The Tenth Circle facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Jodi Picoult |
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| Illustrator | Dustin Weaver |
| Cover artist | Zoë Sadokierski |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Family saga |
| Publisher | Allen & Unwin |
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Publication date
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17 March 2006 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 387 pp |
| ISBN | 1-74114-693-3 |
| OCLC | 224803646 |
The Tenth Circle (2006) is the thirteenth novel by the American author, Jodi Picoult. The novel deals with father/daughter relationships. The novel heavily references Dante Alighieri's Inferno.
Contents
Plot
When freshman Trixie Stone accuses her ex-boyfriend, Jason Underhill, of assaulting her at a party, students and townspeople, alike, are quick to take Jason's side. Trixie's parents, Daniel, a mild-mannered comic book artist from a rough upbringing, and Laura, a college professor, become involved, and Jason, whose life is supposedly ruined by Trixie's accusation, dies. Trixie is quickly turned to as a suspect, accused of pushing Jason off the bridge. Trixie then flees to the Yup'ik region of Alaska where her father grew up. Daniel and Laura eventually find Trixie in Alaska.
At the end of the novel, Laura confesses to Daniel that she was present when Jason died. Jason lunged at Laura because Trixie, her daughter was ruining his life. Laura pushed Jason off the bridge but he held onto her. Laura reached to his hand, but then let go, thus revealing that Trixie is innocent, but Laura is not. The novel concludes with the final chapter with Daniel's latest comic, showing a father reunited with his daughter, after saving her from the depths of hell.
The main plot and subplots are juxtaposed throughout the book with Daniel's latest comic, entitled The Tenth Circle, which parallels with Daniel's life and the novel itself.
In the comic, inserted into the book, there's a hidden message. The message, “Nothing is easier than self-deceit, for what each man wishes that he also believes to be true” – DEMOSTHENES
Title
The title, The Tenth Circle, is a reference to the first canticle, Inferno, of The Divine Comedy by Dante.
Main characters
Trixie Stone: Protagonist, ninth-grade high school student, who accuses Jason Underhill of assault.
Daniel Stone: Trixie's father, a comic-book artist from Alaska.
Laura Stone: Trixie's mother, a college professor.
Jason Underhill: Trixie's boyfriend, accused of assaulting her, fell to his death from the bridge in town.
Zephyr Santorelli-Weinstein: Trixie's best friend.
Moss Minton: Jason's best friend, and casually dated Zephyr, Trixie's best friend.
Adaptations
The novel was made into a Lifetime Network movie, which premiered June 28, 2008 at 9pm Eastern. The film starred Kelly Preston as Laura Stone, Ron Eldard as Daniel Stone, Haley Beauchamp as Zephyr Santorelli-Weinstein, Jamie Johnston as Jason Underhill, Geordie Brown as Moss Minton, and Brittany Robertson as Trixie Stone from Sony Pictures Television.
