Title: Handle With Care
Author: Jodi Picoult
Reading Recommendation: fast read that raises many thought-provoking ideas about the value of life
My Reflection: I have read three other Picoultbooks; I enjoyed them, but felt like I had my fill of Picoult. I picked up Handle With Care in a Christmas exchange, and I’m glad I did.
In typical Picoult style, the point of view shifts between numerous characters, all telling the story of Willow O’Keefe, a 5-year old who was born with a rare, brittle bone disease, Osteogenisis Imperfecta. In those few years, Willow has already suffered something like 50 breaks, some of them serious. But Willow’s parents, Charolotte and Sean, love her deeply–and appreciate her love of trivia, her bright mind, and her courageous personality. When the family feels that they were mistreated on vacation, they meet with a lawyer to explore a lawsuit. Although that lawsuit is dropped, the lawyer suggests that they consider suing the obstetrician for wrongful birth. Besides the moral and relational implications of pursuing that action (imagine looking at your child and saying, “If I knew, I would have aborted you. I don’t want you in my life” !), the OB is Charlotte O’Keefe’s best friend.
I was spell-bound from the very beginning, and made more time to read than I usually do because I had to find out how the story would unfold. I thought a strength in this Picoult novel was the depth of characterization. The main characters were vivid, with unique voices and complex emotions. I especially liked the narrative voice of Amelia, Charolotte’s older daughter from before she married Sean. Amelia struggles with bulemia and cutting, largely because of what has become a dysfunctional family. Here’s the paradox: Charolotte believes that she is making the ultimate sacrifice for Willow in being able to provide for her (especially for uninsured medical supplies), but in doing so, she sacrifices everything that matters, even compromising her relationship with Willow.
The biggest fault of this novel was the ending. Of course, Picoult is known for her shocker endings, and I almost didn’t read the last chapter simply because of that. But I did and I wish I hadn’t. I would like to rip out the last few pages.
Even with the ending, this was the best Picoult I’ve read, a page-turner, and a thought-provoking book.
