Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of My Sister’s Keeper
    LiteraryLiterary FictionRelationshipYoung Adult

    My Sister’s Keeper

    by Picoult, Jodie
    “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodie Picoult follows 13-year-old Anna Fitzgerald, who was conceived as a genetic match to donate organs and blood to her older sister Kate, who suffers from leukemia. When Anna is asked to donate a kidney, she sues her parents for medical emancipation, challenging the ethical boundaries of family obligation and bodily autonomy. The novel explores themes of sacrifice, moral dilemmas, and the complexities of love through multiple perspectives. Picoult’s narrative delves into the emotional and legal turmoil faced by the Fitzgerald family, raising profound questions about medical ethics and personal choice. The story is inspired by the real-life case of Anissa and Marissa Ayala.
    PreviousNext
    My Sister’s Keeper

    WEDNESDAY SARA

    by Picoult, Jodie

    The chap­ter opens with Judge DeSal­vo orga­niz­ing a vis­it to the hos­pi­tal to speak with Kate, who is vis­i­bly frail but con­scious. Kate engages in play­ful ban­ter with Jesse, dis­cussing hypo­thet­i­cal celebri­ty box­ing match­es, show­cas­ing their close sib­ling bond. The mood shifts when Sara arrives with Anna and oth­ers, caus­ing Kate to tense up. Judge DeSal­vo requests a pri­vate con­ver­sa­tion with Kate, hint­ing at the grav­i­ty of their dis­cus­sion. Kate’s resigned remark, “it always comes back to me,” fore­shad­ows her cen­tral role in the family’s strug­gles, leav­ing Sara and the oth­ers to wait anx­ious­ly out­side.

    Sara reflects on the fragili­ty of fam­i­ly and home, com­par­ing their sit­u­a­tion to a demol­ished house that was even­tu­al­ly rebuilt. This metaphor under­scores the theme of resilience amid loss. Judge DeSal­vo emerges from the meet­ing, announc­ing a clos­ing at nine A.M., his demeanor sug­gest­ing unre­solved ten­sion. Camp­bell apol­o­gizes to Sara, and Anna express­es her need to see Kate, reveal­ing the emo­tion­al weight of the sit­u­a­tion. The fam­i­ly reunites in Kate’s room, where Anna’s tear­ful admis­sion, “I tried,” high­lights her guilt and love, while Jesse light­ens the mood with more play­ful ques­tions.

    The sib­lings’ interactions—balanced between humor and tenderness—paint a poignant pic­ture of their bond. Bri­an kiss­es Kate good­night, and Sara stays behind, over­whelmed by her daughter’s frailty. Kate’s aged eyes and thin arms sym­bol­ize her pro­longed suf­fer­ing, yet she remains emo­tion­al­ly strong. Sara’s inter­nal mono­logue reveals her accep­tance of life’s imper­ma­nence, acknowl­edg­ing that par­ent­hood is about cher­ish­ing moments, how­ev­er brief. This real­iza­tion under­scores the chapter’s explo­ration of love, loss, and the inevitabil­i­ty of change.

    In the final moments, Sara and Kate share a heart­felt exchange. Kate’s defi­ant “Don’t be [sor­ry]” and her asser­tion that her life was “a good one” demon­strate her accep­tance and courage. Sara, moved to tears, agrees, cel­e­brat­ing the joy Kate brought despite the hard­ships. The chap­ter clos­es with a pow­er­ful affir­ma­tion of their bond, leav­ing read­ers with a bit­ter­sweet reflec­tion on fam­i­ly, resilience, and the endur­ing impact of love even in the face of impend­ing loss.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does the author use the metaphor of the demolished house to reflect Sara’s emotional state and family dynamics?

      Answer:
      The demolished house serves as a powerful metaphor for the fragility of family structures and Sara’s emotional turmoil. Just as a house can be quickly reduced to rubble by external forces, Sara’s family unit has been devastated by Kate’s illness. The passage notes how quickly the familiar structure disappeared (“in less than a morning”) and how its absence initially felt conspicuous, mirroring how Sara’s life has been upended. However, the mention of new owners eventually rebuilding suggests hope for eventual healing, paralleling Sara’s gradual acceptance of her family’s changed circumstances as she embraces Kate in their final conversation.

      2. Analyze the significance of the “Hypothetical Celebrity Boxing” game between Kate and Jesse. What does this reveal about their relationship and coping mechanisms?

