Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions based on reading pages 1-120.  Write a paragraph with some examples and a quotation for each question.  Add the two paragraphs to your blog under the title “Discussing the Novel.” 

#1.  Publisher’s Weekly call My Sister’s Keeper “a spellbinding suspense novel.”  Give your input on why this magazine might call this story suspenseful.  Think about the way the book is written from different perspectives and how sections end.  Do you want to read more?  Are there things that are a mystery in the story?  How does Jodi Picoult reveal these secrets as the story moves along?  Are there any questions that you want to know at this point in the story?

This story might be called suspenseful because it hooks the reader. When I am reading this story, I always just want to keep  going on to the next chapter to find out what happens. Yes, I do want to read more. Some things are a mystery in the story such as what is going to happen to Kate’s health, how will the relationship between Campbell and Julia turn out, and will Anna win her case. Jodi Picoult revelas these secrets as the story moves along within giving everyone’s perspective. As an example, if Jodi only gave one perspective throughout the whole story, we would never know what each person feel or thinks about another and situations. The only question I want to know at this point in the story is what will happen with Campbell and Julia.

#2. What is your opinion of Sara? With her life focused on saving Kate, she sometimes neglects her other children. Jesse is rapidly becoming a juvenile delinquent, and Anna is invisible -- a fact that the little girl knows only too well. What does this say about Sara's role as a mother? What would you have done in her shoes? Has she unwittingly forgotten Jesse and Anna, or do you think she has consciously chosen to neglect them -- either as an attempt to save a little energy for herself, or as some kind of punishment? Does Sara resent her other children for being healthy? Did you find yourself criticizing Sara, empathizing with her, or both?

My opinion is that Sara is controlling and she does not give equal attention to her three children. I think yes she does neglects her other children. I think if Jesse got equal attention or at least felt more loved in the family, he would not have grown up to be such a bad kid. This says that Sara is not a good mother and all of her attention is focused on Kate. I know that if a child is sick that more attention would be focused on them because they need most of it, but it almost seems like that’s all Sara cares about is Kate. If I was in Sara’s shoes, I would do the same plan with alternating between Brian and Sara’s turn with the kids. Something that I would do different would be that when I’m at the hospital with Kate, I would be most attentive to her, but at home I would be equally attentive to all three children. I do not think she neglects them on purpose, I think by natural mothering, Sara paid more attention to Kate. I do not think Sara resents her other children for being healthy. I find myself mostly criticizing Sara.