My Sister’s Keeper…A must-read

My Sister’s Keeper is a truly heart-wrenching novel that will leave you in tears.

Jodi Picoult bases her story on a family fighting to keep their daughter Kate alive. Diagnosed with a rare form of Leukaemia at the mere age of two, parents Sara and Brian decide to have a ‘designer’ baby; made in the hope of saving Kate. Within hours of being born, Anna is enduring procedures of her own to save her sister.

Thirteen years on, her body is still being used to keep her sister alive. At no time is Anna consulted, just expected to co-operate. It is then Anna decides to pursue a lawsuit, fighting for the right to have control of her own body.

Picoult narrates the story through the eyes of various characters, so while in one chapter one find yourself on Anna’s side, a chapter later you understand that a mother will do anything to save her child’s life. Each character, including the rebellious son and life-saver father develop their own way of dealing with the situation and while you might not sympathise with some of their actions, you understand.

Filled with flashbacks leading to the present day, the novel is written with immense power and beauty. It will leave you with a lump in your throat, tears in your eyes and have you questioning the value of life.

The twist arrives in the end, and without giving too much away, will leave shocked, heartbroken and re-examining everything again.

A skilfully-crafted novel that should be on everyone’s reading list.