Review: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Reviewed by Jeremy Yeo (4P1)

House Rules tells the story of Jacob, an eighteen-year-old diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, being convicted for a crime he did not commit. The crime: the murder of his social skills counselor.

It is unlucky that Jacob has Asperger’s, since all the hallmark behaviours of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, odd movements and inappropriate actions – seem to automatically indicate guilt to the police.

Jacob’s mother also has to deal with a lot of unwanted stress during this difficult period of her son’s arrest: a budding romance with Jacob’s attorney, a resentful son who always comes second to Jacob, and the unexpected arrival of her former husband, Jacob’s father. Above all else, she must ask herself the hardest question of all: is her son truly capable of murder?

A captivating novel from start to end, the book takes the reader through the many twists and turns during Jacob’s trial. With the introduction of many different characters who all play an important part in the trial in one way or another, the novel keeps one in suspense until the very last word.