House Rules

A Novel

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Mark Turetsky, Rich Orlow, Nicole Poole, Christopher Evan Welch, Andy Paris

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and the modern classics My Sister’s Keeper, The Storyteller, and more, comes a “complex, compassionate, and smart” (The Washington Post) novel about a family torn apart by a murder accusation.

When your son can’t look you in the eye…does that mean he’s guilty?

Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. He has a special focus on one subject—forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he’s always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he’s usually right.

But when Jacob’s small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob’s behaviors are hallmark Asperger’s, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are thrust directly in the spotlight. For Jacob’s mother, it’s a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, it’s another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.

And for the frightened small town, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

House Rules is “a provocative story in which [Picoult] explores the pain of trying to comprehend the people we love—and reminds us that the truth often travels in disguise” (People).

Mother who Excels, Two Brothers who Learn to Cope

This is by far the best novel that I have read in several months. It had three dimensions that were all handled with great talent. It was an excellent mystery with a plot that kept the reader well engaged. There was an intimate look at a family made up of a single mother, one son with Asperger's syndrome and the younger normal son. Both sons are brilliant in their way. The third dimension that the author develops well is her cast of characters. The mother reminded of my own mother, she feels deeply for the social pain her asperger son endures, but is committed to doing whatever is necessary to make him as independent as possible and help him cope with his social challenges. She does not rationalize away her responsibilities to her son, but explores every way to help this eighteen year old man grow into his own. The author is extremely knowledgeable concerning the Autism spectrum. I probably learned as much about the spectrum as I have from the several nonfiction books on the subject that I read/listened to. The author has also done a fine job of creating the mother. She seems to use a composite of the mothers of the disabled who choose not to rationalize their surrender from the responsibility that every parent has to make your child as independent of that parent. As all good parents know this is a job not finished until death calls for that parent. ...

Not the ending I expected!

This novel started a bit slow but eventually delivered in true Jodi P. Form...pulling at the heart, complex characters, moral dilemma, and of course, learning something along the way. “What would I do? “ This is what I think after every JP novel. Definitely a good read overall!

Spot on and a great story!

As a mother of a child on the spectrum this story summed up life perfectly. The struggles and fears that my kiddo faces and that I face with him. The teasing, the accusations, the comments about him being "different". This story made me laugh and made me sad but I was able to relate to so much of it. What a great story!

great book, not my favorite Picoult, but good

very well written as to be expected from this great author. what i love about picoult books is they really tackle issues people do not want to talk about but that are so real.... this didn't disappoint in adding perspective to those touched by having a sort of relationship with someone on the autism scale.... but i think i was hoping for something else with this book... but it was very well written.

Seeing through another's eyes

I enjoyed this story. The performance , the story all of it. I wish there had been more after the solution came around. I wanted to hear more.
Seeing life through someone else's eyes is what I got out of this book. I wondered how the author was able to put down in words all the different perceptions. From Jacob, a clearly clever and gifted, yet troubled boy. To put herself in Emma's place as his mother. The love and devotion she had. The compassion and love of her boys.
I was able to predict the outcome, but that's ok because I enjoyed the story immensely.
I only wish it had gone on afterward.