**My Review of [Book Title]**

If you're planning on reading this book, don't read my review. I give away the horribly disappointing ending. On second thought, don't read this book, read my review.

I know several people who have read this book, so I decided to give it a go. I was immediately intrigued by the subject. The Fitzgerald family has one daughter, Kate, dying of kidney failure due to her 14-year battle with a rare form of leukemia. Their other daughter, Anna, was conceived to be a perfect donor match for Kate. Now, at thirteen, after several procedures, Anna refuses to donate a kidney and seeks legal help for medical emancipation from her parents.

This is a fascinating plot with no clear right or wrong answers. The author presents a brilliant grey area of possibilities. However, the book has its flaws. The writing is often barely digestible and painful. The story, told from each character's point of view, leads to many flashbacks and unnecessary digressions. The side plot between Campbell and Julia is lame and boring. The dialogue is horrible, especially between Julia and Campbell or Julia and her sister.

The story through Jesse, the delinquent brother, is also ridiculous. The author could have cut out about 200 pages and had a much better story. But the worst part is the ending. The author creates a wonderful dilemma but takes the easy way out. Instead of exploring the difficult decisions, she ties up the story in a completely unsatisfactory way. Anna is killed off in a car accident, conveniently making her organs available for Kate. The ethical and moral questions are abandoned.

In the end, I felt that the author didn't do justice to the character of Anna. She was making a case for Anna's individuality and right to control her own life, but in the end, she didn't even care enough to find out what that might mean.

“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.”

While reading the entire book, I wanted to scream:



MY SISTER'S KEEPER is a truly delicate and beautiful story that delves deep into the complex themes of family, life, love, friendship, decisions, and fate. The protagonist, 13-year-old Anna, was originally conceived with the sole purpose of saving her sister Kate's life through a series of invasive donor treatments. However, Anna has finally had enough and decides to take matters into her own hands. To legally emancipate herself, she hires Attorney Campbell to guide her through the courts.

I have a diverse range of opinions about each character in the story. Let's start with Sarah, the mom. I was truly disgusted by her actions. Upon learning that her daughter Kate has leukemia, she makes the controversial decision to have another daughter, Anna, from whom she can essentially "borrow" body parts whenever Kate requires a transplant or transfusion. This is not only sick but also morally wrong. It is evident that her love for her daughters (and let's not forget her son) is unequal, which is a major flaw in her character.

On the other hand, I absolutely loved everything about Campbell. Thanks to his character, I developed a newfound appreciation for lawyers. I was also intrigued by his side story with Julia. Additionally, I was completely surprised by the reason why he kept his dog. I would have never guessed it in a million years!

Brian, the dad, was another character that I adored. The way he supported his wife throughout the entire book, even when he had doubts about her decisions, was truly admirable. All he wanted was to keep his family together, which is a sentiment that many of us can relate to.

I also felt sorry for Jesse. He was so neglected by his parents that he felt as if he didn't belong in this family. It is heartbreaking to think that a child could feel this way in his own home.

The ending of the book was a huge shocker for me. However, after reflecting on it, I could understand where Picoult was coming from when she wrote it. Sadly, this was the only way to end the story and give us all a valuable lesson. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the "What Ifs" that days, months, and even years pass by without us even realizing it. We tend to focus on the rainy days and wait for the sunshine instead of seizing the moment and enjoying the little things in life. That is precisely what the ending was trying to convey to us. It is not until we lose what is truly important in life that we change our ways and realize the true blessings that we have been given.

I've never seen the movie, so I grabbed this from the library.

To be honest, this was truly a tough read for me to push through due to my current circumstances. It backfired on me for going in blindly to this one.

Anna was such a beautiful soul. I was deeply touched by her sisterly bond. She literally gave everything to her sister in the hope that she'd be cured someday.

The ending had back-to-back twists that really shocked me. I cried SO much. This story was heartbreaking but at the same time, it was so moving and touching.

I also gradually warmed up to Campbell. But I especially loved Judge! Geez, there were so many aspects of this that broke my heart, yet at the same time, it somewhat healed little bits of it, too.

