Book Review: Handle With Care

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Description: Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe are pregnant with their first child together. Charlotte has an older daughter already and is assuming things will be easy for them to expand their family. Because it takes longer then expected, when they find out they are expecting they are even more excited.

But things aren't what they thought they would be. Paritally through the pregnancy they find out that their child has osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare defect that can cause death or will break bones in their child's body with very little pressure.

Bills mount and yet they love their daughter Willow. Their whole lives must revolve around her. When an opportunity arises for them to sue someone in order to make the money that Willow needs to live - they go for it. But what does it mean for a child to know that their parent is suing someone because if they had known earlier they might never have had that child? What does it mean to have someone in a family that changes everything in your life so dramatically? Would you have a child if you knew there were going to be problems?


Thoughts: As a woman who is newly pregnant with her first child - this book scared me. The idea that the whole book would be about someone who if had the choice because of medical reasons might have aborted their child is something no pregnant woman wants to think about. You want to imagine that the child growing inside of you is perfect and going to grow up to be a happy, healthy and productive member of society. So I wasn't sure if I could really get into this book based on the situation (add to that pregnancy hormones and things get even iffyier).

But for me this book wasn't scary. The situation was horrible. A family that could barely make ends meet. Who's life revolved around one member who was incredibly sick. The fact that a teenage girl was left behind in terms of time and effort. You see that happen to all families when someone has needs that outweigh the others.

Yes it is scary. But as usual Jodi Picoult tells the story in a way that makes you wonder who is right and who is wrong. Multiple sides are told and while you may have someone you are rooting for - you know that behind any corner something could be revealed that make you think totally differently. My first and favorite Picoult book was My Sister's Keeper and I feel that this book is almost on par with that one. So definitely read it!

What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics

Overall: