Rating: 
Summary: Compelling read
Review: Love how Jodi Picoult goes for the jugular every time, playing with a reader's comfort zone and pushing us to examine situations, up close and personal, such as genetic engineering, euthanasia, suicide, etc. This was a little too close for comfort, seeing as I am about five years out from a bone marrow transplant for APL, the disease that Kate has/had. The general medical info about APL and certain treatments such as DLI were on target but the timing of the treatments were not, therefore I had to suspend some of my personal knowledge and experience as I read the book. (Plus, the success rate for APL is FAR higher than what Picoult tells us.) The disease is just a tool for the larger discussion of medical engineering, children's rights as donors, and how a family evolves with the constant presence of critical illness.
The subject of Anna's medical emancipation is an ethical quandary that is not going to go away. I know of siblings who were unwilling to give stem cells to their ill brother or sister, for various reasons, and it always stuns me. Anna's reasons seemed far more reasonable -although as we learn of her and Kate's relationship, they did not ring entirely true. Yet, Anna is 13 and having two teenaged girls, understand that logical reasoning and adolesence do not always mix well :) I do think the mom (Sara) would have had more of a clue how the donor procedures were affecting Anna. Still, Picoult always weaves an interesting story and I loved these characters, with their unique voices. I think this book would generate reading group conversations that would continually surprise the particiipants.
Rating:
Summary: What would you do?
Review: One cannot read this book and not wonder, "What would I do in this situation." And herein lies the book's greatness. Picoult is no stranger to off the beaten path topics (euthanasia, suicide, etc) but what she has created here, with MY SISTER'S KEEPER, is like no other work of hers, for simply by writing such a powerful story, she has allowed us to put ourselves in her place; to think about what we might do when dealing with illness. Do you shape the family and your life around this sickness, or do you try and control the direction your life, as well as the family member who is ill, will take? None of this is easy stuff, nor should it be. A word of warning: Don't read this book at night--you simply won't be able to get to sleep--there's just too much here in this jam packed page turner. And I don't mean page turner in the DA VINCI CODE or BARK OF THE DOGWOOD sense. No, this is a psychologically complex book that will cause you to think, probably more than you'd like to. It's my contention that when you look up "Food for Thought" in the dictionary, you'll see "See MY SISTER'S KEEPER." It's just that good.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Picoult!
Review: My Sister's Keeper is a thought-provoking story that is truly original and cements Picoult as a master in her own league.A young girl is made to accept adult situations as a child and is expected to take on the responsibility of "keeping" her sister alive and well. This pressure manifests itself and is the plot for this explosive story. The family bears the brunt of the fall out. You must read this to see what happens when it's all said and done!
Rating:
Summary: One of my "must buy" authors.
Review: Jodi Picoult is one of my "must buy" authors and she does never disappoints. As a parent, one always wonders how far you would go to save a critically ill child and My Sister's Keeper goes a long way in examining that question. Do you let a child's disease shape a family? I still don't have an answer to that, but Picoult will keep you thinking about it long after you finish the last page. Some may be put off by multiple point of view novels, but Picoult does an excellent job giving each character a distinct voice that creates a satisfying harmony within the story. Picoult has also developed a talent for writing one slightly dislikeable, yet completely understandable, character. It is one thing, among many, that I admire about Picoult's work.
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping, well crafted but too many characters...
Review: I liked this book a lot--I read it in 24 hours, and my mind was enraptured in Kate and Anna's story. However, there were too many characters I didn't care at all about, and some of the plot devices and skills Ms. Picoult used made me cringe. I thought the character narratives of Campbell and Julia ridiculous--I didn't give a crap if they got together, slept together, broke up, she sobbed, they get back together...what? Who cares?? I was more interested in *why* Anna wanted to file this lawsuit. I find that a sister rejecting to help her sister out as a doner intriguing--mainly because if my sister needed anything, I would give it to her in a heartbeat. Anna's intent is explained at the end, but even then the readers aren't given enough to chew on. The pacing is good, the suspense is good, the emotion is realistic and the ending blew me away, but I felt this novel could have been fine tuned, polished and given a bit more guts. I read somewhere Jodi Picoult writes two novels a year, maybe this is why at times it felt rushed and contrived. Good--but definately not, as Jodi Picoult so 'modestly' titled this book, 'this year's Sophie's Choice" (As written on her website)
Rating:
Summary: Picoult's Best
Review: I've read all but one of Jodi Picoult's books and she keeps improving. "My Sister's Keeper" is a reflection of today's rapidly advancing medical world, and in fact, I've already read of a couple conceiving a child and using her matching bone marrow, etc. for their ill daughter. I empathized with Anna when she felt like a repository of bodily donations to keep her sister Kate alive. I, too, was taken aback at the ending, but it could have ended any number of ways and this is the way the author chose. I highly recommend "My Sister's Keeper", such a perfect title!
Rating:
Summary: What a writer!
Review: Every time I read a Jodi Picoult book, I can be guaranteed of great characters and a surprise ending. Maybe a bit formula, but a winning formula for certain. I could not put this book down, and really had a sense of each characters thoughts and feelings. She took on a very controversial subject with tremendous success. Cannot wait for her next book!!
Rating:
Summary: warning
Review: I could not put this book down. It even brought me to tears a few times! But, it proves overly dramatic and disappointing. I wish someone had told me not to read it. I wish the author had stuck to one story, too. Oh well. You'll probably read it anyway ;)
Rating: 
Summary: Angry
Review: I could not put this book down. I thought the premise was intriguing and the way that the author switched narrators very clever.
I was so upset at the ending that I felt like throwing the book against the wall. What a cop-out.
Rating:
Summary: best page turner ever
Review: This book was very much a page turner. It takes you through all the thoughts of each character, as if they've wrote them themselves. My favorite book so far. It made me laugh and cry and the ending is a shock! Wow!
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