It's a complex and emotional journey that I'm glad I took, even though it was a challenging one.

Overall, it's a story that will stay with me for a long time.

This is yet another heart-wrenching story. I had guessed the outcome of the lawsuit, but not the ending of the story.

I thought that Anna, who had endured things that a 13-year-old should never have to and had risked everything to gain the right to choose, would ultimately do as her mother wished: continue to be her sister's keeper and desperately try to save a failing life. And then, everyone would be happy and the family would be reunited. All she wanted was the freedom of will and the right to make decisions; all she wanted was to no longer be a shadow daughter, no longer a storage warehouse for medical organs, but another daughter that her parents loved and cared for, Kate's close sister, and to have a normal teenage life. Just that simple.

However, it's not always the case that a rainbow will appear after the storm. To my surprise, Jodi Picoult "cruelly" arranged a car accident, closely following Anna's self-initiated lawsuit, using a passive and cruel brain death to give her parents - who had always ignored their other two children - another wake-up call. In between, there wasn't even any time for them to make up for anything or make a turnaround; there was only a final hug in court.

Such a tear-jerking ending caused their son to ignore his writer mother, and this makes me filled with sorrow and disappointment.

This is precisely where Jodi Picoult excels. She wants to present readers with a highly morally controversial topic, a story of losing something in the process of gaining: from the beginning, Kate's terminal illness, Sarah's decision, and Anna's birth were destined to permeate the pages with a sorrowful tone. No one in the book is a bad person, but they are forced to bear a heavy and sad fate, feeling lost and confused, wavering between love and the law, between quality of life and dignity, between morality and ethics, and between family affection and self. Life, in many cases, is just like the tip of the iceberg revealed in this novel: there is no simple black and white, no right or wrong answer. Human nature is inherently complex, and fate is inherently bumpy. As science advances, more grey areas and more cutting-edge topics need people with a keen sense like Jodi Picoult to capture, and even more so, people with her sharp pen to touch, record, and explore, creating a space for thought and questioning.

This is a lawsuit about the right to choose. It's just that when a person truly has complete independence and autonomy to choose, do you really want to make all the decisions yourself? I doubt it. Especially when you want to have your cake and eat it too: "It was never a case of choosing one over the other – it was a case of wanting BOTH."

This is true for Sarah and Anna. We would be no exception.

This has nothing to do with greed, it's simply because of love, because the heart is unwilling.

3.8 / 5

This story is truly heartbreaking, to the extent that it brought a lump to my throat and made me want to cry. However, despite the sadness it evoked, I still found myself deeply loving it.

I watched the movie adaptation many years ago, and at that time, I thought it had spoiled the book for me. It wasn't until a few years ago when my niece read the book and I mentioned that I had seen the movie. She then proceeded to ruin the book for me once again by telling me how the ending in the book differed from that of the movie. As a result, after that incident, I completely lost the desire to read it.

But finally, I gave in. I wanted to try a Jodi Picoult book, and I thought, "What the heck, let's start with this one." And I'm so glad I did. I absolutely love Jodi Picoult's storytelling. It has a natural flow that draws you in from the very beginning. The descriptions are vivid, making it easy to picture the scenes in your mind. It feels so real that you can't help but be emotionally invested in the characters and their stories. Now I finally understand why readers all over the world love her books so much. And yes, I definitely plan to read more of her works. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, heart-wrenching story.

Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Life can indeed be extremely ugly, messy, and complicated. This is vividly portrayed in Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper." The emotions I experienced while reading this heart-wrenching novel were predominantly anger, frustration, and an overwhelming amount of sadness.

At just thirteen years old, Anna is the younger sister, yet from all she has endured, one wouldn't guess it. Even before her conception, her parents had a very specific plan for her. They designed her. Their eldest daughter, Kate, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at a tender age. The doctors stated that her best chance of survival would be to receive a blood transfusion, bone marrow, and potentially organ donations from a matched sibling. And that's where Anna comes in. Since the age of five, at her parents' insistence, she has had to endure multiple surgeries to save her sister's life, with hardly any regard for her own well-being.

