My book was divided into sections focusing on individual characters. These characters include Anna Fitzgerald, a thirteen-year-old daughter who was born to help her terminally ill sister. Sara Fitzgerald, a mother of three children who is overwhelmed by her daughter’s diagnosis. Brian Fitzgerald, the father and a firefighter who is often at the station but still shows immense love and care for his family, although he struggles with stress. Lastly, there is Campbell Alexander, a determined lawyer whose main goal is to win the case he is presented with.
This book offers an exhilarating emotional experience and explores a wide range of emotions. Join me on this captivating journey through the pages of My Sisters Keeper. In Section 1, we delve into the character of Anna Fitzgerald – a complex and conflicted individual. Anna’s bond with Kate and her ongoing battle to establish her own identity form the core of her character. She reveals to Campbell that above all else, her deepest desire in ten years’ time is to continue being Kate’s sister.
Anna has conflicting desires; she wants to be her own person but knows that her whole purpose in life is to take care of Kate. These conflicting feelings create the tragedy of Anna’s character. She feels immense guilt for desiring independence and wonders if it makes her a bad person. To embrace this perceived “badness,” she even starts engaging in self-destructive behaviors like smoking with Jesse. However, Anna still wants what is best for her sister.
Kate’s decision to no longer live leads Anna to file a lawsuit against their parents for medical emancipation, despite the emotional pain it causes her. The lawsuit serves both of Anna’s desires – granting her autonomy over her own body and enabling her to prioritize her own needs above Kate’s. Furthermore, as Kate’s survival relies on Anna donating a kidney, Anna is able to fulfill Kate’s wish for death. My reflections on this passage are fragmented, marked by sorrow and anger towards Anna. I deeply sympathize with her, as she often feels like her sole purpose in life revolves around caring for her unwell sister.
I am unable to comprehend desiring my sister to perform this task on my behalf, nor can I envision myself doing it for her. It is unequivocally unjust. I could perceive the hostility and rage intensifying within Anna, nearly engulfing her entirely. I wholeheartedly endorse Anna’s aspiration to take legal action against her parents in order to gain authority over her own body, and I find it ludicrous that she is compelled to make such a profound decision at such a tender age. In Section 2 of the novel, Sara Fitzgerald predominantly assumes the role of a motherly figure driven by her unwavering determination to preserve the life of her daughter, Kate.
Regardless of any other issues she faces, such as Jesse’s rebelliousness or Anna’s desire for freedom, nothing is more crucial to Sara than Kate’s survival. Ironically, by devoting so much attention to being a mother to Kate, Sara sometimes neglects her role as a mother to her other children. For example, Sara tends to overlook Jesse’s self-destructive actions, which Jesse utilizes as a plea for attention, and she fails to consider that Anna might genuinely be unhappy when Anna decides to sue for medical emancipation.
Despite her love for Jesse and Anna, Sara finds it challenging to view them as individuals separate from Kate. This also applies to her relationships with Brian and Zanne. Sara has difficulty discussing anything other than Kate with Brian, and her interactions with Zanne typically revolve around taking care of Kate’s children. Additionally, even with Kate, Sara tends to prioritize her physical well-being over her emotional state.
When Anna testifies that Kate has expressed a desire to no longer live, Sara initially doubts the claim as she has never had a conversation with Kate about these feelings. My reaction to this revelation is a mixture of emotions. Initially, I perceived Sara as cold and inadequate as a mother, but I realized that my judgment was based solely on Anna’s perspective. However, upon considering Sara’s point of view, I now believe that she was indeed a good mother who may have struggled to evenly distribute her emotional support among her children. This imbalance may have contributed to the emotional instability experienced by the other children.
It also gradually ruined her bond with Kate, the child she was primarily devoted to. Sara deeply cared for all of her children, and I sympathize with her. Viewing the story from Sara’s perspective truly made me feel more compassionate towards her. In Section 3, we learn about Brian Fitzgerald, the father of the Fitzgerald children and a firefighter by profession. Brian often contrasts with Sara as he is able to empathize with their children’s points of view, making him more perceptive and understanding than Sara at certain times.
Though Brian uses his work as a means of escape from his family’s hardships, he is shown to have a kinder nature than Sara. However, as the story progresses, Sara proves to be emotionally stronger. Reflecting on this section, I found it confusing. There were times when it seemed that Brian cared more about the children than Sara did, but like her, he struggled with properly dealing with his own pain and struggles. It appeared that Brian had a special connection with Anna, and I sincerely believe that when she “lost” her locket, it deeply affected him.
