Review: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

Review:
My Sister's Keeper is one of those books that you will either love or hate. I ended up loving it, but I know many people really hate it mostly because of how it ends. I cannot say that I liked the ending because it was extremely sad and will have you crying, but I liked it because it was completely unexpected. I thought the book was heading in one direction, but Jodi Picoult did a complete 180 with the plot. I was surprised and even shocked by what happened. If you read this book, I would keep some tissues nearby.

Although I would classify My Sister's Keeper as a tear-jerker, it is so much more than that. There are many controversial topics that come up that question your morals. It is the kind of book that will make you think and will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Each character contributes to the book in some way as they deal with their problems. I really liked the characters in this book, especially Anna. She was such a strong person for a girl so young. I also really liked her brother, Jesse, even though he is definitely a trouble maker. My least favorite character was the mother, Sara, because she clearly favored one child over the others.

My Sister's Keeper is a great book. Actually, I would even go as far as saying that it is a powerful book. I really enjoyed Jodi Picoult's writing. I was surprised that I actually liked the different point of view's each chapter because it gave the story so many different perspectives. The plot was excellent. I liked being surprised by the ending even though I did end up crying. In my opinion, the book is so much better than the movie. Actually, I think the movie completely messed up the story that Jodi Picoult wrote, so read the book and do not watch the movie.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,