The+Review


 * || **4** || **3** || **2** || **1** ||
 * **Theme** || Theme is presented clearly throughout the story. The reader understands the author's message and their purpose for writing the story. Keeps the reader interested and wanting to read more. || Theme is presented throughout the story. The reader understands the author's message and their purpose for writing the story. For the most part, the reader is interested and wants to read more. || Theme is presented somewhat clearly throughout the story. The reader is fairly clear of the author's message and their purpose for writing the story. Keeps the reader somewhat interested. || Theme is not present throughout the story. The reader unclear of the author's message and their purpose for writing the story. The reader not interested in finishing the book. ||
 * **Character Development** || Characters are very well-developed. You are able to visualize them in your head as real people and understand what they are thinking and feeling. || Characters are developed. You are able to visualize them in your head as real people but may not fully understand what they are thinking or feeling. || Characters are somewhat developed. You are able to visualize them in your head as real people but do not fully understand what they are thinking or feeling. || Characters are not developed. You are unable to see visualize them in your head as real people but do not understand what they are thinking or feeling. ||
 * **Stimulates Emotion** || The author's description and detail of every aspect of the story: setting, characters, plot, and theme allows you to connect to the story in a way that makes you feel like you are actually there - experiencing and feeling everything as if you an actual part of the story. || The author's description and detail of every aspect of the story: setting, characters, plot, and theme allows you to connect to the story in a way that almost makes you feel like you are actually there - experiencing and feeling everything as if you an actual part of the story. || The author's description and detail of every aspect of the story: setting, characters, plot, and theme may be too wordy and thus somewhat confusing to the reader. The reader can make some emotional connection to the story. || The author's lack of description and detail of every aspect of the story: setting, characters, plot, and theme does not allows you to connect to the story. ||
 * **Thought Provoking** || Has the ability to change your view on life and makes you question your reasoning. Stimulates intellect. Can be inspirational. Can make you rethink your views on certain subjects. || Can have the ability to change your view on life and may make you question your reasoning. For the most part, it stimulates intellect or may be inspirational. It may make you rethink your views on certain subjects. || Does not have the ability to change your view on life but perhaps makes you question your reasoning. May stimulate intellect or perhaps be inspirational. Not very thought provoking. || Does not have the ability to change your view on life and does not make you question your reasoning. The reader is not stimulated intellectually or inspired. Does not challenge your thinking on any subject. ||

Based on the rubric, Jodi Picoult's //The Tenth Circle//, would score a 15 out of 16, showing that it is good literature.

The theme in //The Tenth Circle// was that parents would do anything for their loved ones. For example, Daniel "knew he'd do anything for Trixie." (Page 378) Daniel loved Trixie and that he would stand by her and be there for her in whatever she did. He stood up for Trixie saying, "You can't arrest her... [Because] I was the one who killed him." (Page 378) Daniel offered his own life time when he learned that Trixie might have to serve jail time. He loved her so much that he would go instead of her. Also, Laura did the same. "Trixie's mother already sat in the passenger seat, staring... through the glass." (Page 379) She knew that Trixie was fragile and that she needed protection. She did "things that no one else could possibly understand." (Page 376) As Trixie was in danger, Laura helped her right away. She supported Trixie when she needed it and she even ended up putting an end to Trixie's biggest fear. Throughout the whole story, Picoult's message was clear as Trixie's parents would go out of their way to support her. The story drew me in and kept me wanting to read more, up until the very last page, where she twists the story.

The characters in the novel are well-developed. They all have multiple traits and change as the story develops. For example, when Trixie wanted to grow up. In the beginning, she'd wear "jeans that were low rise... [with] the chain link belt and the sheer blouse". (Page 43) Trixie wanted to be noticed and wanted to act older and more grown up. After the incident, she realizes that she no longer desires to be older than she really is and wants to act like she did when she was seven and "performed cheerleading moves...lip-synched to the radio [and] presented tumbling routines." (Page 41) Through her changes and the situation that Trixie goes through, you are able to relate to her more. Through Picoult's writing, the reader is able to put themselves in the characters' shoes and be able to think and feel what they think and feel.

Picoult's descriptions of the setting, characters, plot and theme allow the reader to feel like they are part of the story. As Trixie went to get her hair cut for Locks of Love, I could imagine her walking toward the "Live and Let Dye, a salon within walking distance of her home". (Page 99) I could imagine Trixie sitting in the salon chair with anxiety, not really sure what to expect. Trixie is trying something new, she wants to try to get rid of the girl she used to be, "at the first cut...she felt much lighter." (Page 100) Through this could see the hair being taken and some of the weight of her past removed to. As I read the novel, I felt like I was a part of the story and was there with the characters.

//The Tenth Circle// was thought provoking, but it didn't strongly make me want to change my views. Trixie wanted to act more grown up than she really was and later realizes she made a mistake. Acting older put her in a situation she wasn't ready to handle. This resulted in her "shivering, huddled in the crease made by the wall and the shower stall." (Page 55) Trixie had just gotten home from the party and couldn't believe what had happened to her. The truth was she wasn't the adult she wished to be. She was still the little girl who was "the reindeer...[in her ballet] the Sugar Plum Fairy." (Page 42) After the incident, Trixie wished that she could have her childhood back. At this point I don't really relate to Trixie as I don't wish to be older than I am and am enjoying the age I am. I can understand Trixie's desire as I see other girls even younger than me acting like Trixie but I am too set in my ways to feel that I need to be someone I am not.

Overall, //The Tenth Circle// is good literature. The novel had a well-defined theme, well-developed characters, descriptions that simulated emotion and a plot that somewhat made me rethink my views.