Sing You Home
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2011-03-01 |
| Founder | Jodi Picoult |
| Products | Book, soundtrack CD |
Sing You Home (2011) represents the nineteenth literary work by American novelist Jodi Picoult. Published on March 1, 2011, the story centers on a bisexual woman advocating for her right to utilize frozen embryos conceived with her former husband in partnership with her new spouse. Accompanying the book is a soundtrack CD containing ten original tracks, featuring lyrics penned by Picoult and composed by Ellen Wilber, who also embodies the narrative’s main character, Zoe Baxter.
Plot
Zoe Baxter, a professional music therapist, and her husband Max face significant challenges with infertility following several miscarriages and unsuccessful in vitro fertilization attempts. Zoe receives a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome, while Max suffers from a genetic disorder that renders him infertile. After experiencing a late-term pregnancy loss, their marriage dissolves due to Max's unwillingness to persist in trying to conceive.
Max relocates to live with his brother Reid and sister-in-law Liddy, devout Evangelicals who are also confronting fertility issues. Initially resistant to their religious convictions, Max eventually embraces born-again Christianity. Concurrently, Zoe forms a romantic relationship with Vanessa Shaw, an openly lesbian woman. Upon marrying Vanessa, Zoe is diagnosed with endometrial cancer necessitating a hysterectomy; Vanessa then offers to carry one of Zoe’s frozen embryos.
Because the embryos contain Max’s genetic material as well, his approval is legally required. Max postpones his decision but ultimately initiates legal action against Zoe and Vanessa to assert parental rights, motivated by Pastor Clive’s opposition to same-sex parenting and support for Reid and Liddy’s position. Zoe and Vanessa retain attorney Angela Moretti, an expert in LGBTQ legal matters; meanwhile, Max secures Christian lawyers Wade Preston and Ben Benjamin.
Although the presiding judge initially seems inclined toward Zoe and Vanessa’s case, the stance changes after unfounded accusations surface against Zoe involving Lucy, Pastor Clive’s stepdaughter. Troubled by these events, Zoe consents to grant Max sole custody rights. Subsequently, Max recognizes his affection for Liddy and acknowledges his inability to parent while she and Reid raise the child. He then relinquishes parental rights back to Zoe and Vanessa, who permit him to maintain a paternal role.
The epilogue unfolds seven years later through the viewpoint of their daughter Sammy, illustrating a harmonious family life. Sammy affectionately refers to her mothers as "Mama Ness" and "Mommy Zoe," stands up against bullying directed at them, and reveals that Liddy and Max are engaged. She describes herself as extraordinarily fortunate.
Characters
Zoe Baxter: A music therapist specializing in treatment for burn victims, Alzheimer's patients, and hospice care clients. Formerly married to Max and later wed to Vanessa. Mother of Samantha.
Max Baxter: Zoe’s former husband and biological father of Samantha. A recovering alcoholic influenced by his local Evangelical community and Pastor Clive.
Vanessa Shaw: An openly lesbian guidance counselor who becomes Zoe’s wife and Samantha’s mother.
Clive Lincoln: A charismatic Evangelical pastor who opposes gay marriage and LGBTQ rights.
Lucy: The stepdaughter of Pastor Clive; a music therapy patient who falsely accuses Zoe of misconduct.
Angela Moretti: Legal representative for Zoe and Vanessa with expertise in LGBTQ-related cases.
Wade Preston: A Christian lawyer hired by Pastor Clive to represent Max in his lawsuit against Zoe and Vanessa.
Samantha "Sammy" Baxter: The daughter of Zoe and Vanessa; biologically fathered by Max.
Ollie: The family dog belonging to Samantha.
Narrative style
Sing You Home features a shifting narrative, with chapters told from the viewpoints of Zoe, Max, Vanessa, and Samantha, each distinguished by unique fonts. This multi-perspective approach is a hallmark of Picoult’s narrative technique found in many of her works.
Film adaptation
The film rights for the novel were secured by Ellen DeGeneres, who is overseeing production in collaboration with Craig Zaden and Neil Meron.