My Sister’s Keeper
by Jodi Picoult
Have you ever been forced to help a sibling? Maybe by doing the dishes or homework help---but have you been forced to give them your organs? The main character of My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Anna, was brought into this world for a specific purpose: she isn’t sick, but she might as well be.
This story is told from multiple perspectives. It follows Anna, a healthy 13-year old who is a perfect allogeneic match for her older sister Kate. This is not a coincidence, as Kate was diagnosed as a toddler with acute leukemia and Anna was only genetically engineered to save her, saying “I was born for a very specific purpose” (7). At this point in Anna’s life, she is beginning to question her purpose and identity. The problem is, she has always been defined in her sister’s shadow, always there ready to give a piece of herself when something went wrong, saying “they chose little embryonic me, specifically, because I could save my sister, Kate” (8). She is tired of going into countless surgeries against her will and never being asked what she wants. Anna has to make a choice that could kill her sister and tear her family apart, but give her the rights to her own body---her own life. This is a story that contains morally and ethically questioning topics and presents a life question: Should you save a loved one and live life not being able to decide anything for yourself, or save your body and mind but risk losing your families respect and possibly one of their lives? Read the book and find out what Anna decides.
The book is bittersweet, engaging, and explores eye-opening debates. It addresses the fact that life isn’t fair and there are some decisions that you’d rather not make. Along reading the story, it makes you think: what would I do? The main character, Anna, is very independent and empowered on the outside; inside, however, you see that she just wants acceptance for who she is and is constantly searching for her identity, saying “a major decision about me is being made, and no one's bothered to ask the one person who most deserves it to speak her opinion” (98). An element Picoult uses that I like is each chapter is narrated by a different character. It gives each chapter a new aspect and you know what everyone's thinking. I also like how when the point of view changes, sometimes the time period does too. The way the book is written adds a lot to the heartbreaking storyline. So far, my favorite perspective is the mother. It goes back to when Kate was diagnosed as a baby and is very heartbreaking. As the news of her sick daughter hits her, you can feel a sense of anxiety and hopelessness from her thoughts, saying “will her hair grow back? Will she ever go to school? Did this happen because of where we live? Did this happen because of who we are?” (63). I like how Picoult put it in italics to get the feeling of her thinking it very fast and panicking. The diction and imagery also add a lot to my comprehension of the book.
This is a sad but very interesting read. It is a unique plot because instead of being centered around the cancer patient, it is about her family and how it affects them. If anyone close to you has/had cancer, you may relate to some of the characters. Parts of the plot made me feel thankful that I wasn't battling this disease like Kate or being faced with a terrible decision like Anna. I recommend this to people who like drama, family conflict, sadness, and/or medical books. I haven't finsihed yet, but I think it will get more sad and I can't wait for the end. It is sort of a long book but even if you don’t enjoy reading, give it a try. I don’t normally read on my free time but I like this book so far; it is touching and interesting and makes me forget I’m reading. If you’ve seen the movie, you would probably get a lot out of reading this and deepen your understanding of the story. Stay tuned for a final review of the book.
No comments:
Post a Comment