|
| My Sister's Keeper: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $1.98
You Save: $13.02 (87%)
New (58) Used (314) Collectible (6) from $1.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  1048 reviews
Sales Rank: 444
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.1 x 1.4
ISBN: 0743454537
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780743454537
ASIN: 0743454537
Publication Date: February 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: (Airport Place Books does not ship on Saturdays and Sundays. We are unable to ship to "The Republic of Korea".)
|
| Customer Reviews:
 A Decent Read December 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It was ok, although I cried at the end and that may have been from lack of sleep. I didn't really care for the ending - it really made me mad. Otherwise an interesting premise although a little hard to imagine that there was that much miscommunication going on in that family. It was also hard to imagine the boy
 Wonderful Book! December 15, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this book....it brought out all your emotions. She develops the character in such a way that you feel you know them. And, she presents a subject matter so beautifully. Many twists and turns as to whether a parent can love too much.
Mr. Kennedy's ALA Class (Reading Entry) December 9, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Many of my friends had told me "You should read My Sister's Keeper. I loved it." So I said why not, it sounds like it might be good. I must say that it was way better than I thought it would be. I didn't think a story that long about a girl whose sister had Leukemia could be anything but stretched out and slow. I just didn't think there was that much to write about. But I was completely wrong.
Anna, the main character, has an older sister, Kate. Kate was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was two. In order for Kate to survive she needed many donations of different organs. It was safest for her to receive her organs from someone that is her same tissue type. So her parents gave birth genetically to Anna to make sure she would be an HLA match for Kate. "When I was little, the great mystery to me wasn't how babies were made, but why." This is the first sentence of the novel. Think about this for a second. How would you feel if you were born for the pure sake of saving your sister? If your parents hadn't even started thinking of baby names till you were born because they thought of you in terms of your sister. If you weren't ever allowed to go anywhere far away because your sister might need your blood transfusions if she went into relapse? Anna couldn't grow up like any other child. She had to mature on her own faster. In this heartfelt book you will find yourself questioning what is right and wrong. Picoult does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I began to feel like I really knew them and even cried at the end (though if I told you why it would ruin the ending.) This book shows you the hardest side of love and loss. I fully recommend it and can honestly say it was one of the best books I have ever read.
extremely thought-provoking December 8, 2008
"MY SISTER'S KEEPER" is a brilliantly constructed Novel that signifies the importance of family and friendship. At first, I pictured Anna to be a typical teen age girl that puts her parents in pain and makes them realize that she is the one in charge. But from further reading and character study I was amazed with the fortitude and determination she displayed. The kind of ethical dilemma she faced is not ordinarily encountered by most teens of her age. Her choice to keep her sister's secret regardless of opposition from her mother was a heroic undertaking.
It's surprising how the title of the book counterchanges its meaning as the story progresses. At first, readers are drawn to thinking of the title as Anna who was conceived to provide genetically compatible body fluids and parts for her older sister who suffers from leukemia therefore is her sister's keeper. But at the end it is revealed that Anna led up the lawsuit because her sister didn't want her to donate the kidney having to go through life in a hospital. Anna in reality was a sister's keeper for the fidelity she displayed.
I was thoroughly captivated by the issue of genetically engineered baby for the purpose of saving her sibling's life. The question of whether it is moral and fair to have a child for the sole purpose of saving another is surely a topic worth exploring. The book allows interpretation of this issue from every character; all are very fascinating with their own intellections. Observing perspective of these characters provides readers to think critically and initiate thoughts of how they would react to situations as such.
Anna views herself as a lifesaver and beneficence when she's helping her sister however, she also feels invisible as a daughter. As a teen she struggles to form her own identity apart from that of her dying sister. A lot of the times you can almost put yourself in her position and can feel the emotion that she felt. I misunderstood Anna's rebellious act to hire a lawyer and sue her parents for medical emancipation. As her autonomy struggle in the beginning of the book seemed pretty immature and arrogant. She grew up thinking she had sacrificed a lot for her sister even though her efforts were unrecognized and taken for granted. We also see Anna's veracity, her unwillingness to tell lies to her parents despite the consequence it leads to. I believe Anna used deontological approach while making her decision, her sole purpose was to protect Kate's secret despite anything to the contrary it may lead to. Another ethical problem referred to as locus of authority problem between Sara and Anna I believe existed. Sara was the only person whose perspective I could not understand. I felt she was least sympathetic, prejudice and couldn't see Anna as any more than a "donor". Had she listened to Anna and inquired why Anna had taken this step she would have made a better mother.
The book shows the emotional side of stem cell research, cloning and explores the simplest yet darkest side of humanity regarding saving a child while caring less for the others. Sara abandoned two others the results were very devastating with one child abusing drugs and alcohol and the other trying to sue the parents.
I could not call this book an enjoyable read as it gave me disturbing dreams but it is certainly a page-turner and extremely thought-provoking. I had to stop every few pages to
think about this critical issues and how I might respond were I living this story.
By far, one of my top ten favorite books! December 8, 2008
Two of my friends recommended this book to me. I was a little leary, though, because another person told me that it was boring at times. So, I decided to start reading it...and if I didn't like it, I would simply stop reading it. Let me say that I never felt the urge to stop reading this amazing book. This was my first Jodi Picoult book, and I fell in love. As one can see in the title of my review, this is now one of my top ten books.
The story is about a girl who basically was born, in order to save her sister. Her sister has cancer and the doctors told her parents that the best way they could save her sister, is if they found a great donor. The parents then talked to the doctors about having another baby, and then using this baby as that potential donor. The doctor said that would be a great match, so they had a baby.
The two sisters went through a lot during their childhood and early adolescent years. As a reader, you get really involved with the whole family and you take on the feelings of the mother, father, brother, and sisters. The ending will shock you. I hated the ending, but I loved it. I know that doesn't make sense, but once you read the book you'll know what I'm talking about. This book also allows you to think about stem-cell research and how far is too far. I would highly, highly recommend this book!
|
|
|
| |
