Choosing a favourite out of all the books I’ve read was tough, yet the one title that wouldn’t leave my mind was ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ by Jodi Picoult.
The story revolves around 13-year-old Anna, a girl who was given birth to for a purpose. As soon as she was born, her parents began using her to keep their first daughter, Kate, from being taken away by leukaemia. Throughout Anna’s life, she performed the role of a donor to keep her sister alive until she was asked to donate a kidney.
At the age of 13, Anna files a lawsuit against her parents, suing them over the rights to her own body. The question that arises is: Will Anna let her sister die?
Picoult, the author, is known for the extensive research she performs for her books. All the medical and legal jargon combined with the dramatic topics of family ties and romance makes the story all the more enjoyable. It made me realise how strong and important family relationships are and that you don’t require a disease to lose a loved one.
This story made me smile and weep like a child. The sudden twisted ending is like an unexpected blow to the gut; it left me breathless and extremely aware of how harsh reality truly is. You know a book was worth your time when you feel like a new person after turning the last page. This was the book for me. Heart-wrenching, poignant, moving: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’.
