I found some of the author's earlier books somewhat formulaic. However in her last book and in this one she confronts controversial social issues with an even hand. No matter where one stands on reproductive rights and gun control, this is a book which just may lead to some meaningful discussions and understanding. Thank you for this balanced view. And, I liked the time-line narrative.

"Today, Wren McElroy thought, was not a good day to die."

This book begins with a hostage situation at the local Center. The Center is a place for women (and teens) to go and get birth control, have gynecological examinations, and obtain abortions. It is known as a woman's reproductive health services clinic. Naturally there are those who do not want such a clinic in their community and there are those who are thankful that it is there.

One day a man bursts into the clinic and begins firing. Another man, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator is called to the scene. He has been getting a flurry of texts from his daughter and learns that she is inside the health clinic and is one of the hostages. He also learns that his sister is with Wren and has been injured.

Wren and her aunt are not the only hostages. There are others and through the story we get to learn about each character, his/her past and why they are in the clinic that day. They either work at the Center or they are there for services. We are given each of their perspectives. This book is told in reverse. It starts with the hostage situation and goes back in time to the beginning of the day. For some this reverse story telling may work, for others, it may not. There is also a story-line being told in this book apart from the hostage, in a different location, but is connected to the hostage situation.

I requested this book without even knowing what the subject matter of this book would be, I didn't care as I enjoy Jodi Picoult. She never shy's away from controversial or uncomfortable subject matter and always does her homework. Some books I enjoy more than others. This was certainly the case with this book. What I appreciated the most was that this book was not preachy. The reader is never pushed to be pro-life or pro-choice. In the Author's note she gives statistics and cites laws. I also enjoyed how she gave back story on the characters and his/her reason's for being at the clinic that day.

I am teetering back and forth between a 3 and a 3.5 star rating for this book. I will admit, I wasn't a fan of how this book was told in reverse. I might have enjoyed it more if it was told from beginning to end instead of end to beginning. What worked for me in this book were the various voices as I stated above. Plus, there is a little secret revealed at the end which leads to an aha moment. I appreciate that she took on such important and timely subject matter. Regardless of where one stands on the issues, I think she did a very good job of telling the story.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another masterpiece by Jodi Picoult. She is so talented at pulling the reader in immediately with the drama. Then she begins to artfully delve into each character's backstory. As a reader, I love discovering the hidden connections between the characters. The abortion clinic setting is pulled out of the headlines and did not disappoint. I will always read her books!! Thanks for granting access.

Favorite author ever!! Once again did not disappoint. Sucked this book down like water. The emotions that she can make me feel are incredible.

Just two years ago, in my review of Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things, I related that “when a friend and former library co-worker basically sniffed her disapproval when I told her I liked Jodi Picoult’s books, and our friendship was changed forever. I worked for several years in public libraries and tried not to be judgmental of people’s reading preferences, or to let the fact that someone thought Danielle Steel wrote great literature to negatively impact my opinion of them. But really, I don’t get it. I know JP is writing for a mass market – and sometimes her resolutions might be just a bit too neat for snooty readers. But I’ll admit right up front, I am a sucker for a well-plotted story that makes me think about a social issue or two along the way.

So once again, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of JP’s latest work. This time, it is A Spark of Light, and the social issue is the one that never goes away and is REALLY in the news these days: abortion. As was the case when I reviewed Small Great Things, I deliberately didn’t read anything about this book before diving in, and once again the book had a huge impact on me. I don’t believe in including spoilers in my reviews, but I want to just write “TRUST ME! YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!” That’s not exactly how this works, so I will once again provide a synopsis that won’t spoil anything, then remind you again: YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.

The story is set in The Center, a women’s reproductive health clinic in Mississippi. It happens to be the last clinic in the state that provides abortion services, and the women “…in need found it the lodestone for their navigation. Those who despised it could not look away.” Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, rushes to the clinic to negotiate with a desperate and agitated gunman who first burst into the clinic shooting wildly, then took over the clinic and is holding everyone inside hostage. As Hugh drives to the clinic, he “…was praying. Well, maybe not praying, but pleading to the universe. Praying was for people who hadn’t seen what Hugh had in his line of work. Praying was for people who still believed in God.”

So the story involves two hot-button social issues: abortion and guns. As one character puts it, “…this was indeed some crazy world, where the waiting period to get an abortion was longer than the waiting period to get a gun.” Things get really intense for Hugh when he gets a text from his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, and finds out that she, along with her aunt (Hugh’s sister) is inside the clinic.