However, when Anna turns thirteen and kidney donation is the next step, everything changes. For the first time, Anna decides to take a stand. This is a life-altering choice for Anna. But for her mother Sara, it is seen as an abomination, as Anna is essentially writing Kate's death sentence. Sara is a woman whom, admittedly, I did not understand. Yes, I know she's just a fictional character, yet my blood boiled at her actions while reading this novel. I wanted to shake her or slap her, or if I'm being completely honest, do a whole lot more to make her realize that she had three children to take care of, not just one. Perhaps my feelings towards her would have been less intense, say less aggressive, if I had more understanding of motherhood. For those of you who are mothers, perhaps your perception of her is entirely different from mine.

The standout character here, for me, is undoubtedly Anna. She is strong, forthright, kind, and brave, so incredibly brave. I first read this novel when it was published many years ago. However, I have been re-reading some of my old favorites with my book buddy Kaceey. Although this was a difficult read that sparked a great deal of discussion between the two of us, it was an amazing one. Even though this was a re-read for me, I admit to shedding a few tears along the way. Thank you for sharing it with me, Kaceey. If you're looking for another novel with a somewhat similar premise, check out "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. Having read almost every Jodi Picoult novel to date, this is one of my favorites. I look forward to sharing the rest with you.

Published on Goodreads on 12.16.20

Auf jeden Fall ein Jahreshighlight

This event is definitely a highlight of the year. It stands out among all the other happenings and leaves a lasting impression. People look forward to it with great anticipation, as it brings together excitement, joy, and a sense of celebration. Whether it's a music festival, a sports championship, or a cultural extravaganza, it has the power to unite people from all walks of life. The atmosphere is electric, filled with energy and enthusiasm. Everyone participates wholeheartedly, creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. This annual highlight not only enriches our lives but also gives us something to look forward to in the future. It is a time when we can let go of our daily worries and simply enjoy the moment. Auf jeden Fall ein Jahreshighlight!

The Fault in Our Stars and My Sister's Keeper are both remarkable works. I watched the movie My Sister's Keeper and it was truly amazing and moved me deeply. Despite that, I found myself smiling at times, feeling happy for the characters and their families, and their tragic stories. I was so engaged that I tried to stop the movie a little before the end to read the book later and not spoil the ending, but I couldn't.

The movie, based on a novel, tells the story of a girl suffering from leukemia and kidney failure. Her mother gives birth to a child with the intention of using her as a source of blood and bone marrow. The story unfolds as the healthy girl, at the age of eleven, decides to take legal action against her mother to prevent the kidney donation to her sick sister.

The movie touched my heart, filled me with terrifying, painful, and intense emotions. You will learn the story through flashbacks and can't help but empathize with all the characters, even the lawyer himself.

I will review the book soon, Inshallah. I bought the book after it was recommended to me, along with the movie, by my friend Ahmed Said when he knew my love for The Fault in Our Stars. I heard that the movie is much harder and the book has an ending that is different from the movie.

Mohamed Arabi
On 13 April 2014

This book titled "My Sister's Keeper" was truly amazing. However, I'm giving it 4 stars due to the unexpected ending. Anna was a genetically engineered baby, designed to be a donor for her sister Kate who suffered from leukemia. At first, it was just cord blood, but as time passed, she had to donate lymphocytes, granulocytes, and later, a bone marrow transplant. Being a little kid, the decisions regarding these procedures were naturally in her parents' hands. When Kate developed kidney failure, their mother asked Anna to donate one of her kidneys to save Kate from death. But Anna had had enough. She realized she wanted to have control over her own body as having one kidney in the long term carried risks. So, she decided to sue her parents for medical emancipation.

The conflict in this story was extremely intense as Anna had to consider herself versus her family. Moreover, she didn't hate her sister Kate, which made it even harder for her. While reading, I understood that we can't judge Anna's parents easily. Being a parent is tough as they had to save Kate, but it didn't mean they didn't care for Anna. It was a complex situation. The book effectively shows and explains why parents have to make such difficult decisions. In the end, Anna succeeded and became emancipated, no longer having to donate her kidney. I loved the courtroom scene, especially when they emphasized that it was about Anna having choices and deciding what was good for her own body.

