Nineteen Minutes

by

Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes Characters

Peter Houghton

The main character in the novel and the perpetrator of the school shooting around which the narrative is centered. He is 17 years old when he commits the shooting and 18 when he is tried… read analysis of Peter Houghton

Josie Cormier

Peter’s former best friend and the other main character in the novel. Josie is the child of a single mother, Alex, and grows up not knowing her father (Logan Rourke). She… read analysis of Josie Cormier

Alex Cormier

Josie’s mother and the youngest judge in New Hampshire. On the outside she is a hard-working, formidable woman who maintains a pristine reputation and finds it easy to fit in with a vast variety… read analysis of Alex Cormier

Lacy Houghton

Peter and Joey’s mother, Lewis’s wife, and a professional midwife. Lacy is a much more traditionally typical mother than Alex, with a maternal, nurturing personality. She adores her job and loves to… read analysis of Lacy Houghton

Jordan McAfee

Peter’s lawyer, and Selena’s husband. Jordan is a smart, dedicated, and talented lawyer who decides to take on Peter’s case when he realizes that Peter—like everyone—is somebody’s child. His commitment to getting Peter… read analysis of Jordan McAfee
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Selena

Jordan’s wife, who also works as his investigator. Like Jordan, Selena is smart, talented, and hard-working. However, while her husband sometimes lacks a degree of empathy and care, Selena brings a more human touch… read analysis of Selena

Matt Royston

A hockey player at Sterling High and Josie’s boyfriend. Matt is part of the popular crowd and has a high social status at school, although he is not particularly smart and sometimes makes Josie… read analysis of Matt Royston

Patrick Duharme

The only police detective in Sterling and Alex’s romantic interest. Patrick is skilled and dedicated to this job, and he has a deep sense of justice. He is also a devoted romantic partner to… read analysis of Patrick Duharme

Lewis Houghton

Joey and Peter’s father, Lacy’s husband, and a professor of economics at Sterling College. He is an expert on the economics of happiness and is the first person in the world to devise… read analysis of Lewis Houghton

Joey Houghton

Peter’s older brother. At the time the shooting takes place, Joey is already dead, having been killed by a drunk driver, and he only appears in the narrative incidentally. Joey was known as a… read analysis of Joey Houghton

Mr. Ed McCabe

A math teacher at Sterling High. He is gay but closeted at school. When Peter goes to a gay bar in an attempt to see if he really is gay, Mr. McCabe saves him from… read analysis of Mr. Ed McCabe

Logan Rourke

Josie’s biological father and Alex’s law professor. During his and Alex’s affair, Logan actively seduced her and promised that he would leave his wife for her. However, when Alex became pregnant, he pressured… read analysis of Logan Rourke

Angela Phlug

A student who was formerly in Peter’s French class, and who moves school after the shooting in order to deal with her trauma. She writes Peter a letter while he is in prison, explaining… read analysis of Angela Phlug

