors, nurses, hostage negotiators, hostages, and the gun-wielding.
1992: ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale’
Picoult’s debut novel tells the story of a mother who leaves her husband and takes a cross-country road trip with her daughter. It is told in five voices, each recounting the events of a fateful summer. While Picoult uses multiple voices in her later novels as well, readers of her later works might find “Songs of the Humpback Whale" slower-paced than her more popular books.
1993: ‘Harvesting the Heart’
“Harvesting the Heart” is the story of Paige O’Toole, a woman who was abandoned by her mother when she was five and is plagued with self-doubt from then on. Her dreams and marriage suffer as a result, and eventually, she decides to look for her mother.
1995: ‘Picture Perfect’
“Picture Perfect” tells the tale of a famous anthropologist who marries a movie star. Shortly after getting married, he begins abusing her. The protagonist must work out what to do with the relationship.
1996: ‘Mercy’
Picoult explores the idea of mercy killing in "Mercy.” When the police chief’s nephew kills his wife—who is dying of cancer and wants him to kill her—the chief is torn between family loyalty and his duty as an officer. In addition to the trial, the novel also deals with the chief’s extramarital affair.
1998: ‘The Pact’
“The Pact” tells the story of two teenagers who grew up together and fell in love. When the girl becomes depressed, though, she convinces her boyfriend to kill her. The novel deals with the aftermath and trial.
1999: ‘Keeping Faith’
The “Faith” in the title is character Mariah’s daughter, Faith, but the term does double duty here. It also refers to the fact that the young girl can see God and heal people. Religious controversy is the catalyst for this courtroom drama, which actually centers on a custody case between Faith’s mother and father.
2000: ‘Plain Truth’
In “Plain Truth,” Picoult explores the life of the Amish in Pennsylvania. When a dead infant is found in a barn, a controversy ensues in the local community and impacts the life of one teenage girl.
2001: ‘Salem Falls’
“Salem Falls” is loosely based on “The Crucible.” The main character, Jack St. Bride, moves to Salem Falls after getting out of prison on a false statutory rape conviction. He hopes to start a new life there, but suspicious townspeople and some malicious teenage girls make that hard for him.
2002: ‘Perfect Match’
“Perfect Match” is the tale of a district attorney whose five-year-old son is sexually molested. The boy is left mute, and the family must deal with the aftermath of the crime.
2003: ‘Second Glance’
When an old man in Comtosook, Vermont puts a piece of land up for sale, the local Abenaki tribe protests, insisting the land is a burial ground. A series of supernatural events follows, and eventually a ghost hunter is hired to help convince the residents that there’s nothing unusual about the property.
2004: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’
“My Sister’s Keeper” is the story of a girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions. Anna was conceived after her older sister was diagnosed with leukemia. She is a perfect match for her sister and spends her life in the hospital donating blood, marrow, and whatever else her sister needs to live. As a teenager, Anna sues so that she will not have to give her sister a kidney. “My Sister’s Keeper” covers the life of this family during the trial.
Are you part of a book club? See this article for discussion questions on “My Sister’s Keeper.”
2005: ‘Vanishing Acts’
“Vanishing Acts” is about Delia, a woman who searches for missing people but whose own life has so far seemed idyllic. One day, Delia has a memory that seems out of place with her life. Suddenly the missing person she is searching for is herself. She must find out what truly happened in her past and who she is.
2006: ‘The Tenth Circle’
“The Tenth Circle” is about a 14-year-old girl who is raped by her boyfriend. It is also about her father, whose identity as a good man is shook in his desire to protect and avenge his daughter.
2007: ‘Nineteen Minutes’
In “Nineteen Minutes,” Picoult uses her signature style of telling a story from a variety of viewpoints in order to raise ethical questions. This time, the topic at hand is a school shooting, and the characters include teenagers who experience violence at their school.
