Characterization is something that this author excels in, and if you have ever read any of her books before, I am sure that there are characters that remain with you still. Jenna Metcalf, a bright and sensitive teenager, is unable to accept the fact that her mother disappeared years ago. Once she reaches the age where she can research on her own, she enlists the help of several people to find Alice, the mother who never came home from the elephant sanctuary where she worked. Jenna's dad couldn't deal with the loss and still lingers in a psychiatric institution while she is being raised by her grandmother.
Jenna reads Alice's old journals and searches on line, desperately looking for answers. The journals focus mainly on Alice's study of grief among elephants and give us a wonderful window into that world. Meanwhile, Jenna seeks answers and ultimately help from
Serenity Jones, a psychic who has begun to doubt herself. Virgil Stanhope, the ex cop who worked the case years ago rounds out this odd group. The book, written from various viewpoints, once again pulls Picoult's readers into the lives of people they begin to care very much about.
The mystery and emotion that is usually found in Jodi Picoult's novels are both very evident in Leaving Time. You will smile, you will cry and you will learn something new. What more could you ask for in a book? Grab a box of tissues and a comfy chair and forget your other responsibilities for a while. This will keep you busy.
- Beverly
Publisher - Ballantine Books
Date of Publication - October 14, 2014