My Sister's Keeper (Tayler Hersom)

My Sisters Keeper Jodi Picoult Atria Books 418 pages

I decided to read My Sisters Keeper because I heard from a friend that it was an outstanding book that will keep your attention through-out the entire novel. Also, I saw the movie, and I heard that the book varied a great deal from the movie. I enjoyed the movie very much, so I knew that I would love the book as well.

My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a novel about two sisters, one with leukemia, and one born to be a donor for her sister. Anna (the donor) decides that she has been through way too much, and she wants the rights to her own body. Therefore she gets a lawyer involved, and wins the rights to her own body. Her parents continually try to make Anna drop the lawsuit, but she remains with what she believes. All through the book is seems as though her parents are only concerned with Kate. However, when an unexpected accident happens, it leaves you with an ending you will never believe. Anyone who has ever seen or watched a love with struggle through an exceptionally difficult sickness would greatly appreciate this novel.

The audience of this book is for anyone such as teenagers both male and female, adults, and elders because the way that Jodi Picoult creates this novel into a very realistic story. Jodi Picoult reaches out to her audience, and catches the reader's attention from the start. She starts off explaining exactly what goes on, and the fact that this book is so real makes an incredible story. It brings out emotion and the tone of her writing effects the mood of her audience. “In the English Language there are orphans and windows, but there is no word for the parent who loses a child” (pg 417)

“It turns out that after all these years i have spent anticipating a moment like this, I am completely at a loss. Like coloring the sky in with crayon; there is no language for grief this big” (pg 417). This passage really stuck with me because there are some moments in life when you really are at a loss for words, not knowing how to let go, or how to say goodbye. There is no easy way to ever say goodbye, and maybe sometimes people are scared of the fear or what lies ahead, I know I have been.

“My father says that a fire will burn itself out, unless you open a window and give it fuel. I suppose that's what I'm doing, when you get right down to it; but then again, my dad also says that when flames are licking at your heels you've got to break down a wall or two if you want to escape” (pg 13). This passage stood out a great deal to me. Sometimes when times get hard, and it seems as though you have no way out, you have to look beyond what is in front of you, and break through. This means a lot especially at times when you feel as though you don't know how to escape realities truths.

“It takes sixty seconds to understand that even if you've been fooled into thinking so, you do not have an ordinary life” (pg 164-165). After reading this passage from the novel, it made me sad to realize that some people really do not have a full-filled life, and they may never will. Going through a struggle such as this, it's hard to imagine how one can stay as cheerful as some people seem.

After reading this story, you can depict many themes, however the one that stands out the most is “how far would you go for someone you love.” In this novel one way that this theme is demonstrated is by Kate only born for one purpose. This was her parent's idea so she could be a donor for her sister. Another way that this is demonstrated is by Campbell standing up for Anna. She believes that Anna should have the rights to her own body. He strongly believes that Anna is mature enough for medical emancipation.

There is no doubt in my mind that I would award Jodi Picoult with an A for this book. This novel continually keeps her audience interested and wanting more. It is obvious that this is a moving story, and the way that it is developed is incredible. There is nothing more that she needs to add, and the level of this book is extremely high.