How far will a mother go to save her dying child? This novel quickly plunges the reader into the life of Anna, a 13 year old who was conceived for the sole purpose of assuring a genetic match for her terminally ill sister.
Since her birth Anna has donated her umbilical cord, platelets, bone marrow and is now being asked to donate a kidney to her sister, Kate, who suffers from leukemia. After so many years of never been asked but just used Anna decides she’s had enough and hires a lawyer to represent her and demands her freedom to say no to these life-saving measures for her sister.
Posing complex questions and taking the reader through an emotional rollercoaster the novel jumps from alternating perspectives. We hear from Anna, the girls’ mom and father, and Anna’s lawyer. Here I think is where the novel loses its strength.
Frankly I didn’t care why the lawyer, was taking on Anna’s case or the fact that he and Anna’s court appointed guardian had a past. There is also the secondary story of Anna’s brother who is so desperate for attention he is involved in some dangerous activities.
Jodi Picoult weaves a strong story and one that demands the reader to examine moral and ethical choices. I just wish that she had focused on Anna’s viewpoint and her mother’s. As the book stands, her mom almost comes across as non-caring of Anna and a bit one-dimensional.
Prepare a hanky for the tragic conclusion that still doesn’t answer any of the questions the book raised.