I was ECSTATIC to get my hands on an Advanced Readers Copy of Jodi Picoult's new book, Change of Heart. It certainly lives up to her level of excellence.
The cast of characters run like this :
Shay Bourne - a man convicted of killing a young girl & her step father. Sentenced to death, Shay Bourne is fighting for his heart. He wants to donate his organs at the time of his execution.
Father Michael : Shay's Spiritual Advisor. And one of the jury members who convicted him to death.
Maggie Bloom: ACLU lawyer who takes on Shay's case in order to help him die the way he wants to.
June Nealon: The mother & wife of the people Shay was convicted of killing. And the mother of the child that Shay wants to donate his heart to.
Like My Sister's Keeper, this book is told from the prospective of all the main characters. Each chapter is told from a different character's perspective. And like all of Picoult's other novels a great legal battle is at the center of the story. Shay knows that if he is executed by lethal injection, there is no chance for him to donate his organs. Maggie hears of his case while in the car & figures that she can fight for Shay's right to practice his religion by donating his organs at the time of his death. Which means that the state of New Hampshire has to find another way to execute him. But the state of New Hampshire will not do this willingly, where the legal battle comes in.
The story is one of redemption. And love. And survival. It is a well told, intricate story that could possibly change the way you look at the death penalty in this country.
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