      Answer:
      The lighthearted game of choosing unlikely combatants reveals several key aspects of their sibling relationship. First, it demonstrates their close bond and shared sense of humor, using absurd hypotheticals as a way to connect despite Kate’s grave condition. Their quick-witted exchanges (like Kate’s quip about Gandhi and MLK refusing waivers) show intellectual rapport. More profoundly, this game serves as a coping mechanism - by focusing on humorous hypotheticals, they avoid directly addressing the painful reality of Kate’s illness. The recurring game throughout the scene creates a sense of normalcy and continuity amidst the emotional hospital visit.

      3. What is the significance of Judge DeSalvo’s private conversation with Kate, and how does it impact the story’s progression?

      Answer:
      Judge DeSalvo’s private conversation with Kate serves as a pivotal plot moment that leads to the legal resolution (“Closing’s at nine A.M.”). While the exact content isn’t revealed, Kate’s comment “it always comes back to me” suggests she recognizes her central role in the family’s legal and emotional conflicts. The judge’s “grim and troubled” expression afterward indicates Kate may have made a difficult confession or decision. This conversation accelerates the narrative toward resolution, prompting emotional goodbyes between family members and setting up the final, poignant exchange between Sara and Kate about the value of their time together.

      4. How does Sara’s realization that we “receive” rather than “have” children reflect her character development throughout this chapter?

      Answer:
      This epiphany marks Sara’s transition from seeing herself as an active shaper of her children’s lives to accepting her role as a temporary guardian. Earlier in the chapter, she’s portrayed as trying to control situations (attempting to speak to Kate first, organizing family photos). However, by the end, she recognizes children as gifts rather than possessions, understanding that their time together is precious but not guaranteed. This philosophical shift allows her to stop questioning Kate (“Maybe later”) and simply cherish their remaining moments together, culminating in their mutual affirmation that their time was “the best” despite its brevity.

      5. Compare how Anna and Jesse each interact with Kate in this scene. What do their different approaches reveal about their characters?

      Answer:
      Anna’s interaction is emotionally raw and tentative - she struggles to speak (“voice catching like cotton on thorns”) and needs physical comfort from Sara, showing her vulnerability and deep emotional connection to Kate. In contrast, Jesse maintains their familiar banter (“Alf or Mr. Ed”), using humor as emotional armor. While Anna directly acknowledges their painful reality (“I tried”), Jesse preserves normalcy through their game. These differences reveal Jesse’s tendency to deflect emotion through humor versus Anna’s more open expression of feelings, yet both ultimately show profound love - Anna through her vulnerable admission, Jesse through his persistent efforts to make Kate smile.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Because,” Kate says, “it always comes back to me.”

      This quote captures Kate’s weary resignation about being the focal point of her family’s struggles and legal battles. It reflects her awareness of how her illness has shaped their lives.

      2. “You’d think a house would last forever, but the truth is a strong wind or a wrecking ball can devastate it. The family inside is not so different.”

      Sara’s reflection on the fragility of homes and families serves as a powerful metaphor for how quickly life can change. This insight comes as she observes how easily a neighborhood house was demolished and rebuilt.

      3. “I realize then that we never have children, we receive them. And sometimes it’s not for quite as long as we would have expected or hoped. But it is still far better than never having had those children at all.”

      This profound realization by Sara about parenthood comes during an intimate moment with Kate. It represents the chapter’s emotional climax and Sara’s acceptance of life’s impermanence.

      4. “Don’t be,” she says fiercely. “Because I’m not.” She tries to smile, tries so damn hard. “It was a good one, Mom, wasn’t it?”

      Kate’s defiant affirmation of her life’s value, despite its challenges, provides a poignant conclusion to the chapter. This exchange between mother and daughter captures their mutual love and acceptance.

      5. “I tried,” she says finally, her voice catching like cotton on thorns, as Kate squeezes her hand.

      Anna’s emotional admission to Kate represents the complex sibling relationship and Anna’s feelings about the lawsuit. The vivid simile emphasizes the pain in her voice during this vulnerable moment.

    Quotes

    1. “Because,” Kate says, “it always comes back to me.”

    This quote captures Kate’s weary resignation about being the focal point of her family’s struggles and legal battles. It reflects her awareness of how her illness has shaped their lives.

    2. “You’d think a house would last forever, but the truth is a strong wind or a wrecking ball can devastate it. The family inside is not so different.”

    Sara’s reflection on the fragility of homes and families serves as a powerful metaphor for how quickly life can change. This insight comes as she observes how easily a neighborhood house was demolished and rebuilt.

