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My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
By Allie Costa
“(M)aybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what were capable of when we least expect it.”
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a heartwrenching story told by a multitude of characters. The plot revolves around a family whose youngest daughter, Anna, was created to be a genetic donor for their other daughter, Kate. Now 13 years old, Anna is bringing her parents to court - for the right to be medically emancipated, so that she can make her own decisions about what she does or does not have to donate - just as Kate desperately needs Anna's kidney.
Kate was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia when she was only 2 years old. Back then, the eldest child, Jesse, was 4. Now, Jesse is a rebellious teenager; Kate is 16 and in relapse; and Anna feels both taken for granted and invisible. The father, Brian, is a firefighter with an interest in astronomy; the mother, Sara, is a former lawyer who stopped practicing when she had children. Other main characters include Campbell Alexander, the lawyer Anna sought out to try her case, and a court-appointed guardian named Julia.
The chapters alternate between characters, always told in first-person. The only main character who doesn't speak in first-person chapters is the one at the heart of it all - Kate. Other characters of importance include Campbell's service dog, Judge, though Campbell refuses to say why he needs him; Julia's twin sister, Isobel aka Izzy; and Sara's older sister, Zanne.
At first, I thought that being told from all of these points of view would hurt the narrative; soon, I realized, it helped it, as Picoult is able to establish a different 'voice' for each of the characters. The bulk of the novel takes place over the course of two weeks. Flashbacks are interwoven seamlessly, mostly through Sara's eyes, but also through dialogue as people discuss the past, glimpse photographs or reveal truths about themselves . . . and others.
This book is currently being made into a feature film.
One Two Buckle My Shoe by Jessie Hunter
By Allie Costa
A serial killer whose targets young boys mistakenly nabs a little girl and it throws his entire routine out of whack. The story takes place in New York in December 1996, beginning two days before Christmas, when the girl is first taken.
The narrative, written in third person, shows us how each main character reacts to the situation. Emily Rose, the victim, is a very astute nine-year-old who has every intention of staying alive and running away. Her mother, Laurie, is worried sick at home and finds herself reliving her own past. George, aka The Chocolate Man, the serial killer, is obsessed with the number seven, repetition and cleaning. The detectives on the special Task Force that has been trying to locate The Chocolate Man for years are determined to find this man and child. Readers are also privy to the thoughts and lives of various witnesses, neighbors, friends and strangers whose lives are somehow connected to those involved in the case. My favorite character is Emily Rose, who is aware of her surroundings and her situation. Her love for her mother, her vivid imagination and her passion for Nancy Drew mysteries help to keep her strong.
It is written in a very direct style. Since you know from the start - from the book jacket itself - the identities of the kidnapper and of the victim, the story is more about the psychological impact on the murderer, on the child, on her mother. The bulk of the story takes place in 24 hours - a day in the life of many.
If you enjoy novels about missing persons and prefer characters with heart rather than characters ripping out people's hearts, give this book a try.