The Glass Castle Finished

When reading through this book, I had no connection towards Jeannette and her family. Her father was an abusive alcoholic and her mother did not even act like a caring mother. But both of her parents were very intelligent. They did not have very good parenting skills. They were teaching their children manners as well as making them study hard. Her parents also taught all of the kids to stay tough and never to complain. Because their parents were tenacious about their kids being the smartest, they were.

The person that I mostly hated was the mom. I hated the dad too, but not as much as the mom. A mom is always supposed to take care of her children the best way they can and she just sat their lazily. Throughout the kid's life, they were the parents of their mother. I was really surprised when Maureen was turning just like her parents. I had thought that because all three kids were hard working and were persevered that they would be someone successful as they got older, Maureen just became like her parents.

As I was finishing up this book, I realized that many people in this world are living lives like Jeanette Walls.

They have suffered through a lot, but even though the parents did not come through, the children did, and they all grew up being very successful children. I was especially proud of Jeannette for making it in Columbia University, an I.V. league. This book always kept me wanting to read this book, and when I started reading this, I thought I would hate it, but when it was finished, I love it.

The Glass Castle

When I first decided to read this book, I didn't think I would like it very much because it is not the type of literature I usually read. But, let me tell you, from the moment I started the first section, I couldn't put this book down. The beginning of Jeannette's life was very frantic and crazy, her family nomads, and her parents not taking responsiblity for their kids. But I belive that all that crazy life made Jeannette and her siblings so much stronger. I think it was amazing how smart they were and the fact that it was their parents that taught them all that. I really liked the parents in the beginning of the story when they lived in the dessert. They were a very strong family, even if they were not together all the time. Jeannette's parents were such passionate people who loved what they did and were very very smart.

Although I am thoroughly enjoying this book--I can't put it down-- I definetly cannot relate to Jeannette's life at all. There is no connection what so ever. It's amusing to read about a life that I have never experianced and to realize taht there really are people out there who live like this everyday. It was probably more common when Jeannette was a child, but I'm not an expert so I really don't know. All and all though, I am really into this book and will kepp reading it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Although I said that I didn't like the book, I have to admit that the end of the story was very suprising. You never would have thought that Charlie's Aunt Helen sexually assulted Charlie. That was an extreme plot twist. Also, it was kind on sad that he had to spend time in the hospital because of all this emotional trauma. I think it was very nice that his freinds visited him and treated him normal.

Another suprising part in the story was when Mary Elizabeth asked Charlie out. It never occured before that that she liked him. I always thought that they were just friends. Charlie never holds anything in, so when he kissed Sam at the party and not Mary Elizabeth, he knew he was doing the wrong thing and screwed up with his friends. I think it all ended well though because all Charlie's friends accepted him back and Mary Elizabeth moved on. The story generally ended alright except for Charlie's realization of what happened with him and Aunt Helen.

Charlie really was a wallflower, but he always listened and did the right things (well somtimes) and found the group he belonged with. I think his whole experiance made him a better and stronger person. This book could really be an inspiration to people like Charlie, because it's about life, family, and the people you love most.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

After finishing this book, I can honestly say that I really did not enjoy it the way I thought I would. Everyone I know who said that they have read this thought it was a great book and one of the best they have ever read. I have to disagree. Although I liked reading it, I always thought that something would happen next to change the story-- and it never did.

I really wish that Charlie would tell us who he was writing to. I don't think the story was completed unless you know who that is. It leaves this irritating mystery because you know that Charlie is never going to tell you who he's writing too. With some books, that mysterious sort of ending actually makes the story better, but with this story I believe it was the opposite.

I am glad that I read this book, but I am not glad how the story came out. It's a great piece of literature, but wasn't really my cup of tea...

Deadline Pt. 2

This book keeps taking very unexpected turns. I couldn't believe that dallas' uncle actually got her pregnant. Also it was to bad that their football season had to end like that but that's life. The one thing that I couldn't believe was that rudy was a child molester. I would have never thought that. I knew that he was a drunk for some reason but i didn't see that one coming.

