Nineteen Minutes - Characters

Characters

• Peter Houghton: The male protagonist. A unique kid, he has been bullied for a majority of his life. He has an avid interest in computers and video games and wears glasses, making him a frequent target of teasing. He maintained a friendship with Josie Cormier until middle school, with her ultimately choosing popularity over her one true friend. After Josie's departure, he befriends Derek, often creating video games with him. His home life was equally upsetting; he never seemed to relate to his parents, despite his mother's best efforts. His older brother Joey teased Peter himself and even egged on the bullying, making up lies about him. During his high school years, he realizes he is in love with Josie, sparking a drastic chain of events. A love email he sends to her and the popular students interception of it is the catalyst in Peter's actions. After a lengthy trial and a conviction, Peter commits suicide by stuffing a sock down his throat.
• Josie Cormier: The female protagonist. Once Peter's loyal, sweet best friend, she stops hanging out with him in middle school for the popular crowd. Josie has great difficulty maintaing her image over the years, torn between what she is expected to be and how she wants to be. She realizes the shallowness of her clique and even acknowledges it on ocassion, but she is too afraid to leave, fearing social obscurity at best. She hates her friends and boyfriend Matt's nasty behavior toward the less popular students, but never stands up for them. Josie's home life isn't too good either; she has a very weak connection with her mother and never knew her father. She clings to Matt for emotional support and comfort. He becomes physically abusive towards her and she never leaves him, possibly leading her to shot him in the stomach the day of Peter's rampage. By the end, she is sentenced to five years in prison.
• Alex Cormier: Josie's mother. Throughout the novel, it is shown before and after the shooting that she has a great deal of trouble connecting to Josie. The judge assigned to Peter's case, until Josie is called in as a witness.
• Patrick Ducharme: Detective on the Sterling Police Force and Alex's love interest. He is a recurring character, appeared before in Perfect Match. Is the head detective on the Sterling High case. At the end of the book, he and Alex are romantically involved and expecting their first child

• Lacy Houghton: Peter's mother. She is a midwife, and struggles to understand her son's actions. Also, when she discovers Joey was a heroin addict, she disposes of the evidence, as she cannot bring herself to accept her deceased son was anything other than perfect.

• Lewis Houghton: Peter's Father. A happy economist and college lecturer. He owns many guns in his house and frequently goes hunting. Lewis tried to introduce Peter to hunting, and often took him on trips, but Peter never liked the sport. When Peter was in jail, he never visited him, instead, he went to the grave of the victims of the shooting. It is revealed that he favored Joey over Peter, but he only acknowledges it at the end.

• Matt Royston: Josie's boyfriend. He is the most popular boy in school and is an aggressive hockey player. Matt and his friend Drew always would bully Peter from kindergarten, shoving, elbowing and hitting him, pulling his pants down and calling him names. He is very abusive to Josie, causing her to break her leg one time. Despite his aggressiveness towards her, it is hinted he truly loves Josie and would rather not live without her. The final victim in the shooting, and the only victim shot twice.

• Jordan McAfee: Peter's defense attorney. He is a recurring character, appeared before in The Pact and Salem Falls. Has a baby son and an older son Thomas (also appears in the Pact and Salem Falls) and is married to Selena McAfee. He takes on Peter's case because he believes that Peter deserves a fair trial.

• Selena McAfee: Jordan's wife who assists with her husband's case and one of the few people who are sympathetic towards Peter. She appeared before in the same books as her husband did, along with Jordan's child from his first marriage, Thomas.

• Drew Girard: One of the popular kids and Matt's best friend. He, along with Matt, would constantly bully Peter and is considered a secondary antagonist.

• John Eberhard: One of the popular kids who was wounded in the head during the shooting. He is left with severe brain damage, and possesses the mind of a very small child.

• Brady Pryce: Another popular kid who dated Haley Weaver. He and Haley were considered "The Brangelina of Sterling High" He was injured protecting Haley in the shooting.

• Haley Weaver: Girlfriend of Brady Pryce and Sterling High senior. She and Brady were considered "The Brangelina of Sterling High". Prior to the shooting, she was elected Homecoming Queen. She was badly injured in the shooting, resulting in many plastic surgery operations on her face.

• Derek Markowitz: Peter's only friend after Josie leaves him for the popular crowd. He and Peter met when their mothers forced them to play soccer together and became friends since. Derek enjoys making computer games, several were co-created with Peter.

• Ed McCabe: A closeted gay math teacher who ends up dying during the shooting. He offered support for Peter, who was confused about his sexuality during the book.

• Courtney Ignatio: Popular girl who hangs out with Josie after she and Peter have a falling out. Courtney dies after being shot in the chest in the shooting. She badly bullied Peter; convincing him that Josie still had feelings for him and then publicly humiliating him.

• Joey Houghton: Peter's dead brother. Joey was the "all American son", good grades, great athlete, etc. He was killed when he got hit by a car driven by a drunk driver, despite the fact that he was well liked, Peter was shown to utterly despise him. We also find that after his death his mother finds out that he was using heroin.

• Logan Rourke: Josie's biological father. Married, and not interested in Josie's life.