THE BOOK FAIR
READ AND FULFILL YOUR LIFE
Jodi Picoult
HANDLE
WITH CARE
Author: Jodi Picoult
Published: 2009
Genre: Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 477
Review:
The story of Willow, a young child born with the rare disease, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a disease of collagen deficiency that makes bones extremely brittle and fragile. Willow is named so for the Willow tree that will bend but not break. The story, presented through alternate voices, centers not only on Willow’s illness, but also on the family members and the effects of stress resulting from the chronic illness.
Picoult grounds her novels in ethical questions, no matter how minute the possibility of reality. So too, is the centerpiece of “Handle With Care,” which revolves around a lawsuit, Charlotte, Willow’s mother, initiates against her best friend, the doctor who delivered Willow.
MY SISTER'S KEEPER
Author: Jodi Picoult
Published: 2004
Genre: Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 423
Review:
The beautifully written novel tells the story of Anna, the youngest daughter of Brian and Sara, who was conceived for the purpose of fulfilling medical obligations for her ill, older sister, Kate. Anna, now thirteen years old, decides she no longer wants to participate in medical procedures required for her sister, and files a lawsuit against her parents. The story moves forward through the alternating voices of family members.
The plot, though disturbing, reads quickly; the characters are well developed and dimensional. Picoult makes a clear point in the novel that though much is planned in life, much in life is beyond control.
The author based the novel on the highly controversial case of a family, who in order to keep an ill child in the family alive, decided to have another child, who would match and donate to the ill child’s medical needs.
NINETEEN MINUTES
Author: Jodi Picoult
Published: 2007
Genre: Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 455
Review:
Nineteen minutes deals with the effects, consequences and repercussions of the hazing and harassment of high school teens. The story centers on families of an upscale neighborhood, with seemingly successful children.
Jodi Picoult focuses the story on Josie Cormier and Matt Royston who enjoy the aura of the popular couple in high school. However, the relationship is far from perfect. Furthermore, Picoult places an emphasis on Josie’s mother, a Superior Court Judge, who knows little of her daughter’s terrible unhappiness and dangerous situation.
An important topic for teens, and pre-teens.
Review:
The novel relates the tales of two interconnecting stories. The novel travels back and forth in time from WW II to present day. Jodi Picoult primarily focuses on two main characters, Sage Singer, a young woman, grieving over her mother’s death, and Josef Weber, an elderly gentleman, recently widowed, and two minor characters, Leo Stein, a Nazi hunter, and Minka, Sage’s grandmother, a Holocaust survivor.
Sage drowns her sorrows baking pasties in the bakery shop in New Hampshire where she meets Weber, a respected, retired school teacher, who becomes a trusted friend. It is after Josef confesses a long buried secret and asks Sage for a favor, that the relationship changes. Sage, now privy to Josef’s past, is challenged to question and judge.
The novel, well written and well plotted, full of many twists and turns, reads quickly. Picoult brings the story to life through the characters actions. Picoult realistically depicts sensitive scenes of love and desire as well as brutal scenes of war and devastation. The author uses symbolism in pairing the scars both Sage and Josef carry.
Picoult raises the theme of forgiveness and poses the question of whether or not one must forgive one who has asked for forgiveness. Picoult also raises the question of how seemingly normal people can become cold blooded killers.
Although raised in a Jewish family, the author claims to be agnostic. Picoult states relatives in her family were caught up in the Holocaust.
Author: Jodi Picoult
Published: 2013
Genre: Novel
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 460
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