A unique and contemporary storyline along with characters resembling real life individuals makes this book an interesting read. But if you are looking forward to a story filled with adventure, thrills and suspense, you should move away from this page…ummm… rite now!! This book depicts the saga of an average American family’s struggle for survival at all human costs and a stunning moral parable for all times. Sounds a bit clichéd, doesn’t it? But a quick review of the book’s cover face will reveal the book’s uniqueness.
Anna, a thirteen year old teenager, has decided to sue her own parents. The reason, she is fed up of being used by her parents as a perennial donor of remedies for their very ill elder daughter. Anna’s elder sister, Kate, is suffering from a rare case of blood cancer known as Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Kate’s blood cells are too weak to fight diseases making her body very vulnerable to infections. Sara and Brian, Anna’s parents have tried all possible treatments including chemotherapy, blood transfusion etc to cure their daughter of her illness. But these treatments don’t work and in turn Kate’s condition steadily deteriorates as a result of chemotherapy.
There seems to be only one solution to Kate’s problems. Her bone marrow which produces new blood cells needs to be replaced with a new healthy one. This bone marrow should come from one of her siblings. But her younger brother’s bone marrow doesn’t match with her sisters. Without a new bone marrow Kate’s chances of survival reduce to a void. The chances of finding some other right donor are very unlikely. It’s here, at this stage that Sara and Brian decide to have a baby of their own. A genetically engineered sibling of Kate’s who’s matching bone marrow can save Kate from her slow and painful death. This is the reason that Anna came into this world. Kate’s little angel.
Kate’s pre-transplant regimen begins on the day Anna is born. Blood tests reveal that their bone marrows match. But Kate and Anna both need to be fit for the operation to take place. Doctors have to constantly replace Kate’s blood platelets with that of Anna so that they can perform the surgery. So from day one, Anna becomes Kate’s donor. But Kate never seems to recover enough to be ready for the operation and days go by where also Anna has to spend her time at the hospital as her donor. Anna is thirteen now, old enough to understand what’s been done to her body and also boggled by the questions like what if Kate wasn’t sick at all, would she be born. That’s why she decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body. But Kate cannot survive without Anna’s Bone marrow and the whole situation turns into a catch 21 situation for the family. The lawsuit that follows will decide the fate of the family.
There are very few characters in the story and each character is given a unique personality. Brian and Sarah are very concerned parents but are a little frustrated with the family problems. Their lives oscillate between their home and hospital and then court. Jesse, Kate’s brother has turned into a problem child as he feels neglected by his parents who are too busy nursing their sick child. The story raises some ethical question concerning engineered conception of child to suite the parent’s needs. Overall, it’s a real good read where some situations will really test your emotional strong will.
There seems to be only one solution to Kate’s problems. Her bone marrow which produces new blood cells needs to be replaced with a new healthy one. This bone marrow should come from one of her siblings. But her younger brother’s bone marrow doesn’t match with her sisters. Without a new bone marrow Kate’s chances of survival reduce to a void. The chances of finding some other right donor are very unlikely. It’s here, at this stage that Sara and Brian decide to have a baby of their own. A genetically engineered sibling of Kate’s who’s matching bone marrow can save Kate from her slow and painful death. This is the reason that Anna came into this world. Kate’s little angel.
Kate’s pre-transplant regimen begins on the day Anna is born. Blood tests reveal that their bone marrows match. But Kate and Anna both need to be fit for the operation to take place. Doctors have to constantly replace Kate’s blood platelets with that of Anna so that they can perform the surgery. So from day one, Anna becomes Kate’s donor. But Kate never seems to recover enough to be ready for the operation and days go by where also Anna has to spend her time at the hospital as her donor. Anna is thirteen now, old enough to understand what’s been done to her body and also boggled by the questions like what if Kate wasn’t sick at all, would she be born. That’s why she decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body. But Kate cannot survive without Anna’s Bone marrow and the whole situation turns into a catch 21 situation for the family. The lawsuit that follows will decide the fate of the family.
There are very few characters in the story and each character is given a unique personality. Brian and Sarah are very concerned parents but are a little frustrated with the family problems. Their lives oscillate between their home and hospital and then court. Jesse, Kate’s brother has turned into a problem child as he feels neglected by his parents who are too busy nursing their sick child. The story raises some ethical question concerning engineered conception of child to suite the parent’s needs. Overall, it’s a real good read where some situations will really test your emotional strong will.
Name : My Sister’s Keeper
Author : Jodi Picoult
Pages : 423
Cost : Rs. 295
Author : Jodi Picoult
Pages : 423
Cost : Rs. 295
Review by : Abhijit Ranade
