The novel My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult tells the story of Anna Fitzgerald, who was conceived to be a genetic match for her older sister Kate's leukemia treatments. When Kate needs a kidney transplant at age 15, Anna sues for medical emancipation to decide her own medical fate. The story is told from the shifting perspectives of Anna, Kate, and their mother Sara over a one and a half week period as Anna's lawsuit unfolds. Jodi Picoult uses flashbacks and each character's voice to explore how the family has been impacted by Kate's illness and Anna's role as her savior.
2. The Plot
The novel tells a story of a young girl Anna
Fitzgerald, who was bought in to the world for
a specific reason, she is a genetic match for her
older sister Kate who is suffering with acute
promyelocytic leukaemia. When Kate turns 15
she goes in to renal failure , and Anna knows
she will be forced in to donating one of her
kidneys to Kate. Anna soon comes to realize
she will not be able to live the life she wants
and proceeds to sue them to the rights of her
own body.
3. Presentation on character
Main characters
Anna Fitzegerald – Anna stands out as the books most
conflicted character, she is described by her father as a
smart, funny, observant young 13 year old. Anna’s
actions drive the plot as she is kates saviour but that is
stopping her becoming her own person.
Kate Fitzegerald- Kate is presented as the focal point of
many of the novels events. She is presented as a kind,
loving caring person.
Sara Fitzegerald- is presented as a strong, stubborn,
intelligent character. Kate being alive seems to motivate
her more than anything else. Sara does not all always fill
the role of a mother for her other children as her focus is
on Kate and this is why Anna seems to act like she does.
4. How the story is told
The story is told/shown by the characters
different view points, through each character
we are given their own individual thoughts on
the situation, and what their personalities are
like.
Although the main event of the story is Anna's
law suit, you are given an insight in to a
family which has been wrecked by cancer. By
telling the story from each characters view
point, you can get a clearer understanding on
what's going on, how each characters is feeing
and how they are each being effected.
5. Narrative Viewpoint
Throughout most of the novel the narrative
viewpoint is in first person but it alternates
between each character , this is so you can get
an insight to each characters point of view, this
can help with the understanding of the novel.
Sara Fitzegerald narrates the majority of the
story from different points in the past and
moves gradually towards the present . By doing
this the reader can be informed and have an
insight on how the Fitzegerald family was like
and how different their lives are now.
6. Use of setting.
The setting of the book jumps around a lot, from year to
year, month to month and place to place. The novel takes
place in modern day, new England, Rhode island, a real
place to make it seem more realistic.
“ we had a fight and decided we no longer wanted to share
a room” Anna Says from this quotation you can see that
Anna and Kate have to share a room we so we learn that
they live in a more or less small on average house and
they are not a wealthy family.
Anna also says “every time Kate is hospitalized, I wind up
there, too.” this quote suggests they are at the hospital a
lot of the time due to Kates illness, this is where the
majority of the novel is set.
7. Use of language
The use of language in the novel can be quite sophisticated
at times for example “I’m an allogeneic donor--a perfect
sibling match. When Kate needs leukocytes or stem
cells or bone marrow to fool her body into thinking it's
healthy, I'm the one who provides them. Nearly every
time Kate's hospitalized, I wind up there too
There is also a lot of metaphors used “My father says that
a fire will burn itself out, unless you open a window and
give it fuel.” this can give the reader a better
understanding and it can create an image in their mind
to what they are trying to say.
8. Structure and form
The structure of the novel is split in to small chapters ,
each chapter is a characters point of view. The present
action of the novel starts on Monday, each day is
illustrated in certain chapters. The bulk of the story
takes place in the present, set over a one and half week
stretch of time.
The novel is set in a cyclical structure. There are a lot of
flash backs of a happier time which is told in the
chapters by the different characters.
Jodi Picoult jumps around from each characters
perspectives, although this is shown by the heading of
each chapter it can make the novel quite hard to follow
at times.
