My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult
popular fiction
pg. 1-72

The book starts up with 13 year old Anna Fitzgerald talking about where babies come from. Except, she was specifically designed by doctors from her mother and father's genes so that when she was born she could be used to help save her sister Kate, who has leukemia. Anna talks about all the surgeries and medical procedures she has to go through in order to save her sister. However, Anna finds an ad for a lawyer, Campbell Alexander, who she has her brother Jesse take her to. She asks to sue her family for the right to her own body. Next, the book changes to Campbell's perspective of the meeting with Anna. He agrees to do the case because he feels that it will be great publicity for him and an easy win. Next, the book switches to Sara's, the girls' mother, point of view. She recalls years earlier when they discovered that Kate had leukemia and that she wasn't going to let her die in any way. The book is now on to Brian's, their father's, point of view. He talks about their family dinner, when he notices how Anna is very distant like something is wrong. It's now back to Anna's perspective, and she is at the hospital with her mom while Kate goes through her dialysis. Sara begins to try to convince Anna to donate a kidney to her sister when a sheriff appears with the papers for Anna's lawsuit. Sara becomes angry but Anna runs away when Kate becomes in pain. Later, Kate comes home and talks to Anna, telling her she can't stand to lose her. Sara comes in later though to tell Anna she thinks they could talk it all out with a judge. The book then goes back to Sara's point of view, who has a flashback again. She recalls when Kate first begins her cancer treatments. They only make her sick at first, and the doctors tell Sara her daughter could be helped if they have a child with a DNA match to Kate's, inspiring Sara to have another kid that ends up being Anna.

I can already tell this book will be really sad! I've never been able to watch the movie, I was too afraid of crying, but I thought I'd give the book a chance. I agree with Anna though, she deserves the right to her own body, her mother has no right to do any of this to her. But until next time!