Kim
Rating:
Review
We all know what is said about the best laid plans. This story takes it to the nth degree. Anna Fitzgerald seems like an ordinary 13 year old, until the second chapter when she hires Campbell Alexander to sue her parents, Brian and Sara, for medical emancipation. Anna was conceived as a genetic match for her sister Kate, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia when she was a toddler, and brother Jesse was not a medical match. Vacillating between current time and past events, each character has plenty of secrets and unresolved pain, and it's easy to not only see what makes them all tick, but why. Though this story has a huge moral issue at it's core, it's never preachy, and I liked it immensely. The characters are all too human, their dialogue honest and at times, biting, their intentions understandable and often honorable. I thought about Anna long after I finished this book.
Best Line:
on the crux of parenthood, "You know how the tightrope guy at the circus wants everyone to believe his act is an art, but deep down you can see that he's really just hoping he makes it all the way across?"
Suzanne
Rating:
Review
This thought-provoking novel is a page-turner from the start. Anna, the 13 year-old heroine, was conceived by Sara and Brian to be a blood and organ donor for their eldest daughter, Kate, who has leukemia. Anna's life has been defined by this role. The family gets torn apart when she sues her parents to be declared a medically emancipated minor, so she can have control over her own body and not have to go through painful medical procedures for the benefit of her sister. I loved that this book shows how mature and independent some young teenagers are capable of being. Picoult does a superb job portraying the devastating effects of Kate's illness on the entire family, as well as the shock of Anna's lawsuit. This emotional and very personal story is told from multiple points of view, including those of Anna's ignored brother, Jesse, and her lawyer, Campbell, skillfully highlighting everyone's different motivations and perspectives. One of the best parts of the story is how Anna and Kate are so close, and I was impressed with how compelling all the subplots are, especially that of Campbell's own life. The unpredictable ending is every bit as satisfying as the rest of the book, too.
Best Line:
"Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I've decided, is only a slow sewing shut." (pg. 299)