Among the hostages whose stories are told are a panicked nurse who calms herself down and saves the life of a wounded woman, the medical doctor who finds his deep faith tested, and a “spy”: a woman pretending to be a clinic patient who is really a “pro-life” activist. The story has an interesting narrative structure that people who are only comfortable with stories told in a linear way will hate. It begins at 5 p.m. and counts backward through the hours of the day, tracing back to what brought each of the major characters to this particular place at the same time.

It’s a complicated way to tell the story – but, let’s face it, the issue of a woman’s right to choose is a complicated issue. The various points of view of the diverse characters address some of the strong feelings on both sides, trying to address the question of how to balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry?

Jodi Picoult fans, get ready for another deep dive into an issue that is a great topic for a book club. I was predisposed to love this book, and I was not disappointed. Five stars. And YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.

Best-selling author Picoult has taken on many controversial issues: school shooter, transplants amongst family members, hidden Nazis, suicide, racism, etc. Using a unique timeline, the plot involves an abortion clinic shooting, unspooling backwards, beginning at the conclusion of the standoff and ending with the first hour of the terror. Each chapter is one hour, as we see into the minds of each occupant of the clinic during that hour: the traveling doctor, the nurse, the aunt with a young niece, the swat team cop who is the niece's father, the anti-abortion protester as well as a young woman having an abortion, the retired college professor, and the shooter himself. One might think repetition would occur, but instead it forces the reader to look at his/her own prejudices and assumptions. This is a powerful story, that shows that emotions run deep around the issues of choice. We see that one's past provokes action in one's today, that both right and wrong answers exist, that finding the grey area is the only way to open one's ears and listen, and that the past can give us many of the answers for the way forward. This would be a provocative bookclub choice, on whichever side of the issue one lands.

Jodi Picoult's new novel covers an eventful day in the life of a Mississippi women's health clinic, told backwards in time from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. This structure is very different from the author's established process of writing each chapter from a different character's point of view. It took me awhile to get into the story and to establish who is who, as there are many different characters, each with an important role in the overall story. I'm not sure I like the reverse chronological structure, although by the end of the book I understood why the author did it that way. In typical Picoult fashion, the abortion issue is presented from all viewpoints in very fair and acceptable ways. I enjoyed hearing from all the characters, but the doctor's story grabbed me the most. His comparison of the beginning of life showing a flash of light (shown in some scientific studies) with the end of life displaying a light in a tunnel, prompts him to express these words: "It stood to reason that both life and death began with a spark of light." Hence, the book's title. The ending, when the grieving father/shooter is finally identified, is a bit of a surprise. The entire book, with all its various characters and points of view, has caused me much contemplation, which is, I'm sure, the author's desire.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors and this one didn't disappoint. While I did not enjoy the reverse chronological order of this book, it was a great story. I love how Picoult gave both sides of the abortion issue without injecting any bias into the book.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to advance read this book. This is my first Jodi Picoult book to read. At first I didn’t like the technique of telling the story from present to past. After getting the character development, I understand why she wrote the story backwards. It was choppy at times but I was intrigued by the character development backgrounds. The book kept my attention till the last page. I loved the twist at the end. I will definitely be suggesting this for my book club to read this Fall.

This was a great book. The reverse chronology was very inventive. I liked how she was addressing hard topics without inserting her own opinion. The story showed both sides in a very human light.

Jodi Picoult's newest offering, A SPARK OF LIGHT is everything I thought it would be, even after such a long wait.l I was used to reading a new Picoult novel every year - this time I had to wait a while. But the wait was well worth it.

A SPARK OF LIGHT is about a familiar topic, but I haven't seen it as well addressed in a novel before. Are you pro-life or pro-choice? The topic is displayed via an interesting format; reverse chronological order. It begins smack dab in the middle of a dangerous situation - a shooter has entered Mississippi's only "abortion" clinic. He has shot and killed people and now holds the remaining people hostage. The clinic is surrounded by police and SWAT personnel. The hostage negotiator is a capable policeman, but he has a very personal stake in this outcome; his daughter Wren is one of the people being held hostage and his sister Bex was shot in the chest. Hour by hour (in reverse) Picoult shows us the thought processes of every character in the story.

Reproductive rights and abortion are an incendiary topic. A SPARK OF LIGHT (the meaning of the title is revealed in the book as well) is a well crafted, well developed story that doesn't tiptoe around the topic - no one is a villain, no one is a hero, As Picoult does so well, she explores the intricacies of this real, ethical dilemma, and makes sure to develop the characters fully so that they become so much more than two dimensional characters spouting rhetoric. This is such an important book. Picoult is unafraid and unapologetic about making the pro-choice vs. pro-life movements the central issue of the story. Nothing else matters. And that's what makes A SPARK OF LIGHT such a success.

