The novel, My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult is full of insight, inspiration, and heartbreak. Picoult wrote a thoughtful, thought-provoking, and readable novel which is loved by all. This is a novel that reminds readers how easy it is to jump to conclusions and to do all the wrong things for all the right reasons.  My Sister’s Keeper is a fiction novel which discusses one family’s struggle for survival at all human costs.     Readers quickly learn that the main character, Anna was born with a job. Through the process of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for her older sister Kate. Kate has been plagued with leukemia since childhood and her only hope for living was a bone marrow transplant. Since Anna’s birth she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots in an effort to help save her sister’s life. Anna had never challenged her life or her role as Kate’s bone marrow match, until now. Anna began to challenge her parents and role in the family when it was expected she would donate one of her kidneys to Kate. When Anna’s parents refuse to listen to her and accept what she is saying Anna takes drastic measures that tears her family apart. She hires a lawyer to represent her in a medical emancipation suit to allow her to have control over her own body.  Anna makes the decision of suing her parents because she feels it is the only way for her to be heard.  Throughout the lawsuit Anna’s parents are only focused on one thing; giving one of Anna’s kidneys to Kate so she will live. But where does Kate fall into this whole mess? Who is really fighting for Kate’s wishes, Anna or their parents?    As readers, we follow Anna and her family through their difficult struggles. Anna’s parents are fighting not to lose both of their daughters. Kate is in danger of dying without a kidney transplant but they will lose Anna if they force her to donate one of her kidneys. Anna is ultimately forced to choose between living her own life and saving her sister’s life.    I chose to read this book because it was recommended to me by mom.  She had heard what a great book it was through a friend who had read it. After only reading the back of the book I fell in love with the story. I instantly knew it was going to be a great book that told a very interesting story. My Sister’s Keeper evokes many emotions in the reader. They feel sorrow, hope, anger, and sympathy. This book discusses the difficult decisions and choices a family must make when a child is diagnosed with a life threatening illness. My Sister’s Keeper is a real page turner. Once I began reading it I could not put it down. I didn’t want to stop reading because new information kept being introduced and I had the feeling of “I need to know what’s going to happen.”  Picoult wrote about a very controversial issue. Genetic planning and engineering and the prospect of creating babies for health purposes and the ethical and moral fallout that results. Anna struggles with the reasons why she was born. In her own voice she tells readers why she was born and her feelings on the subject. “I was born for a very specific reason. I was born because a scientist managed to hook up my mother’s eggs and my father’s sperm to create a specific combination of precious genetic material. My parents explained they chose that they chose little embryonic me, specifically, because I could save my sister, Kate. It made me wonder though, what would have happened if Kate had been healthy. Chances are I’d still be floating up in Heaven or wherever, waiting to be attached to a body to spend some time on Earth. Certainly I would not be part of this family. See, unlike the rest of the free world, I didn’t get here by accident. And if your parents have you for a reason, then that reason better exist. Because once it’s gone, so are you.” When Picoult was doing research for this book she spoke to children who had cancer, as well as their parents. She did this to better capture what it felt like to live day by day, and maintain a positive attitude in spite of the overwhelming specter of what might be just around the corner. Picoult also drew on her own experience, as a parent with a child who faced a series of surgeries. When Picoult’s son was 5, he was diagnosed with benign tumors that will eventually burrow into his brain and kill him. He had to have 10 surgeries in 3 years and Picoult drew on this experience as inspiration when she was writing. She said “I remember how I walked beside his gurney into the OR and I’d think, okay, just take my ear if that keeps him from going through this again.” Picoult’s desperation and desire to make him healthy again became the heart of Sara’s, the mother, monologues in the book. Picoult’s being able to relate to Sara is the reason she cannot hate her for making the decisions she did.  Jodi Picoult’s books could be compared to Nicholas Sparks’ books. They are both similar in the fact that their books tear at the reader’s heartstrings. These books are filled with emotion and bring out various emotions in readers. The endings of both authors’ books are usually an emotional surprise.  The significance of My Sister’s Keeper is to make readers aware of real life issues that are happening. In this book she discusses genetic engineering and creating a child to save another child. Another one of Picoult’s books discusses a school shooting  and the reprecutions that come from them.  This novel is extremely well written and thought provoking. Picoult keeps readers constantly guessing and wondering what is going to happen next. She throws so many twists and turns and surprises into the novel it never gets boring. Once you begin reading My Sister’s Keeper, you will not be able to put it down. It is a novel I recommend everyone read.