The Glass Castle

I am still in the beginning of the book but, I can't relate to the Walls children at all.
My parents are not alcoholic and are the exact opposite of being free minded so I don't know how their lives had been. I couldn't imagine what it's like to have parents like that. I'm happy that now Jeannette has a good life in New York City.I can relate to this because I have lived in NY before. Although, it doesn't make sense that her mom sees as being homeless okay. This is when I saw her change in the story a little. I was surprised that Jeannette's parents allowed her to cook and do mature things at a very early age and I extremely disagree with this. They did not have very good judgment especially when Jeannette got burned by making cooking hot dogs. I felt bad that the Walls children always had to deal with problems such as having no money and always on the run from tax/bill collecters, while their parents where open minded about everything.

Deadline Pt. 1

This book so far has been pretty good. I love how rudy has been hiding him true self for all those years and now he comes out and shows that he is actually pretty smart. I can respect what ben is doing, he doesn't want to spend his last year in the hospital having treatment that is probably not going to work anyway so he is going off with a bang. I look forward to reading the rest of this book.

Speak-End

pg. 141-198

I was right. Andy Evans did rape Melinda at the party. Still, I was shocked to find out this. If I was in Melinda's shoes I would have been terrified if he cornered me in a closet. Melinda totally kept her cool, even screaming for help. Her improved plan to take the broken glass bits from the mirror and threaten him with it was ingenious. I wouldn't have been able to think of that on the spot.

If only Rachel had believed Melinda when she told Rachel how it was Andy Evans who raped her, Rachel wouldn't have gone to prom with him. Then he wouldn't have known that Melinda told someone. Which would mean that Andy would have never cornered Melinda in the closet, in the first place.

The ending of the book was my favorite part. I thought it was really admirable of Mr. Freeman to care about Melinda when he saw that she was crying in his room. I thought there was finally hope for Melinda when she decided to tell someone about what had happened to her over the year.

The Glass Castle

If I were Jeanette Walls, I would have moved to New York as well. I would have wanted to start my life over and get a chance to live like a normal person.

I'm glad Jeanette got her chance to write for a newspaper and magazine since that is what she loved very much. Since she had money it made sense that she wanted to help her parents. I would do the same thing. It was ridiculous that they wanted to stay homeless but at the same time it made sense. I understand the parents take care of the children not the other way around. They were stubborn and wanted to stay strong. If they hadn't stayed homeless though, maybe Rex Walls wouldn't have died of tuberculosis. He might have been healthier if he had shelter, food, and warm clothes.

While reading this memoir, I realized just how tough families could have it.

The Glass Castle: Rex Walls

I liked Rex Walls through the majority of the book.

He was creative and smart and a good father when he was sober. If he hadn't drank so much so often, then he might have actually saved money or found ways to build the Glass Castle. I'm glad Jeannette believed in him because if she didn't he would have gone completely to alcohol since he had no one to turn to.

His adventures like Demon Hunting were very unique and even though he had no money he found a great present for Jeannette that she remembered even when she moved to New York. He promised her Venus. Although Jeannette couldn't hold it or play with it, it was a present that she cherished.

It was wrong of him to use Jeannette to gamble. She almost got raped when Robbie took her up to his room. Rex didn't even care like any normal father would. In fact, he encouraged it.

I was upset that Jeannette left Welch and her father. I knew it was best that she went, but Rex was even more upset. The only person who believed in him was leaving. He even tried to get her to stay with the Glass Castle blueprints, which I though was sweet. However, he knew she was going to leave anyway which made it that much more disappointing.

The Glass Castle

While reading through this memoir, I couldn't help feeling like all the Walls family adventures weren't real. I knew they were, however I just couldn't believe them.

How could anyone's family ever live the way they did? How could Mr. and Mrs. Walls ever let their three year old child cook hot dogs before and after she got set on fire? They hardly parented their children. I understand it was to make them learn from their mistakes, but the Walls children should not have had to grow up that way. Their house on 93 Little Hobart Streeet was so dilapidated that they could hardly live in it. They moved constantly as well. How could any child grow up in several different places and leave all their original friends?

