What a great book!

I just finished reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. This is our book club's April selection. OH MY GOD! What a fantastic book! In short, Anna is born to be a cord blood donor for her older sister Kate who has a rare form of leukemia. Thirteen years of donating this and that, from platelets to bone marrow, leads to one big impending donation....a kidney. Instead, Anna decides to request medical emancipation...the right to make her own decisions about her body. Her parents are shocked and, as they head to court, more of the story unfolds, each chapter through another character's eyes.

Initially, I was incredulous...how could the mother essentially sacrifice one child for another? But, as I learned more, I became more sympathetic to her predicament. I'm not sure I would have acted the same way she did, but I know that the situation called for strength and the ability to make very difficult decisions very quickly. Her emotions and instinct seemed to rule, rather than intellect.


This book caused me to really evaluate the decisions I make, or might have to someday make, as a parent. In Sara's (the mother) case, she did what was best for Kate, always. She never stopped to think if it was in Anna's best interest. Do I do that? Do I put one child's needs ahead of the others? Oh, how careful we must be as parents! Our choices are not one size fits all!

I'm interested in reading more of her books now...I've heard great things about The 10th Circle, so I might do that next. This one really challenged me and stretched my thinking, which is the hallmark of good literature. I can't wait to see what her other books hold in store!

Comments

Christy said…
I've read the The Tenth Circle. It is good, but very dark. There are several stories lines tied into one. The theme is how secrets can eat us alive. In the story everyone has one. I loaned my book out to Megan. I would love to discuss it with you once you finish it. I had to do a discussion on the book for a college class.
Megan said…
Am I the only one that just wants to beat the mother, Sara, within an inch of her life?

I've been dealing with VERY strong feelings of HATE toward her mother! Also, I wish the dad had grown a backbone YEARS ago!

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