Sunday, November 28, 2010

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The novel starts off with Anna Fitzgerald, a thirteen year old girl, selling some of her belongings in a pawn shop in order to hire a lawyer to sue her parents for the right to her own body. Her sixteen year old sister, Kate, needs a bone marrow transplant in order to survive, and her parents only had another child so that child can donate their organs and bone marrow to Kate. Knowing this is a very serious case, Campbell Alexander accepts to take on Anna's case. Throughout the novel, Anna starts to feel guilty about the decision that she has made, wanting the right to her own body. Anna has been through numerous surgeries, and her mother wants her to donate her kidney to Kate. To Sara, the mother of the three teenagers, Kate always came first, and although she favors her dying daughter, her love for Anna never faded. Before the end of the trial, the reader finds out that Kate was the one who told Anna to get a lawyer because she did not want her little sister to die for her. She knew she was going to die anyways. At the end of the trial, Anna wins her case and the right to her own body. Her family was not upset her actions with the trial. At the end of the novel, Campbell and Anna get in a terrible car accident, the lawyer was not hurt, but Anna was left brain dead. Her organs were then donated to her sister.

1. In some way, do you think Anna's mother, Sara, was relieved to find out that Kate would receive the organ she would need in order to survive?

2. If you were in Sara's shoes, would you do what she did and side with your favorite daughter? Why?

20 comments:

Avi D. 7/8 said...

1. Yes because that was all she cared about throughout the book. At least she felt that her daughter would die for something.
2. I would definitely give more attention to Kate because she needed it more. However, I would certainly not make my other daughter donate organs, because that is just inhumane. But I can see as too why Sara would do that.

Natesa W. 7-8 said...

1. I think she was relieved, but still upset that her daughter had died. Even though Sara only had Anna to donate her organs to Kate, there still must have been some feeling shared between the two.
2. No, because I would not have a favorite child. I would have Anna, but still love her as my daughter, not as someone to keep my other daughter alive. Kate may have needed extra attention, but that does not mean that Anna does not deserve any.

Spencer P. 1-2 said...

1.I believe that she was relieved. She felt that good would come out of her daughters death.
2.I do not think i would because firstly i would try not to have a favorite daughter. Even if I did, I i still believe that both should be treated equally.

Lisa T. 1-2 said...

1. I think that Sara was relieved, because either way she would have lost a daughter, and at least she did not lose both. However, losing Anna should help her to realize the sacrifice she had previously wanted to make; in the end, she got what she wanted, but the grief and guilt of one daughter's death is the consequence.
2. I personally do not think I would side with one daughter, but it makes sense that Sara was desperate to find a way to save her child. The extent a parent goes to in order to protect their kids is something that only a parent can completely understand.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

1.I think that Sara was relieved to find out that Kate would receive the organ she needed. Obviously she did not want Anna to end up brain dead but the whole book was about Sara trying to save Kate. I think she was happy she could save one daughter at the least.

Abby M. 1-2 said...

1. Yes, I do think that Sara could not help but be relieved that her daughter would finally get the organs she needed to survive. the fact that she and her husband only had Anna to give her organs to Kate, not caring about Anna's fate makes it hard for me to believe that she would even care all that much about Anna, no matter how she tried.

2. I would hope that I would realize as a mother that one child is never more important than another. I do not think I would side with one, becaus no life is more or less impprotant and wht Sara wanted to do was morally wrong in my opinion. Still, not being a parent, it is difficult to say.

Nathan S. 7-8 said...

Yeah, because then Kate was able to survive.

I would never have had another child just so she can be some kind of organ farm in the first place.

Leah K. 7-8 said...

1. She was relieved because then her daughter would survive and get the organs she needed.
2.I would not side with one of my daughters because it probably made the other one feel less important and not cared about as much as the other daughter.

Unknown said...

1. Yes I think that Anna's mother was relieved to find out that Kate would receive the organ she needed because she cared about Kate and also that was the reason why her and her husband decided to have Anna.

Mia G. 1-2 said...

1. she probably should've been sad her daughter is now brain dead, but pretty pumped cause the other now has a chance to live longer.
2. uhhh, no? if you want your daughter to live give it from yourself dont take from your other kid. and to have a kid just to use is totally not cool. so shame on you sara.

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I think that she was relieved, but was also sad about Anna's death. Even though she favored Kate over Anna, she still loved them both very much.

2. I don't think I would do what Sara did, because I wouldn't favor one child over another. I agree with everyone else; Kate needed the extra attention because of her medical condition, but she shouldn't of been favored.

Millie W. 7/8 said...

1) I guess if she only had that daughter to give organs, it doesn't really seem like she cares about the other one.
2)No, afterall what kind of mother wants to force her daughter to give a organ to her favorite daughter? What kind of mother has a favorite child? Why doesn't she herself give the organ instead.

Sara D. 7-8 said...

1) I think that Sara was relieved because Kate ended up getting the kidney. On the other hand, she would probably be sad because Anna had to die in order for Kate to live. Also, she'd feel bad that Anna tried so hard to claim the rights to her own body and after winning, she lost it.

Madi Y 7-8 said...

Sara I think was relieved for sure to hear about the organ donor because now her daughter could be given her last chance to fight for the battle of life. Sara loved Kate and no mother wants to see their child die. She as a mother, would probably do anything to keep her little girl alive. If I was in Sara's shoes I wouldn't side with anyone. I would do the best to keep both girls happy and respect their wishes. I would have sat down and talked with my daughters about what they want. Part of being a parent is listening to your kids and figuring out what they want. If the kids make a mistake, it just gives them something to learn about and change for the future.

Nicole H. 7-8 said...

I think Sarah was relieved to know that Kate would receive Anna's organs because a mother would do anything to keep a child alive. However, I do not think she was relieved that Kate was given organs in light of Anna's death. Anna was her child too, maybe not her favorite, but her child all the same. The loss of a child, no matter if there happens to be a benefit in the end, is horrible. If I were Sarah, I would talk to both daughters. I would not automatically side with my favorite daughter. Though her favorite happened to be dieing and I would do my best to keep her alive, I would be sure I had absolute consent of the other before I put her through surgery. Not having her consent is almost cruel.

Kyle N.1-2 said...

1. I think she was probably relieved about Kate being able to receive the organs...but I can't see a true mother being overjoyed her other child has died, that would be a very messed up mother.

2. I would never have another child to just give their organs away to another child. I think that is horrible. I could not imagine being born, growing up, and being told, "Guess what? We didn't really want you. You're only alive because we want your sister, not you." That's essentially what they're telling Anna. How would you feel? I could never do that to anyone, nonetheless my own child.

Ashley B. 1-2 said...

1.yes she would be relieved that her daughter would survive but it would save her from losing two kids.. losing one is bad enough and hard to handle...

2. I wouldn't have a daughter just to try and save the other and I would treat the two daughters equally and love them the same.

AnaleeL7-8 said...

1. I think she was extremely relieved because most mothers would do anything in order to keep one of their children alive.

Tyler W 1-2 said...

I think Sara was probably relieved but there is no way any human would not be very sad for Anna.

Miranda R. 7-8 said...

Yes, I do believe she was relieved. Even though she was sad about Anna's death, she was happy to know Anna would have a chance at life. She had fought so long for her and was happy to see Kate get a second chance.