Rex wasn't a help at all when it came to income. In fact, he took the money needed for the bills and spent it on alcohol. The mother didn't help much either. When they did get money, she spent it on art supplies. She even refused to keep a job and support the family. Parents should understand that if they are going to be parents, they have to take care of their children. Sure Lori, Brian, and Jeannette turned out well, but Maureen turned into a mess who did drugs and even stabbed her own mother.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Charlie

Charlie is a genuinely good person. He cares for people and respects them. When he had that sexual dream about Sam, he was ashamed. I think he is different and most people wouldn't be ashamed or tell the person they dreamt that type of dream about.

I would like to have Charlie as my friend since he always listens and is loyal to his true friends. I would stick up for him and he would stick up for me if I ever got into a fight like Patrick and Brad did. He's not the type of friend you have for a year or two, he would be the type of friend you would have for a lifetime.

Charlie didn't deserve the ending of the book. He loved his aunt Helen even though she molested him. I find it strange and disturbing that Charlie's aunt Helen was molested and she proceeded to molest Charlie. I would assume she would be disgusted with whoever did that to her and wouldn't want the same for anyone else.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Charlie's Sister vs. Sam

Charlie's sister vs. Sam

Personally, I don't enjoy the way Stephen Chbosky portrays teenage girls. Both Sam and Charlie's sister, and even Mary Elizabeth, have sex with their boyfriends at some point in the book. He makes it seem like every teenage girl has sex with their boyfriends, and that isn't true.

I especially don't like the way Charlie's sister is shown. From the first time she is introduced it is all about how she does everything for boys. The only reason she joined the Earth Day Club was because she liked the boys in it. Then after she gets a boyfriend, she not only has sex with him, she lets him hit her. Obviously, she has no respect for herself since she lets her boyfriend do whatever he wants to her. To top it all off, she lies to her parents and keeps seeing her boyfriend. Stephen Chbosky makes me think there are no decent girls left in high school.

Sam is different. Even though she does have sex with her boyfriend, she is more independant than Charlie's sister. Sam would never let her boyfriend hit her nor would she continue dating Craig if she knew he had been cheating on her all that time. Charlie's sister would though. Sam cares for Charlie and everyone in general. That is how people should be portrayed. People now aren't just around for sex, they are real human beings with personalities. Sam shows more of that as opposed to Charlie's sister.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Are there perks to being a wallflower?

In some cases, I would have to say yes. For example, when Charlie finds presents for his friends, he knows exactly what they want. He remembers from the conversations that he listens to but does not participate in.

Charlie sees people for who they really are. He examines them deeply. When he was at the mall watching people as they go, he noticed certain things about them that no one else would normally conclude.

On the other hand, being a wallflower makes you shy and lost somewhere in the background. Charlie is a talented kid, but not many people know that. Only Bill, Patrick, and Sam know his true personality. I know for a fact that I could not just fade into the background like Charlie. He had good friends but only a few. Then when Charlie had to stay back for a while when he kissed Sam, he had no one to talk to. To me it sounds like a lonely life.

Bill knew what he was saying to Charlie when he told him to participate. That was probably some of the best advice Charlie recieved through the book. Along the way, Charlie tried to listen to Bill's suggestion and it played out well for him. Although he was still a wallflower by the end of the book, he knew he had friends he could feel infinite with.

Speak

pg. 95-137

Right now I think Melinda is a lost cause. She skipped school twice. First she went to the mall because she missed the bus and her mom made her walk to school. Then the next time she went to the hospital.

For her consequence she has to serve an in-school suspension. There she sees Andy Evans and she concocts some crazy 'rabbit-wolf hunt' (her being the rabbit and Andy being the wolf). I think Melinda is losing her sanity at this point.

I think Mr. Freeman (the art teacher) will be a big role model in Melinda's life. I realized this when he takes her for a ride home. He really is the only one who believes in Melinda's abilities right now.

The book gave me a glimpse of the night when Melinda called the cops. That night Melinda was raped by some guy. Then called the police for help. I think this guy was Andy Evans. That explains why she's always so jumpy when she's around him.

