Chapter 10 Analysis
Personally, I believe this is the event that triggered it all. Courtney sends out a mass forward to the school to humiliate Peter. Although plenty of other factors should be taken in account for Peter's actions, I believe when Peter realized his love letter for Josie was not so private anymore, it triggered Peter to turn the tables.
When Drew and Matt confront Josie about the email, she acts as if she doesn't care, but really the audience knows more than a few of the characters. This example of dramatic irony shows how fake Josie's character really can be, since the audience had read about her past.
Picoult alludes to the cravings of pregnancy when Josie desires pickles and chocolate. Majority of people know being pregnant has side effects including strong temptations. As the audience learns at the start of the novel that Josie and Matt have sex for the first time unprotected we can assume these cravings relate to a pregnancy, another conflict of the main character.
Courtney is deceitful into leading Peter to believe Josie actually admires his letter. Peter who is naive to the situation, actually gains enough courage to go talk to his crush, only to become crushed. The popular crowd, routinely bullies Peter to a maximum point. No more bullying will ever occur again at Sterling High.
Josie is relieved to wake up in the middle of the night to a miscarriage. Ironically, her mother was pregnant at a young age and even though she was constantly pressured to abort the pregnancy, Alex decided to be responsible and care for Josie alone. Alex could have aborted the baby, but instead she decided to care for her. Both options are analyzed in this novel, perhaps allowing the audience to see advantages and disadvantages of both.