2007: ‘Wonder Woman: Love and Murder’
Jodi Picoult took a break from her usual novel work to act as lead writer for DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman” series. It tells the story of a disguised Wonder Woman taking on an assignment that puts her secret identity at risk.
2008: ‘Change of Heart’
June Nealon’s daughter needs a heart transplant, and the man on death row for killing the rest of her family wants to donate his. Can June accept his heart? That is the dilemma in “Change of Heart.”
2009: ‘Handle with Care’
“Handle with Care” is the story of a family with a daughter, Willow, who was born with brittle bone disease—a condition that makes her bones break easily and limits her height and movement. When Willow is four, her parents decide to sue their obstetrician for “wrongful birth,” claiming that Willow’s condition should have been diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy so that they could have terminated it. Sound controversial? Add to it the fact that the OB is the mother’s best friend—who has remained close to the family since the birth—and then throw in a neglected and bulimic older sibling. There you have classic Picoult.
2010: ‘House Rules’
Jodi Picoult is known for combining controversial issues, courtroom scenes, and family drama. This shows in "House Rules," where a boy with Asperger’s syndrome is accused of murder. Picoult shifts viewpoints and examines the prejudices surrounding the boy’s social disability.
2011: ‘Sing You Home’
Jodi Picoult’s 2011 release, “Sing You Home,” focuses on a lesbian couple who is fighting for the right to start a family. The book includes a unique multimedia feature—a CD of music that readers are supposed to imagine was written by the main character, who is a music therapist and musician.
2012: ‘Lone Wolf’
“Lone Wolf" is about a man estranged from his father who comes home after his sister and said father are in a serious accident. He wants to stop life support to his father so the organs can be donated to his sister, but the decision is complicated by tensions within the family.
2012: ‘Between the Lines’
“Between the Lines” is a young adult novel that Picoult co-wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer. It tells the story of a teenage girl who is a loner and obsessed with a book. Is it possible that the prince in the story could be real?
2013: ‘The Storyteller’
“The Storyteller” relays the story of the unlikely friendship between Sage Singer and Josef Weber. As the two become closer, Josef tells Sage his darkest, most shameful secret that he has kept buried for many years.
2013: ‘The Color War’ (short story)
“The Color War” is a coming-of-age story of a young boy battling racism and class divisions.
2014: ‘Leaving Time’
In "Leaving Time,” protagonist Jenna Metcalf goes to great lengths to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother, Alice, who had mysteriously disappeared ages ago.
2014: ‘Larger Than Life’ (short story)
2014 also saw Picoult publish the ebook short “Larger Than Life.” Set in Africa, the story follows a researcher studying elephants.
2014: ‘Where There’s Smoke’ (short story)
Last in 2014 was “Where There’s Smoke.” It is the story of a psychic with her own TV show, which is not without controversy.
2015: ‘Off the Page’
Picoult again teams up with daughter Samantha van Leer in “Off the Page,” a story about fairytale characters coming to life. As Oliver and Delilah live their lives in the real world, they soon realize that their story back in the book is being rewritten without their control.
2016: ‘Shine’ (short story)
Picoult introduces the world to her character of Ruth Brooks, a Harlem girl who attends a prestigious new school and faces racism and class issues.
2016: ‘Small Great Things’
“Small Great Things” follows the trial of a Black labor and delivery nurse who is charged with failing to comply with the request of white supremacist parents not to touch their newborn—which she had to do to save its life. For a prequel to the book, check out the ebook short story, “Shine.”
2017: ‘Mermaid’
In “Mermaid,” an enhanced ebook/audiobook novella, the main character is former mermaid Hope Payne. She and her marine biologist husband have stocked their pool with flounder for a study, but they all seem to have disappeared.
2018: ‘A Spark of Light’
New in fall 2018 for Picoult was “A Spark of Light.” The cast of characters in this novel is in crisis—literally. People inside a women’s health clinic have been taken hostage by a gunman. This is the story of doctors, nurses, hostage negotiators, hostages, and the gun-wielding.
