Review Detail

Reader reviewed by erica


In Jodi Picoults My Sisters Keeper, A family discovers their 2 year old daughter has an extremely aggressive type of leukemia and is need of a donor. There is no one in the family who matches, and the national registry can take years, if any at all. The parents opt for a genetically engineered child to be conceived for the blood contained within the umbilical cord. However, as the years go by more and more donations are required of this youngest child to keep the older daughter alive. At the age of 13 the youngest daughter files suit against her parents for medical emancipation.

The book revolves around this legal action, and is told from various viewpoints - the youngest daughter, her parents, her brother, her lawyer, and her guardian ad litem. Through these viewpoints the reader learns the history and dynamics of the family.

The ending - for which much has been made about this novel - was one that I had speculated could happen for this story, so it didn't come as a total and complete surprise for me as it obvious did for some. I didn't feel "cheated", as I felt the author had already addressed the main issues that needed to be addressed. There are no easy answers to this situation and any ending is going to be difficult, shy of a miracle or divine intervention.

I love books that make me think long after I finish reading them, and this one caused me to do just that. I also like books that allow me to get so caught up in the characters that I can shed a tear when I'm done reading, whether the ending is happy or sad, and this story allowed for that as well. This is an remarkable read, I definitely recommend it to all.