Title: Handle with Care
Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Contemporary
About the book: It’s a standalone about the O’Keefe family whose child has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. Charlotte wants to give her daughter Willow the best life possible, but to do so, she files a wrongful birth lawsuit against her obstetrician and best friend.
First impressions: I’ve enjoyed many of Picoult’s novels before, so I was excited to delve into this one. I like the premise and the complexity of it. The book is told from different points of view, but it’s easy to follow.
Characters: I felt for the O’Keefe family, especially at the end. They have their own flaws and challenges to overcome, which makes for an interesting read. Picoult does a great job looking at everyone’s perspective and portraying their side of the story.
Quote:
“I know perfectly well that doing the right thing for someone else occasionally means doing something that feels wrong to you.”
Writing: It’s about 600 pages with short chapter breaks. There are many sad, emotional scenes throughout the book. The author also explores some tough topics such as an eating disorder and self harm. I enjoyed how Picoult writes about medical ethics and legal issues.
Final thoughts: The pacing is slower at first but picks up speed afterwards. I wasn’t sure how the ending would wrap everything up, so the twist took me by surprise. If you want to read a thought-provoking novel that explores morality, disability, and family, I would recommend checking out Handle with Care.
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Herminia Chow 