Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper-Jodi PicoultThis book was recommended to me and initiated a book-tragedy conversation with the librarian. I recommended a book to her, and I borrowed 'My Sister's Keeper', while being told it was a tear-jerker. I haven't read many of Jodi's books, but from the few I have read one, I know that she is a really good author.
Ethics, good parent-hood and morals all get called into question in this book. 'Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life...even if that means infringing upon the rights of another?' My Sister's Keeper is a tale told from many perspectives. It additionally shows flashbacks, memories and chapters from the past. I know what your thinking. That this is going to be so confusing keeping up with what's past and present. But it's not. It's very clear when there's a chapter from the past to give context for future decisions and it's fairly easy to follow during flashbacks, memories and present-time. I don't really have much to complain about there. Mainly, My Sister's Keeper is a story about a dysfunctional family and a thirteen year-old girl trying to figure out who she is in the mids of it. There are also snippets from a man and a woman who get entangled in the girl's story, and at the same time, their own. I really don't know how much to say without spoiling the book, but if you like fictional books that have a take on a real-life issue, this one's for you. Although, if you don't like death, dysfunction and problems-that-hit-a-little-too-close-to-home, then you may not like it. It was quite sad and had an ending you were never expecting. I would recommend this book to teens (15+) as it fairly often mentions sex, drugs, death and, as a film rating would say; mature themes. Also a bit of swearing, but that doesn't bother some people. It was very well written, it isn't a constant tragedy, (you know, those books that just keep digging their hole and don't ever come up for air, even at the end) and has likeable, relatable characters. It's also a good one for brain-food with questions that probe your ethical code. I would give it four stars because of all that, and because it didn't lift me up at the end (also, have I mentioned I don't like swearing?). I know some people like it that way, and if I did I'd give it a five, but this is just a personal preference. If you read it I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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About MeI'm just a girl who loves to read (and also to listen to music, watch tv, and really anything that involves a story). Archives
December 2020
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