Jodi Piccault wrote a thoughtful book dealing with one of the most divisive subjects in America. She presents both sides of the abortion debate with compassion—something that is much needed in our nation’s discourse.

This a great book. As with all Jodi Piccoult books, it deals with tough issues. This book deals with abortion and mass shootings. I liked how Piccoult dealt at these subjects in this book. I recommend it to all Piccoult fans.

This was an excellent book. Some heavy topics, as the story surrounds a shooting and hostage situation at an abortion clinic, but the story is really just about human lives, and the parts of us that people can't see just by looking at us. It's told in reverse chronological order, so there are some surprises along the way. This story didn't have the usual courtroom drama that many of her books have, which I liked, as they aren't my favorite aspect.
This is probably my favorite Jodi Picoult book that I've read.

I enjoyed this book. Told from the perspective of many characters you are given insight into how each of their worlds have brought them to this moment together. Unlike the typical Jodi Picoult book I felt that there was a more predictable closure at the end.

Jodi Picoult has again wrapped a story around current news. The story is told from all sides, differing points of view and beliefs delivered honestly with feeling all wrapped up in a story that keeps you turning pages. What a brilliant idea to tell the story in reverse!

A classic Picoult book, which means I greatly enjoyed it. There was cliche moments, twists, and I was there for all of it. What disappointed me was the fact that the "main character" was a virgin in search of birth control pills. Why did there have to be a "pure" character for the reader to care? While I'm certain both sides of the issue were presented, I feel like fetuses were called babies more than products of conception. I read more about "killing babies" than termination, at least it felt that way. Also, there are women who don't mourn their abortions, who aren't haunted by their choices. It's not always a "last choice" for some women. If I got pregnant right now, if my methods of bc failed me, I wouldn't question my options because I would simply get an abortion. And I'm lucky enough to not only live in a state where I have choices, but in a city where there are multiple clinics that perform the procedure. I almost wish Picoult had made her epilogue her forward. It explained the importance of everything, her research, and so much truth. I was glad it was there.

Every spring, I look forward to the newest Jodi Picoult book. She has covered topics that people feel very strongly about - in this case , abortion. A Spark of Light tells the story of a man who takes hostages at an medical clinic and kills some of the people he found there. The story is told through the viewpoints of the shooter, some of the hostages and the hostage negotiator, who discovers his daughter and his sister are among the hostages. As usual, Picoult saves the twists that further humanize her characters for the end of the book. A Spark of Light shows us that the issue of abortion is a complicated one and one that does not have a one-size-fits-all answer. This us a thought provoking, must read novel.

I received an e-galley of A Spark of Light fro, NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. First of all, I love Jodi Picoult's novels. I love them because they tackle difficult issues in our society, and this one is no exception. Jodi tackles the issue of abortion head-on with truth and grace. Abortion remains one of the most controversial and misunderstood issues in the United States and Jodi addresses many facets of the issue intervowen in a wonderful story that is set at an abortion clinic in Jackson, Mississipi. With all of her novels, each character is integral in some way that is important to the plot. This novel is one that I am glad that I got to read because it was an excellent story that left me more educated and informed about this issue. #ASparkofLight #JodiPicoult

Wow! Another amazing read from Jodi Picoult! I read it in just three days (would have been less, but you know--work gets in the way).

This book could not be more topical. Like most of Jodi's books, this novel deals with issues "ripped from the headlines" that affect many people. I've read books of hers in the past that involved race relations and anti-Semitism. This one is about abortion.

Jodi is one of the best at weaving together characters and plot lines--people with different viewpoints and life circumstances that make the reader fully comprehend the different sides of the controversial issue she's covering in that novel. And "A Spark of Light" doesn't disappoint. Whether you pro-choice or pro-life, you will enjoy this book and learn something about all the possible viewpoints. After all, as the book points out, it doesn't really matter whether you believe life begins at conception or at any other point along the path to birth. Even if you consider an embryo to be a "person" at conception, you still have to balance the rights of that "person" against the full-grown adult woman who is, without question, a "person" under the law.

This book is oh-so-important because of the current political situation, with the choice of a new Supreme Court justice likely to be imminent--one that is also likely to be pro-life.

Of course, no novel would be complete without a surprise ending, and this one does not disappoint.

I can't wait until Jodi's next novel!