My Sister’s Keeper
THE WEEKEND SARA
by Picoult, JodieThe chapter opens with Anna, a ten-year-old girl, asking her parents, Brian and Sara, for $614.96 to buy hockey goalie equipment after revealing she has secretly been practicing with a boys’ team. Initially skeptical, her parents are surprised to learn she has been invited to join the team as their first female player. Anna’s passion for hockey and her natural talent become apparent, but the cost of the gear sparks a family discussion about finances and the unexpected discovery of their daughter’s hidden interest.
Meanwhile, Kate, Anna’s thirteen-year-old sister, struggles with graft-versus-host disease, a complication from her bone marrow transplant. Her condition flares up, causing a painful rash and swelling, but she reluctantly agrees to attend Anna’s hockey game after her mother insists. Sara helps Kate disguise her symptoms with winter clothing, highlighting the family’s balancing act between supporting Anna’s milestones and accommodating Kate’s health struggles. The scene underscores the emotional toll of Kate’s illness on her self-esteem and family dynamics.
At the hockey game, Anna shines as the team’s goalie, impressing her family with her skill and confidence. Despite initial reluctance, even Kate becomes engrossed in the game, and Brian marvels at Anna’s natural talent. The moment is bittersweet, as the family’s joy is overshadowed by the underlying tension of Kate’s deteriorating health. The game serves as a rare respite from their ongoing medical struggles, emphasizing Anna’s resilience and the family’s need for normalcy.
The chapter takes a dark turn when Kate suffers a severe hemorrhaging episode later that night, requiring emergency hospitalization. Dr. Chance proposes an experimental arsenic treatment as a last resort, acknowledging the grim prognosis. Sara and Brian grapple with the weight of this decision, confronting the possibility of losing Kate after years of battling her illness. The chapter ends on a poignant note, leaving the family’s future uncertain as they face yet another medical crisis.
FAQs
1. What is Anna’s unexpected passion, and how does she reveal it to her parents?
Answer:
Anna reveals her unexpected passion for hockey goaltending after initially asking her parents for $614.96 to buy goalie leg pads on eBay. She explains that months earlier, she had filled in for a sick goalie during a hockey practice and discovered both talent and enjoyment in the position. The coach invited her to join the team officially, making her the first girl on it, but she needed her own equipment. This revelation surprises her parents, who were unaware of her hockey involvement, highlighting how Anna had been keeping this part of her life hidden from them.2. How does Kate’s graft-versus-host disease affect her daily life and self-perception?
Answer:
Kate’s graft-versus-host disease, a complication from her bone marrow transplant, causes symptoms like a red rash, moon face, and thickened skin, which flare up unpredictably. These physical changes make her extremely self-conscious, especially as a 13-year-old for whom appearance is important. The condition forces her to miss school during severe flare-ups and impacts her willingness to participate in family activities, such as attending Anna’s hockey game. Her reaction—hiding under a pillow and resisting going out—demonstrates the emotional toll of living with a chronic, visible illness.3. Analyze the contrast between Anna’s and Kate’s struggles in this chapter. How do their challenges reflect their personalities?
Answer:
Anna’s struggle revolves around pursuing her passion for hockey despite the financial and logistical barriers, showcasing her determination and independence. She takes initiative by negotiating with her parents and practicing secretly, reflecting her proactive nature. In contrast, Kate’s challenge is coping with the physical and emotional effects of her illness, which makes her withdraw and seek isolation. Her reluctance to be seen highlights her vulnerability and self-awareness. While Anna fights to be seen (as a hockey player), Kate fights to be hidden, illustrating their divergent responses to adversity.4. Why does the arsenic therapy proposed by Dr. Chance carry both hope and uncertainty for Kate’s family?
Answer:
The arsenic therapy represents hope because it is a novel treatment option after Kate has exhausted other therapies like chemotherapy, radiation, and transplants. However, it also carries significant uncertainty: Dr. Chance admits they haven’t yet achieved a cure with it, and there are no long-term survival data. The family must weigh the potential benefits against the likelihood that the hemorrhaging may still prove fatal. This dilemma forces them to confront the harsh reality of Kate’s condition while clinging to the slim possibility of a breakthrough.5. How does the author use the hockey game scene to symbolize Anna’s role in the family?
Answer:
The hockey game scene symbolizes Anna’s role as the family’s emotional “goalie”—someone who protects and saves. Just as she blocks shots on the ice, Anna provides a rare positive focus for the family amid Kate’s medical crises. Her talent and confidence on the rink contrast with Kate’s fragility, offering a moment of normalcy and pride. The description of Anna being “stuffed and trussed” in borrowed equipment also mirrors how she adapts to challenges, while her ability to anticipate the puck’s movement reflects her intuitive resilience, a trait her family relies on.
Quotes
1. “I’m the first girl on it, ever. But I have to have my own equipment.”
This quote captures Anna’s quiet pride in breaking gender barriers in hockey, while also highlighting the practical challenges of pursuing an unexpected passion. It marks a turning point where her hidden dedication comes to light.
2. “Bone marrow is an organ, and like a heart or a liver, a body can reject it. But sometimes, instead, the transplanted marrow begins to reject the body it’s been put in.”
This medical explanation poignantly frames Kate’s ongoing health struggle, using vivid biological imagery to convey the paradoxical nature of her condition—where the cure itself becomes a source of suffering.
3. “I respect her vanity, because there is so little of it.”
A powerful observation about Kate’s rare moments of teenage self-consciousness amidst chronic illness. The narrator’s insight reveals how disease has stolen normal adolescent concerns from her daughter.
4. “Anna saves, every time.”
This simple statement carries double meaning—both describing Anna’s hockey skills and subtly contrasting her resilience with Kate’s deteriorating health. It encapsulates the chapter’s theme of unexpected strengths.
5. “She’s lived ten years past what any of us would have expected.”
Dr. Chance’s sobering assessment underscores the miracle and fragility of Kate’s survival. This quote represents the chapter’s emotional climax, where medical hope confronts harsh realities.