But then, after all the drama and the courtroom questioning, and just when Anna was finally free, she died in a car accident on the same day. I was completely shocked and confused. I really didn't understand what the author, Jodi Picoult, wanted to convey. Maybe it was to make the story unpredictable or to create a sense of irony like in Alanis Morisette's song. Or perhaps she just wanted to end it with a cliché, bloody heavy drama. Nevertheless, I still recommend this book. As a nursing student, I learned a lot from reading it, more than when I studied it in class. Even if you're hesitant because you don't like too much drama, there is a minor romance plot to add some variety. Overall, it's a very serious and depressing book, but it's definitely worth reading.

  




***Contains Major Spoilers***

"My Sister's Keeper" is a captivating novel that centers around thirteen-year-old Anna Fitzgerald.

She isn't actually ill herself, yet she might as well be. She has endured countless hospitalizations, all because she is a donor for her older sister Kate, who is battling a perilous form of leukemia. In fact, Anna was conceived with a specific purpose in mind - to be a donor for Kate. She has selflessly given bone marrow, blood, and even her own umbilical cord to ensure Kate's survival. Now, her parents are requesting that she donate a kidney as well.

At this juncture, Anna has had enough and decides to take legal action to gain medical emancipation from her parents. Her decision has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the lives of Kate and herself but also the rest of the family.

I initially thought this was a great novel by Jodi Picoult. However, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed at times. The ending, in particular, was a major letdown, as many others have also opined. Without spoiling too much, it felt like the ending made the entire book seem somewhat pointless. Nevertheless, it was a very sad story, and I have to give Picoult credit for creating such a deeply emotional atmosphere. I also felt that Jesse's character was a bit underdeveloped, but I absolutely loved Campbell's. Overall, it was a worthwhile read (and also my first on the Kindle!). Now, I'm quite interested in watching the movie adaptation.

This game-changing book tells the remarkable story of thirteen-year-old Anna Fitzgerald.

When she discovers that she was conceived specifically to donate a kidney to her elder sister Kate, who is slowly succumbing to the life-long condition of acute leukaemia, Anna decides to take a drastic step and sue her parents.

The drama unfolds in a way that is both captivating and heart-wrenching.

Controversy abounds on multiple levels. Picoult masterfully weaves together a complex narrative that tugs at readers' heartstrings and challenges their moral compasses.

What makes this book truly remarkable is Picoult's ability to keep the story within the bounds of credibility, making it all the more compelling.

By the time this book was released, Picoult had honed her writing style to perfection, crafting well-thought-out books that explore unusual and often controversial topics, typically centred around young people.

This particular book, when it first came out, blew me away on almost every level. It remains one of my all-time favourite reads and earns a solid 9.5 out of 12.

The accompanying images add an extra dimension to the overall experience, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

Overall, this is a must-read book that will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and a lingering aftertaste of unbridled reading pleasure.

Jodi Picoult is truly a one-of-a-kind and masterful storyteller.

Her book My Sister’s Keeper is simply incredible! I had the pleasure of listening to it on audiobook, and the narration was outstanding. It was narrated by a talented group of voices including Julia Gibson, Jennifer Ikeda, Barbara McCulloh, Carol Monda, Andy Paris, Richard Poe, and Tom Stechschulte.

The story follows Anna, a thirteen-year-old girl who was conceived with the assistance of genetic counseling. Her purpose was to donate her stem cells to her older sister, Kate, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia at the age of two. Over the years, Kate has required numerous treatments, and Anna has always been the donor, without her parents ever asking if she is okay with it.

However, Anna makes a determined decision that she no longer wants to donate one of her kidneys to Kate. This sets off a journey that has the potential to tear their family apart.

The family dynamics in this book are extremely interesting and understandable. Anna and her older brother Jessie, who isn't a match and can't help Anna, often feel invisible. The book is told from multiple points of view, including Anna, Kate, Jessie, Anna's parents, and others.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotional read.