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elias_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
However, "My Sister's Keeper" was a let-down. Let me explain why:
1. Shifting narration: First-person POVs do a great job of bringing out a character's innermost thoughts, but it becomes a problem when there are too many POVs. Anna, Kate, Jesse, Brian, Sara, Julia, and Campbell are all interesting characters in their own right, but the shifting POVs were jarring at times and completely unnecessary.
2. The subplots: The crux of the issue is Anna's decision to go ahead with the lawsuit, so that she will not have to donate her kidney. However, the more you read, the more this fades into the background. Instead, we see glimpses of Campbell and Julia's shared history together, Jesse's troubled life, and etc.
You could argue that these subplots exist to make the characters seem more human—to establish that not everything is black-or-white, but all they did was distract me from Anna's case.
3. The ending: Hardly anything works out in our favour in the real world, and no matter what the outcome was, I expected a lose-lose situation. However, the ending made me wonder what point the author was trying to make here.
Anna lives in the shadow of her sister, and she spends her whole life making sacrifices for Kate. If not, her mother is convincing her to give in and do "one more thing" for Kate. As I read, I felt as though Anna was never able to become her own person. From her conception to the end, she's this safety plan just in case something happens to Kate.
And, this is where I spoil the ending:
So, because of this, Kate receives her kidney and miraculously survives. The family moves on. I can't put my finger on it, but this ending certainly feels rushed.
It disappoints me to rate this 3.0 stars, especially since I looked forward to having a morality debate in my mind. After completing the book, all I feel is pity for Anna and a greater love for Campbell.
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Vomit
ceraunomancy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Child death
Minor: Vomit
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Sexual content, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
caseylovett's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cancer, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit
zoejjj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Nobody in this book is hateable. Not even Sara. She is written as an incredibly driven woman who will stop at nothing to save her daughter. Unfortunately her other kids get forgotten in the process but she regrets, she makes it right. “This is her pond but my lily pads”? Shaving her head for Kate? Honestly Jesse got the wayyyy short end of the straw but he also almost killed someone.
The ending is… so so.
Graphic: Medical content, Car accident, Drug use, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Child death, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
obsessor_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Vomit, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Grief, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Terminal illness, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
jenna_justi2004's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Child death, Death, Drug use, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Car accident, Blood, Cancer, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, and Medical content
jillgoober's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Car accident, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child death, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Ableism
lupitaestela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Medical content, Vomit, Blood, Grief, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Death, and Drug use