Curtis Uppergate

A forensic psychiatrist who appears at the trial. While being questioned, he says that he believes Peter was not suffering from mental illness on the day of the shooting, and that there is evidence he… read analysis of Curtis Uppergate
Minor Characters
Courtney Ignatio
The “alpha female” of Sterling High. Courtney is the queen of the popular girls, and she is widely idolized. She is cruel and repeatedly tries to embarrass Josie despite the fact that they are nominally friends. She is killed in the school shooting.
Brady Pryce
The male half of the “Brangelina” of Sterling High. Brady is a popular by and a devoted boyfriend to Haley. When Peter shoots Haley, Brady steps in front of the bullet but survives.
Haley Weaver
Brady’s girlfriend and a former two-time homecoming queen. Haley is facially disfigured in the shooting and testifies at Peter’s trial.
John Eberhard
Another member of the popular crowd, who is injured in the school shooting and ends up with brain damage.
Drew Girard
Another member of the popular crowd who also survives the school shooting. One of Peter’s main tormenters.
Maddie Shaw
One of the popular girls who is killed in the school shooting.
Emma Alexis
Another popular girl, who ends up in a wheelchair after the shooting.
Derek Markowitz
Peter’s best friend in high school. Like Peter, Derek is awkward, nerdy, unathletic, and a computer whiz. Derek is always subject to merciless bullying. He and Peter build and play the game Hide-n-Shriek together, but when Peter actually acts on their fantasies of revenge, Derek is shocked and horrified.
Diana Leven
A lawyer who serves as the prosecution during Peter’s trial. She has a professional rivalry with Jordan, and this seems to extend into a personal hatred.
Dr. King Wah
A forensic psychiatrist whose evaluation Jordan uses as evidence in Peter’s trial. Dr. Wah is an expert in battered woman syndrome and determines that Peter had post-traumatic stress disorder comparable to an abused woman at the time he committed the shooting.
Michael Beach
An unpopular student who narrowly avoids being killed by Peter in the school shooting and watches his friend Justin die in front him.
Justin Friedman
A nerdy student whom Peter kills in the shooting.
Nadya
A client whom Alex represents during her time as a public defender. Nadya is a victim of domestic violence and an impoverished single mother.
Dr. Guenther Frankenstein
The state medical examiner and a former Mr. Universe.
Whit Hobart
Alex’s mentor, who originally encourages her to apply to become a judge.
Liz
The “whole property maintenance department” at the Sterling courthouse. Befriends Alex.
Sam McAfee
Jordan and Selena’s baby son.
Dr. Ervin Peabody
A professor of psychology at Sterling College who once co-authored a paper on school shooters and is cited as an expert in press coverage of the Sterling High shooting. Dr. Peabody runs a grief counseling session for the whole town.
Natalie Zlenko
The president of Sterling High GLAD.
Coach Dusty Spears
An athletic coach at Sterling High, who was a jock (and, it’s implied, a bully) as a teenager.
Topher McPhee
One of the students Peter kills.
Whit Obermeyer
Another student Peter kills.
Grace Murtaugh
Another student Peter kills.
Principal Arthur McAllistar
The principal of Sterling High. He claims to have a handle on the problem of bullying but is clearly inept.
Kaitlyn Harvey
A special-needs student that Peter kills in the shooting.
Yvette Harvey
Kaitlin’s mother. She kills herself soon after the shooting takes place, seemingly due to grief.
Selma
A police technician.
Carnivore
An inmate at the maximum-security jail where Peter is incarcerated before his trial. He is accused of raping and killing a waitress but maintains that he is innocent.
Hugh Macquarie
Chair of the economics department at Sterling College.
Kelly
A mentally disabled patient of Lacy’s who becomes pregnant as a result of gang rape.
Dolores Keating
A transfer student to Peter and Josie’s middle school, who gets her period in class. Peter (accidentally) points this out, leading to Dolores becoming the target of intense bullying.
Mark Ignatio
Courtney’s father, who yells abuse at Jordan during the grief session held by Dr. Peabody.
Mr. Cargrew
Josie and Peter’s boss at QuikCopy. He watches bestiality porn on his work computer and fires Peter after he sets fire to a dumpster.
Joe Urquhardt
A comically grotesque Canadian lawyer whom Liz sets up Alex with on a date. Alex finds him horrifying and cancels the date within seconds of meeting him.
Mrs. Sandringham
Peter’s English teacher.
Kurt
A predatory older man who aggressively tries to seduce Peter at a gay bar.
Philip O’Shea
Mr. McCabe’s partner.
Elena Battista
A journalist who poses as a college student and bullying victim in order to interview Peter for a tabloid article.
Dee Dee Markowitz
Derek’s mother.
Mr. Weatherall
Peter’s neighbor, a retired cop from whom the Houghtons often borrow gas for their snowblower. Peter steals Mr. Weatherall’s two semiautomatic guns, which he keeps inside a sugar canister.
Judge Wagner
The judge who presides over the school shooting case after Alex recuses herself.
Zoe Patterson
The first person Peter shot during the attack. She testifies at his trial.
Jada Knight
A student who Peter shoots. She survives but is left traumatized.
Jada Knight’s Mother
Jada’s mother. After the second day of Peter’s trial, she tells the press about Jada’s trauma and expresses a desire for Peter to receive a harsh punishment.