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My Sister’s Keeper

By: Jodi Picoult

A book report submitted by:

Recon Sofia B. Redula

BSN IV-B
AUTHOR:

Jodi Lynn Picoult was born on May 19, 1966, in Nesconset on

Long Island in New York. Picoult's family moved to New Hampshire

when she was 13. Although she left New Hampshire for college and

her early jobs, she settled there again as a married woman. She

currently lives in Hanover, New Hampshire with her husband, Tim Van

Leer, and their three children, Sammy, Kyle and Jake.

Picoult studied writing at Princeton University, where she

earned her bachelor's degree. She also earned a master's degree in

education from Harvard University.


Picoult wrote her first story, "The Lobster which Misunderstood,"

when she was five. While at Princeton, she published two stories in

Seventeen magazine. She wrote her first novel, Songs of the

Humpback Whale, while she was pregnant with her first child, and

published it in 1992.

Picoult's novels usually deal with ethical issues and are told

from a variety of viewpoints, with each chapter written in a different

character's voice. Picoult uses this technique to show multiple sides of

a situation and underscore areas of moral ambiguity.

Picoult writes stories that are heart wrenching and full of family

drama. It should be no surprise, then, that several of her books have

been adapted into films for Lifetime, a TV network for women. Her

first feature film, My Sister's Keeper, will be released in theaters in

2009.

Jodi Picoult Trivia:

• Picoult's family has two Springer spaniels, two donkeys, two

geese, three ducks and six chickens.

• When her oldest son finished reading My Sister's Keeper, he

broke into tears and wouldn't speak to his mother for a while

because he was so mad about the ending.


• Picoult has had personal experience with the sort of medical

drama she writes about. When her middle son, Jake, was six he was

diagnosed with cholesteatoma in his ear -- a benign tumor that can

grow into your brain and kill you. He had 10 surgeries in three

years and was partially deaf until recently.

SETTING:

This fictitious novel took place in present day, probably in a small city

and hospital in the United States.

CHARACTERS:

1st born child with Cancer-Kate Fitzgerald

• The selfless child in the story who taught her sister to stand for

herself.

Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald

• The poor girl who was just born into this world to save the life of

her sister.

Mother-Sara Fitzgerald

• The mother who was so desperate in saving the life of her child

and forgetting other more important things in her own family.


Father- Brian Fitzgerald

• The dad who portrayed a good father in the story because in

every decision his family members make he understands and

support them.

Atty. Campbell Alexander

• The lawyer who helped Anna win her case against Medical

Emancipation who has Epilepsy as well and a dog named Judge.

2nd born who is Dylexic- Jessie Fitzgerald

• He was a very emotional brother in the story and was also

diagnosed with Dyslexia.

Taylor-Anna’s short time boyfriend

• He, even for a while showed love for Kate and gave her a little

hope in life.

Anna’s Aunt Kelly /Watcher

• She sort of became the outlet of the mother’s feelings about

every situation that arised.

Kate’s Doctor- Dr. Wayne and Dr. Farquad


SUMMARY:

When Kate was only two years old she was diagnosed with a

rare form of leukemia, known as APL. After finding this out, Kate's

parents, Brian and Sara were very desperate in finding a way to cure

their little girl. This is why Anna was born. She was only made through

in-vitro fertilization because her parents just wanted her to provide a

match for her elder sister Kate's rare blood type. So basically Anna

was only born for her sister Kate so she will be able to donate her

blood or some body parts needed and it would be less of risks for Kate

to have the donated material fail.

The conflict is introduced during the rising action, as Anna

begins to fight against her parents’ medical decisions about her, and

against giving Kate her kidney. She convinces a lawyer to take her

case against her parents. Sara Fitzgerald, Anna’s mother, is the one

who caused most of the conflict. She is also the opposing lawyer

against Anna’s case.

The climax occurs when Anna admits it was Kate who convinced

her to file the lawsuit. Anna dies in a car wreck soon after she is

emancipated from her parents. Her kidneys, and other organs, are

donated to Kate, and other patients that might need them.


The book ends with an epilogue. Kate is in her twenties telling

the reader that she survived the transplant, against all odds, and her

leukemia started to disappear. She ties all loose ends about her

parents and the aftermath of Anna’s death. Kate said that she

believes that the reason she survived is because someone had to go,

and Anna took her place. She grows up to be a dance instructor and

whenever she'd missed her sister, she'd look at the scars from the

kidney transplant and believe she took Anna wherever she went.

MORAL LESSON:

I thought that My Sister’s Keeper was a really interesting book. It

has a captivating plot, although this tale comes to an ending that

seems just a little too convenient. I thought it was great how the

author let us see the story line through the eyes of different

characters.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good

parent, a good sister and 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? I think the

novel centers on Kate too much. Their mother is obsessed with

fighting for her daughter Kate’s life and loses sight of the potential
harm she may be causing her family. Life definitely does not evolve

around one person only and will not stop turning because of you. In

times like these, it is noteworthy to listen to all sides of those who are

involved in the situation so as to come up with a good resolution for

everyone.

I also learned that in life we only have one family and we should

be responsible for each other as what God said in the bible.

I also realized that anyone in a normal state of mind will do

anything and everything for any of her family member. Like even

when it was kind of stupid to conceive a child just to have his/her

parts donated for the other but nevertheless saving the life of another

is funny. I mean Sara did everything she could just to save the life of

Kate even if it takes killing the dignity of Anna as a person.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD. Because I think the people in the story

aren’t believers so the family members had an extremely difficult

time accepting Kate’s condition. Without a shared faith in the Lord,

the family shares a vague hope of possibly reuniting with one another

and nature after death. When death is viewed through the lens of

Christian faith, it can be celebrated. ‘The saying is sure: if we have

died with Him, we will also live with Him,’” according to the Catholic

Church. People of faith should anticipate an existence beyond Earth.


Instead of eternal salvation, the characters in “My Sister’s

Keepers” find meaning only in earthly life. So I have to say that life is

not just living it to the fullest here but more of us visioning ourselves

eternally reunited with God.

As Catholic Christians we should accept the pain of loss, but

should also look with hope towards eternal life in heaven.

Furthermore, Acceptance with the help of God, selfless love and

love for the family can cut the lesson short. Life goes on for each and

everyone so lets us try hard not to dwell so much on things that

aren’t that vital.

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