Second Quarter ORB Review

Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Washington Square Press, 2004.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a compelling novel. in the story you meet Anna Fitzgerald. Anna lives with Sara, her mother, Brian, her father, Jesse, her older brother, and Kate, her older sister. Most sisters share clothes, and nail polish, and a couple pairs of heels if they're lucky enough to have the same shoe size. Anna and Kate are different. Anna is the product of preimplantaion genetic diagnosis to "share" her organs with her sister. Kate, Anna's sister, was diagnosed with Leukemia at age three and the doctors figured that the only way to save her was to grow a child that would be able to donate genetic material to Kate whenever she needed it. When Anna turned 13, she was asked to donate a kidney to Kate. She doesn't want to put herself through anymore pain, or procedures so she saves up and hires a lawyer to sue her parents and file a petition for medical emancipation. The Fitzgerald family struggles to stay together, and help Kate throughout her sickness. At the end of the story, Anna wins the case and gets emancipated. Even though Kate is the one who is now suppost to die because her donor has given up on her, Anna is the one whose life slips away.

The inside cover reads, "Picoult's thoughtful, thought-provoking and readable work is... arguably her best and most accessible effort to date." -The Denver Post

Jodi Picoult grabs her readers' attention and hearts and demands for interest in her writing. Although this is the only book that I've read by the author, I have fallen in love with her writing. she makes the characters so believable and realistic. They're like real people with problems, fears, and flaws.

Jodi Picoult's writing remings me of Nicholas Sparks' writing. They both write in depth about their characters, to make their readers fall in love with the characters. Also, they both typically have some kind of romance laced into their writing.

Page 210. "Leaning forward with my own napkin, I clean the small spot__but then I don't move away. My hands rest on her cheeck. Our eyes lock, and in that instance, we are young again and learning the shape of each other."

I found it very easy to relate to this story. Even though the sister i have is healthy and not dying from leukemia, I can relate to how Anna feels in not knowing who she really is and tryinf to please her parents as much as she can. I would enjoy reading more of Jodi Picoult's novels. I think that reading this novel made me appreciate my life a little more than I had before. I respect the Fitzgerald family for being so strong throughout their daughter's sickness, a long battle in court, and the loss of their youngest daughter.

"WE BE JAMMIN'" -Robert Nesta Marley

It seems like as the generations keep growing and growing, the expectations grow along with them. Whatever happened to a summer without homework and packets, or going home and playing baseball out in the yard with the kids on the block instead of sitting around studying? Sunday used to be the day for rest, and now it is just like any other day of work. People are so caught up in a world of being successful and wealthy that they start to forget what really matters to them.

As I scoop up the remaining rice left on my plate into my mouth I see the lights start to dim. It is my last night in St. Thomas with my best friend Melissa, and we are ready to have a very memorable night. I look around the little wooden shack and see people who look like they might be a little too hyper and in beach apparel. To my right is an old bar made out of wood that looks like it is going to fall apart with the next drink that is put onto its surface. The walls made up of what looks to be drift wood look as if they are going to collapse with the next gust of wind that hits them. There are scattered plastic tables and chairs, decorated in graffiti from previous guests. The wood beneath my feet is rough, and has sand filling in between every grove and crevice. 
People start to rise from their seats and waiters start to push the plastic tables off to the side, and stack all of the chairs into a little closet that is in the far corner of the room. Red and blue lights start to flash around Melissa and me, and the music’s volume slowly increases. I can feel the base of the music pound my ears, and the vibration against my body. I look down at my watch, all scratched from over the years, and it reads 8:00.
In the matter of seconds people start filling into Duffy's Love Shack. Melissa and I kick off our flip-flops into the sand, and squeeze our way through the crowd into the middle. We are all strangers to each other, but for this moment in time…it doesn’t matter who we are, where we are from, or what our job is. No one is being judged tonight, and the rhythm of the music is taking over our souls and bodies. These are the nights that will never be forgotten.

When I come home everyday he is waiting there for me. When I am down, he is always there wanting to cuddle, or let me hug him. No matter what I say, that smile on his face never fades away. Marley, my teddy bear, is truely amazing. Marley was given to me by my dance team, when they found out I was diagnosed with mono last year. He was there with me throughout my sickness, and ever since then. Marley was named after my favorite artist, Bob Marley. 
Marley has a coat of white snow that covers him. His face is plump and has two black beads for eyes. His snout is milky white, and has brown engraving in the place of his nose. Below his snout is an ear-to-ear grin. On top of his headrest two circles cut in half as ears. As you work your way down past his neck and shoulders you will see two arms with paws attached to them, which often come in use for a good hug. Between his arms is his big belly. His legs attach at his lower belly. On his butt is a tag that is red and white with the letters G.U.N.D.
While lying next to him, I smell a sweet scent of my perfumes that have rubbed off onto his fur. Marley’s coat is as fuzzy as a newly installed carpet. Touching his snow-white coat gives you a thrill of comfort. Marley’s snout has a patch of fur that is slightly smoother than the rest of his coat. The material on his snout is also on all four of his paws. Even though Marley probably only cost $20.00 the most, the comfort that he gave me during my sickness makes him worth $120.00.

I value both my last night in St. Thomas with Melissa, and my teddy bear Marley. They both are two totally different things, but the feeling they give me can’t compare with anything else in the world. They both make me feel happy, and put a smile on my face. 

 My teddy bear Marley is one of my prize possessions. I need him to fall asleep at night, (even though I am fourteen) because he gives me a feeling of comfort and safety. He is starting to get pretty haggard, and I do worry about the day that he will rip.
I value my last night in St. Thomas with Melissa so much, because we have both been through so much together, and it was one night were we didn’t have to cheer each other up, or worry about each other... we just got to let go and dance the night away. (Well until our curfew of 9:30) Another thing that made that night so memorable was that everyone was at peace. No one was fighting, there were no death stares, or people glaring at you from head to toe. Everyone was just there to have dinner, and then to dance with each other afterwards.

Even though Marley is here sitting right next to me while I finish typing up this paper, I still have that memory of my last night in St. Thomas in my heart. Both of these things bring me to a special place, where I feel safe, and accepted. Now days there aren’t a lot of things/places that allow you to forget your troubles, and relax. Whenever I see dancing or I wear my old watch I am taken back to that night, and whenever I am lying in bed, I grasp my teddy under my arm and smile knowing that “every little thing is ganna be alright.”