At a Glance

Full Name: Jodi Picoult

How to Pronounce: jo-dee pi-koh

Born: May 19, 1966

Nationality: American

Education:

• Princeton University (AB, Creative Writing)
• Harvard University (MA, Education)

Genres:

• contemporary fiction
• legal fiction
• psychological fiction
• domestic fiction
• romance

Biography & Background

Jodi Picoult Biography

Jodi Picoult is a best-selling American author known for her emotionally charged contemporary fiction that explores complex moral and ethical dilemmas. Raised on Long Island, New York, she developed a passion for storytelling early in life, writing her first short story at age five. She went on to study creative writing at Princeton University, graduating in 1985, and later pursued a master’s in education from Harvard, which she completed in 1990. Her debut novel, Songs of the Humpback Whale, published in 1992.

Since then, Picoult has written over 30 novels that have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her breakthrough novel was 1999’s Plain Truth, and My Sister’s Keeper, published in 2004, cemented her status as a household name and was adapted into a feature film starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin in 2009. In addition to novels, she has cowritten Wonder Woman comics (Wonder Woman: Love and Murder) and collaborated on musicals.

Many of Picoult’s books tackle social justice issues like racism, reproductive rights, and medical ethics, often featuring courtroom dramas and multiple perspectives. Her work has received numerous accolades, including the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction and the Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association—but Picoult is one of the most frequently banned authors in the US due to the controversial themes explored in her books. Picoult is a vocal advocate against book censorship, which is one of the many activist causes to which she lends her voice.

Fun Facts About Jodi Picoult

• Picoult wrote several issues of the Wonder Woman comic that later were collected in Wonder Woman: Love and Murder, published by DC Comics in 2007.
• Speaking with the Writer’s Routine podcast in 2024, Picoult revealed that she owns a voodoo doll that represents her competitors.
• Picoult has cowritten several original musicals for teens in collaboration with composer Ellen Wilber, including Over the Moon, When in Rome, and Love at First Bite.

Jodi Picoult’s Awards & Honors

Notable awards and honors received by the author. For book-specific awards, see below.

• 2003 — New England Bookseller Award for Fiction
• 2007 — Fearless Fiction Award, Cosmopolitan magazine
• 2014 — New Hampshire Literary Award - Outstanding Literary Merit
• 2019 — Sarah Josepha Hale Award
• 2024 — Robie Harris Author Award, National Coalition Against Censorship

Interviews & Podcasts

^{Hear from Jodi Picoult in her own words.}

Interviews with Jodi Picoult

_{PENGUIN BOOKS}

“A Lot Has Changed in 400 Years, But a Lot More Hasn’t” (July 31, 2024)

In an interview with Penguin Books, Jodi Picoult discusses her novel By Any Other Name, inspired by Emilia Bassano, England's first professional female poet. The story explores the theory that Bassano authored Shakespeare’s works, highlighting ongoing gender discrimination in the arts. Picoult emphasizes that while much has changed in 400 years, women still face many challenges in the publishing industry. 

_{NEW HAMPSHIRE HUMANITIES}

Jodi Picoult & the Writing Life: More Than a Good Story (November 8, 2023)

In this dynamic conversation with New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary, Picoult reflects on her prolific career, creative process, and the impact of her work. Part of New Hampshire Humanities’ Annual Celebration, the discussion highlights Picoult’s collaborations and inspirations, as well as the controversies surrounding her books.

Podcasts with Jodi Picoult

_{JODI PICOULT: A PLAY ON WORDS}

The Story Behind... (2007-2015)

In this series of short podcasts hosted on her SoundCloud account, Picoult reveals the inspiration behind several of her best-selling novels, including:

• My Sister’s Keeper
• Sing You Home
• Nineteen Minutes
• The Storyteller
• House Rules
• Handle with Care

_{WRITER’S ROUTINE}

Jodi Picoult Reveals Why You Should Forget Your Readers (October 3, 2024)

Jodi Picoult joined Writer’s Routine to reflect on her prolific career—over 30 books with 40 million copies sold and numerous global translations. She delves into her 2024 novel, By Any Other Name, and discusses her research methods, the challenge of juggling multiple projects and book tours, and using writing as therapy during the COVID-19 lockdown. She also reveals why she keeps voodoo dolls of her competitors.