But what Anna needed was to see that. Brian had an problem displaying the emotions he felt. I feel sad for Brian I wish he would just open his eyes. Section 4 Campbell Alexander; Summary/Reflection Over the course of the novel, Campbell evolves from a sarcastic, emotionally aloof opportunist who fears intimacy into a person who though still sarcastic is more trusting, open, and truly cares about the wellbeing of Anna and her family. At the beginning of the story, Campbell has almost no friends, except for his service dog, Judge.
Instead of being open with others, Campbell chooses to isolate himself because he is afraid that people will pity him or see him as a burden due to his epilepsy. He employs sarcasm as a defense mechanism in order to maintain distance from others, evident in his constant use of jokes about why he needs a service dog. However, as Campbell develops feelings for Anna and reconnects with Julia, he begins to allow himself to form new relationships. Surprisingly, Campbell’s epilepsy and the lack of control he feels over his body actually facilitate a bond between him and Anna, who also experiences a similar lack of control in her own way. Ultimately, Campbell becomes more honest about his emotions and reduces his reliance on sarcasm during conversations. By the conclusion of the story, he agrees to act as power of attorney for Anna’s medical decisions—an indication that they have formed a strong connection which will necessitate ongoing communication until at least Anna’s eighteenth birthday. Additionally, it is revealed that Campbell marries Julia and maintains an enduring friendship with the Fitzgerald family.
Initially, I had a negative reflection on this section. I didn’t like Campbell’s character at first and felt he wasn’t right for Anna. I doubted his intentions and thought he was unpleasant. However, he eventually proved himself and along with the other characters, overcame emotional issues. This made me develop love for his character and I was thrilled when Campbell and Julia got married. Moreover, it was a relief to see him let go of his insecurities about his condition. The situation is ironic.
Anna is born with the sole purpose of saving her sister from cancer. She dedicates her life to providing her sister with whatever she needs. However, her mother eventually asks her to donate her kidney to her sister. Anna agrees but later sues her parents for medical emancipation. Despite a lengthy legal battle, she is granted emancipation. Unfortunately, Anna gets into a devastating car accident shortly after. The accident causes her to become brain dead, prompting her parents to make the difficult decision to remove life support. Her kidney is then given to her sister, who lives on for many years thanks to the transplant. Despite her struggle to assert her individuality, Anna ultimately becomes just another part of her sister’s body.
How ironic. My quotes: “we pass a truck. Batchelder Casket Company, it reads. Drive safely” “She is dying sara. She will die. Either tonight or tomorrow if we’re lucky” “see unlike the rest of the world I didn’t get her by accident” Conflict & Resolution “Maybe it’s because Jesse isn’t all that different from me, choosing fire as his medium, needing to know that he could command at least one uncontrollable thing.” The conflict was Jesse was starting all the fires his father and the team would be putting out on a daily basis.
The conflict in this situation is resolved when Brian reaches out to Jesse and shows love towards him. He explains, “I have only thought about this daughter in terms of what she can do for the daughter I already have… However, my aspirations for her are equally high; I plan for her to save her sister’s life.” The problem arises because she wants this other daughter solely as assistance for her current child. Unfortunately, the resolution comes when the daughter dies and the mother accomplishes what she had planned all along. With tears in her eyes, the mother exclaims, “‘But I love her,’ I say, because that is reason enough.” The conflict here is that Kate can only live if she receives a kidney from her sister, and Sara cries because of how they obtained the kidney. The resolution is that Kate does receive the kidney, but they decide to end Anna’s life support. Nevertheless, Sara still loves Anna. Point of View & Tone: Each narrator shares their perspective in first-person style, allowing readers insight into their respective views of the world. Anna’s point of view: “When I was little, the greatest mystery to me wasn’t how babies were born but why.” Sara’s point of view: “Why is this happening?” “Is this our fault?” Both narrators use a distinct tone.
Anna possesses the qualities of being observant, thoughtful, and inquisitive, while Jesse is characterized by sarcasm and anger. Brian tends to be discursive, often digressing into musings about astronomy, whereas Sara is practical and concise. Campbell, on the other hand, shares sarcasm with Jesse but also experiences occasional feelings of regret. Julia, meanwhile, remains open and vigilant to the behaviors of those around her.
Regarding the importance of setting, the narrative switches between the current events and occurrences that took place over the past fourteen years. The physical setting is Rhode Island. Foreshadowing elements include a bruise on Kate’s spine, Anna pondering about her own funeral, discussions among Brian and his fellow firefighters about an arsonist, and Anna’s contemplation about what heaven might be like.
