The Pact (Rachael Blanchard)

The Pact
By Jodi Picoult
Avon Books
496 pages

I decided to read The Pact by Jodi Picoult because I already read her other novels, My Sister's Keeper and The Third Circle, and the topics she chooses to write about capture my attention. On the cover it said “a love story.” Based on that I thought this was a more conservative novel of Picoult's. I was also looking for another book to read and one of my friends recommended it.

The Pact is about two people named Chris and Emily. They lived next door from each other their entire lives. Ever since they were born their parents knew that a bond was there. Chris and Emily were childhood friends and they even had their first kiss together. When they are teenagers a relationship grows between them. They are irrevocably in love, but tragedy strikes when Emily is found dead. A gun shot is what killed her, but not from murder. There was a suicide pact between Emily and Chris. Their families are shocked and are in a daze of how this could have happened. Through their eyes they were normal teenagers, but there were secrets that they never knew.

I believe the audience for this book is young adults because there are subjects that come up that young people tend to go through at one point in their life.

The author's writing style is very descriptive when it comes to scenes and situations. There is dialogue on every page and every few sentences have dialogue as well. She gives you enough detail where you can imagine every little aspect in your head.
“They all looked at the bassinet. The baby startled, a reflex. Her longs fingers flailed open like a morning glory and curled back into fists, grabbing for purchase. And although she was completely unaware, when Emily Gold again settled into sleep, she was holding tight to Christopher Harte's hand.” (31)

“'But Chris didn't commit a crime. Being depressed is not a crime.'
Kate turned her head, incredulous. 'You mean they think Chris killed Emily?'”I find this passage hard to handle because it is tough to hear that someone in your family is being accused of a crime. His sister, Kate, is confused of why he is even questioned about it. His family knows that he loved Emily and would never hurt her.
“'Drowning,' she said softly. 'Walking in there until it was over my head. Very peaceful.'
'Jesus,' said Chris, clearly startled. 'I don't think it would be peaceful at all. I think you'd start thrashing around and try to get to the surface-'
'You would,' Emily said. 'Because you're a swimmer.'
'And you?'
She turned in his arms, and laid her head on his chest. 'I would just let go,' she said.” (263)
This passage makes me really want to help Emily. I feel sympathetic towards her and I just want her to get some help. I mean what she said was very depressing and it makes u feel concerned.
“Chris moved her into his arms, her chin on his right shoulder. He committed to memory the solid weight of her, and the life that ran like a current, before pulling back slightly to give Emily room to place the gun to her head.” (418)
This passage is the most heart breaking for me because I have never understood how someone could commit suicide and reading a passage that describes someone about to kill themselves is difficult to handle. It's realistic, but that is what freaks me out.
I believe the theme is that every life has an affect on others because Emily's death caused pain towards Chris, his family, and Emily's family.
“Chris wondered whether God had met Emily yet. He closed his eyes, imagining the long blonde hair he'd wrapped round his hands like reins; the point of her chin and the soft blue hollow of her throat where he could touch his lips to her pulse. He remembered something he'd read that night: 'A new heart also I will give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.' He hoped now, Emily had that.” (304)
This shows how Chris just wanted her to be happy. He loved her and she was the only person he wanted to be with. No other girl could take her place in his heart.
“Emily was lying on her back on a table. Michael took a step forward, resting his hand on her hair. Her forehead was smooth, still warm. The doctor was wrong; that was all. She was not dead, she could not be dead, she…He shifted his hand, and her head lolled toward him, allowing him to see the hole above her right ear, the size of a silver dollar, ragged on the edges and matted with dried blood. But no new blood was trickling.” (16)
This is Emily's father and mother identifying her body, and they are in denial. Their only child is dead and there is a delayed reaction due to shock. They never thought they would be at a hospital identifying their daughter's body.
I would give this book an A because there are many different elements to the novel. There is romance, tragedy, and some mystery of how the incident occurred. From the very beginning you are sucked into the plot because it is a story that unravels. It includes a topic that some teen-agers struggle with and that's suicide. I also enjoy how it goes from when Chris and Emily are born to the present when Emily committed suicide and what happens afterwards.