Quotes

You can’t exist in a world without touching the lives of others.

– Small Great Things (2016)

When you love someone, you say their name differently. Like it’s safe inside your mouth.

– Handle with Care (2009)

You don’t love someone because they’re perfect. You love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.

– My Sister’s Keeper (2004)

Words are like nets—we hope they’ll cover what we mean, but we know they can’t possibly hold that much joy, grief, wonder, or love.

– The Storyteller (2013)

When you’re different, sometimes you don’t see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn’t.

— Change of Heart (2008)

A mathematical formula for happiness: R/E, or Reality divided by Expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations.

— Nineteen Minutes (2007)

Notable Books by Jodi Picoult

My Sister’s Keeper (2004)

My Sister’s Keeper, Picoult’s best-known and most-decorated novel, navigates the emotional and ethical labyrinth of a family built on a medical blueprint—one in which a child is conceived solely to save her sibling’s life. The novel follows 13-year-old Anna Fitzgerald, who seeks medical emancipation to gain control over her own body and avoid donating a kidney to her sister, Kate, who has leukemia. The story probes the limits of parental authority, medical ethics, and personal autonomy, weaving themes of love, sacrifice, and individual rights.

Awards:

• Alex Award, 2005
• Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance, 2005
• Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2006
• Gateway Reader’s Award, 2007
• Vermont Green Mountain Book Award, 2007

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide here.

The Storyteller (2013)

The Storyteller twines the narrative of Sage Singer, a young scarred woman burdened by past traumas, with that of Josef Weber, a 95-year-old former SS officer who seeks Sage’s forgiveness and assistance in ending his own life. The novel explores themes of morality, forgiveness, and the weight of history as Sage, dealing with her own turmoil, navigates Josef’s shocking revelations and her grandmother Minka’s Holocaust experiences, underscoring the significance of historical accountability and storytelling’s transformative ability to heal.

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide here.

Small Great Things (2016)

Small Great Things confronts systemic racism and institutional bias through the experience of Ruth Jefferson, a Black nurse accused of murder by white supremacist parents after their baby dies in her care. By exposing the pervasive nature of prejudice and its impact on human dignity, Picoult’s novel engages with themes of justice, empathy, and social reform, urging readers to confront the deep-rooted inequalities that continue to divide society.

Awards:

• Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance, 2017

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide here.

Authors Like Jodi Picoult

Liane Moriarty

Recommended Read: Big Little Lies (2014)

If you love Jodi Picoult for her complex characters, ethical dilemmas, and multi-perspective storytelling, Liane Moriarty is a must-read. Like Picoult, Moriarty explores family drama, secrets, and moral gray areas with depth and suspense. Start with Big Little Lies, a tale of three women whose seemingly perfect lives unravel, leading to a shocking event. With themes of domestic violence, friendship, and deception, it’s both thought-provoking and hard to put down.

Ready to dig in? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for Big Little Lies.

Kristin Hannah

Recommended Read: The Nightingale (2015)

If you’re drawn to Jodi Picoult’s emotionally powerful storytelling and strong female protagonists, you’ll love Kristin Hannah. Like Picoult, Hannah crafts deeply moving, character-driven narratives that explore love, sacrifice, and resilience. The Nightingale is a historical novel about two sisters in Nazi-occupied France, each fighting for survival in different ways. This heart-wrenching tale of courage and resistance will stay with you long after the final page.

Want to dive deeper? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for The Nightingale.

Diane Chamberlain

Recommended Read: The Last House on the Street (2021)

Jodi Picoult fans will find much to love in Diane Chamberlain’s thought-provoking, multifaceted stories. Like Picoult, Chamberlain weaves past and present narratives, uncovering secrets and exploring deep moral dilemmas. We recommend The Last House on the Street, a suspenseful dual-timeline novel that delves into racial injustice, forbidden love, and the lasting impact of past decisions.

Curious to learn more? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for The Last House on the Street.

Follow Jodi Picoult

Connect with Jodi Picoult on online.

• Website: JodiPicoult.com
• Threads: @jodipicoult
• Facebook: Jodi Picoult
• Instagram: @jodipicooult 
• TikTok: @jodipicoult
• Soundcloud: Jodi Picoult