my-sisters-keeper

By age thirteen, Anna has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate – a life and a role that she has never questioned… 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. [official synopsis]


Chan very thoughtfully sent me My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult when I expressed an interest in reading it on her blog post. I had no trouble getting into the book and am now anticipating seeing the movie. I finished it about a week ago and probably shouldn’t have waited so long to write up a review.

With books like this, you always expect it to either end up happy, or completely depressing. While I did cry at the end (which my boyfriend made fun of) it definitely was an unexpected twist. I won’t give any spoilers, but I thought the three kids (Anna, Kate and Jesse) were my favourite characters. They all had such a unique dynamic with each other that I guess only a family tragedy could bring together.

I thought that the plot was very direct, and I like how the narrative switched characters and years to provide flashbacks and additional insights. I definitely don’t think that the book would be as compelling without making you compassionate for all the characters involved.

I really enjoyed the book — it was a quick and compelling read. Check out an excerpt (entire first chapter) at the publisher’s website!