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View STCC's Periodic Table of Banned Books
"The daughter of a judge in a New Hampshire school shooting case witnessed the events, but cannot remember the last several minutes of the attack." - HELM
Why was this book challenged?
Why was this book challenged?
Banned book element tile
Reasons: Sexual Content
Reasons: Sexual Content
Nineteen Minutes topped the charts in Pen Americas 11 Most Banned Books of the 2023-2024 School Year. While this book is about a US school shooting and explores themes of gun violence, bullying and trauma, the reason most commonly cited for the bans is its depiction of sexual violence.
In August of 2025, The Guardian wrote, "This 2007 novel about a school shooting has the dubious hono[u]r of currently being the most widely sanctioned book by school districts in the US, according to writers’ group PEN America, with 98 bans. Does suppressing fiction about school shootings reduce the number of actual school shootings? This remains to be demonstrated. In any case, the most commonly cited reason for deeming Picoult’s novel unsuitable for teenagers is, as she explained at the Hay festival last year, her use on page 313 of the word 'erection'."
Ways to read this book at STCC!
Ways to read this book at STCC!
Members of the STCC community have full borrowing privileges at the STCC Library, located in Building 19, 2nd Floor, provided they are actively registered in the college system and their records are in good standing.
Database access and e-content is available to all students, faculty, and staff using the following credentials:
Username: STCC ID number
Password: Last name in capital letters.
Additional Resources and Accessibility
Additional Resources and Accessibility
If you prefer to listen to your books, or if the print or eBook versions of this book are checked out at STCC, you have additional checkout options through Massachusetts public libraries. CW/MARS and Boston Public Library eCards will give you access to eBook and Audiobook versions of this book. You can also download the Libby app to listen to audiobooks on your smartphone. These resources are outside of STCC Library, please consult your local public library for any questions regarding these outside resources.
Check public libraries in Western Massachusetts via CW/MARS:
Residents of Massachusetts can sign up for a Boston Public Library eCard, to access their digital materials such as eBooks and downloadable audiobooks. Follow the instructions on the BPL's website:
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