    3. “I realize then that we never have children, we receive them. And sometimes it’s not for quite as long as we would have expected or hoped. But it is still far better than never having had those children at all.”

    This profound realization by Sara about parenthood comes during an intimate moment with Kate. It represents the chapter’s emotional climax and Sara’s acceptance of life’s impermanence.

    4. “Don’t be,” she says fiercely. “Because I’m not.” She tries to smile, tries so damn hard. “It was a good one, Mom, wasn’t it?”

    Kate’s defiant affirmation of her life’s value, despite its challenges, provides a poignant conclusion to the chapter. This exchange between mother and daughter captures their mutual love and acceptance.

    5. “I tried,” she says finally, her voice catching like cotton on thorns, as Kate squeezes her hand.

    Anna’s emotional admission to Kate represents the complex sibling relationship and Anna’s feelings about the lawsuit. The vivid simile emphasizes the pain in her voice during this vulnerable moment.

    FAQs

    1. How does the author use the metaphor of the demolished house to reflect Sara’s emotional state and family dynamics?

    Answer:
    The demolished house serves as a powerful metaphor for the fragility of family structures and Sara’s emotional turmoil. Just as a house can be quickly reduced to rubble by external forces, Sara’s family unit has been devastated by Kate’s illness. The passage notes how quickly the familiar structure disappeared (“in less than a morning”) and how its absence initially felt conspicuous, mirroring how Sara’s life has been upended. However, the mention of new owners eventually rebuilding suggests hope for eventual healing, paralleling Sara’s gradual acceptance of her family’s changed circumstances as she embraces Kate in their final conversation.

    2. Analyze the significance of the “Hypothetical Celebrity Boxing” game between Kate and Jesse. What does this reveal about their relationship and coping mechanisms?

    Answer:
    The lighthearted game of choosing unlikely combatants reveals several key aspects of their sibling relationship. First, it demonstrates their close bond and shared sense of humor, using absurd hypotheticals as a way to connect despite Kate’s grave condition. Their quick-witted exchanges (like Kate’s quip about Gandhi and MLK refusing waivers) show intellectual rapport. More profoundly, this game serves as a coping mechanism - by focusing on humorous hypotheticals, they avoid directly addressing the painful reality of Kate’s illness. The recurring game throughout the scene creates a sense of normalcy and continuity amidst the emotional hospital visit.

    3. What is the significance of Judge DeSalvo’s private conversation with Kate, and how does it impact the story’s progression?

    Answer:
    Judge DeSalvo’s private conversation with Kate serves as a pivotal plot moment that leads to the legal resolution (“Closing’s at nine A.M.”). While the exact content isn’t revealed, Kate’s comment “it always comes back to me” suggests she recognizes her central role in the family’s legal and emotional conflicts. The judge’s “grim and troubled” expression afterward indicates Kate may have made a difficult confession or decision. This conversation accelerates the narrative toward resolution, prompting emotional goodbyes between family members and setting up the final, poignant exchange between Sara and Kate about the value of their time together.

    4. How does Sara’s realization that we “receive” rather than “have” children reflect her character development throughout this chapter?

    Answer:
    This epiphany marks Sara’s transition from seeing herself as an active shaper of her children’s lives to accepting her role as a temporary guardian. Earlier in the chapter, she’s portrayed as trying to control situations (attempting to speak to Kate first, organizing family photos). However, by the end, she recognizes children as gifts rather than possessions, understanding that their time together is precious but not guaranteed. This philosophical shift allows her to stop questioning Kate (“Maybe later”) and simply cherish their remaining moments together, culminating in their mutual affirmation that their time was “the best” despite its brevity.

    5. Compare how Anna and Jesse each interact with Kate in this scene. What do their different approaches reveal about their characters?

    Answer:
    Anna’s interaction is emotionally raw and tentative - she struggles to speak (“voice catching like cotton on thorns”) and needs physical comfort from Sara, showing her vulnerability and deep emotional connection to Kate. In contrast, Jesse maintains their familiar banter (“Alf or Mr. Ed”), using humor as emotional armor. While Anna directly acknowledges their painful reality (“I tried”), Jesse preserves normalcy through their game. These differences reveal Jesse’s tendency to deflect emotion through humor versus Anna’s more open expression of feelings, yet both ultimately show profound love - Anna through her vulnerable admission, Jesse through his persistent efforts to make Kate smile.

    Note