Review
by Deb Czajkowski
Alice Kingston became
an elephant advocate at the age of nine.
She loved elephant jokes (Why are elephants wrinkled? They don’t fit on the ironing board.) and she
loved all stories about elephants. It
was no stretch for her to become an elephant researcher, to study elephants in
Kenya, to feel at home in the wild with her beloved elephants. Then, unexpectedly
pregnant, she chooses to marry Thomas Metcalf, the baby’s father, and join the
team at the elephant sanctuary in Massachusetts that Thomas founded.
Jenna Metcalf is the
daughter of Thomas and Alice. For the
first three years her life, Jenna went with Alice almost daily into the
elephant enclosure, sitting or playing near Maura, Alice’s favorite elephant. Then
one day, Alice disappears, and Jenna begins a ten-year search to find her. Jenna wonders: Is her mother dead? Or was she
abandoned by her mother? Could a mother
really not love her daughter enough to stay? Or at least to take her with her
if she left?
Serenity Jones is a
psychic. She sees hundreds of people,
some real and some not. After becoming famous for finding missing persons, especially
children, Serenity made an incorrect call involving a child that cost her
everything. Now, years later, Jenna
shows up at her door, seeking help in finding Alice. Serenity makes it
abundantly clear that she no longer finds missing people and she definitely no
longer works with children. Still, Serenity
asks herself: Can she resist Jenna’s
determination and passion? Can she risk
helping a child again?
Virgil Stanhope is a
private detective, having served both on the police force prior to becoming a
detective and also as one of the original investigators on Alice’s case. Virgil always suspected there was more to
Alice’s disappearance than was uncovered, but the case was quickly closed with
a strict warning to leave it alone. Thus,
for Virgil, Alice became “the one that got away.” Now Jenna is at his door, asking for him to
investigate the case with her. Virgil is
forced to consider: Will reopening Alice’s
file awaken sleeping giants? Is he more
concerned with his own demons or the real reasons for closing that case ten
years ago?
Is there a more unlikely
trio to join forces than an indomitable thirteen-year-old, a skeptic psychic,
and an alcoholic private detective?
Author Jodi Picoult’s Leaving
Time is an intriguing take on a mystery/who-dunnit that also incorporates
true-to-life narratives about elephants. The main characters (listed above)
take turns progressing the story, each giving information from his/her
perspective. The trio of sleuths have their
own histories that further color in facts and details that brought them to this
present-day quest. Alice tells her
story, too, focusing largely on her life as a scientist of the elephant
kingdom.
I did indeed find Leaving
Time entirely fascinating and engrossing; I didn’t want to put the book
down. The fictitious but fact-based
storyline of elephants in the wild and in captivity totally pulled me in, even
though I confess to not being a pet-person myself. The trio’s perceptions kept me eagerly turning
pages. While there is so much more to Leaving Time than elephants, you may
just find yourself loving elephants at the end of this author’s story. Treat yourself to this fascinating as well as
informative read!
Purchase the book at:
%2BAdam%2BBouska.jpg)
About the Author:
Jodi Picoult, 48, is
the bestselling author of twenty-three novels. Her last eight novels have
debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Her highly
anticipated new novel, Leaving Time, was released in the US, Canada, UK and Australia.
She received an honorary Doctor
of Letters degree from Dartmouth College in 2010 and another from the
University of New Haven in 2012.
Jodi is part
of the Writer’s Council for the National Writing Project, which recognizes the
universality of writing as a communicative tool and helps teachers enhance
student writing. She is a spokesperson for Positive Tracks/Children’s Hospital
at Dartmouth, which supports youth-led charity fundraising through athletics;
and is on the advisory committee of the New Hampshire Coalition Against the
Death Penalty. She is also the founder and executive producer of the Trumbull
Hall Troupe, a New Hampshire-based teen theater group that performs original
musicals to raise money for local charities; to date their contributions have
exceeded $100K. She and her husband Tim and their three children live in
Hanover, New Hampshire with two Springer spaniels, two rescue puppies, two
donkeys, two geese, ten chickens, a smattering of ducks, and the occasional
Holstein.
Connect with the author at:
BallantineBooks at Random House is giving 2 lucky winners
signed copies
of Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
a Rafflecopter giveaway