The Glass Castle

I really like this book. I like reading about all the different adventures that the Walls family had and I like hearing about a family that was completley different from all the others. In my opinion Jeanette's mother and father are very free spirited and look at the world differently then anyone else. They give their children freedom so they learn from their mistakes and teach them life lessons that build them up to be strong, independent, brave, and caring. In the eyes of another, Mr. & Mrs. Walls seem like complete idiots and they would get the impression that they don't care about their children or anything else. But if they lived with them and really got to know them like I have by reading this book they would realize that all their rules and teachings to their children all have good points and everything they do is based on helping their children succeed in life. In one chapter they family goes to church and the mother and children dress in ripped and dirty clothing instead of wearing fancy clothing. The mother explains that God doesn't care about your outward apperance, he only cares that you have a good inner spirit. Some of the things they do, however, I do not believe in, such as when the father drinks and then comes home to destroy things and hurt the mother. I am half way through the book and I can't wait to read about the family traveling to Welch.

Amanda*

My Sisters Keeper Ending

i would rate this book a ten out of ten. It had everything I would want in a book from dramatic plot twists to an extremely sad ending with anna dying and kate surviving because of the kidney that Cambell had anna donate to kate. I couldn't believe that anna actually went through with here case the entire time and that she actually "WON." At first I thought that i would not like this book because I thought it had a reputation for being girly but my sources were WRONG!!! I enjoyed this book thoroughly and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

My Sisters Keeper Pt. 2

My Sisters Keeper Pt. 2

My sisters keeper... unbelievable twist!

i cannot believe that kate wanted anna to kill her I'm on pg. 388 right now and just read it. I would have never seen it coming. I thought that anna was doing this for attention and to be recognized for once, but i never saw anything like this coming!!!!!

My Sisters Keeper Pt. 2

I am getting more and more into this book. It is very interesting and it keeps me on the edge of my seat. Right now I am beginning to believe that anna is starting to understand what she wants more. I didn't like her mother at first but I am beginning to understand that she is just trying to save her family. Also I enjoy the side stories such as the Cambell/ julia debacle with their past and Jesse's mischief that he gets into. I do hope that Anna does win her case because I believe that she shouldn't have to donate her own body parts without her discretion and her mother guilting here into it.

My Sister's Keeper

I love this book. I just recently finished the part when Anna moves in with her dad at the fire station. I can't wait to read the end..

My Sisters Keeper ending

After I finished my sisters keeper i was shocked that Anna died. I'm happy that Kate lived but I don't think Anna should of died for that because Kate wanted to die in the first place. I was suprised when it said that Jesse became a police officer. It does not make sense that the author is making Kate live the rest of her life in guilt. I can not imagine how the mother feels about all this happening. I think there should have been a more happy ending to the story.

My Sisters Keeper Pt. 1

Despite my first beliefs I actually have come to like this book so far. I find the mother horrible. I do not like the way she handles kate's illness with the other children. Jesse has led himself to where he is because of total lack of attention from his mother. Anna is actually like Jesse but is handling it a different way. I like the father he tries to keep everybody happy and together as a family. I believe that he knows that his other two children are not given enough attention.

My Sister's Keeper

I finished My Sister's Keeper and over all I loved the book! The ending was a huge surprise to me though and I was very disappointed that Anna died before she could live her life and realize that she did a good thing for her sister. I was also surprised that Kate was cured and went on to live like a normal person as if it never happened. I was happy that Anna won her case and even though she did her parents weren't mad and loved her no matter what. It also really showed that Campbell changed in the end and cared more about Anna because in the end when they were in the hospital after the car crash, Campbell came rushing out of his room to see if Anna was alright. He didn't care if we was going to be ok, all he cared about was Anna's safety and you could tell how depressed he was when Anna died. Lastly i was proud that Jesse finally decided to do something important in his life and become a policeman.

Amanda*

Speak

pgs. 49-92

Melinda started off her Second Semester good. She submitted an art project that her teacher adored. It was turkey bones and a Barbie head. Even though she didn't know what it was supposed to be, the art teacher interpreted it. Also during her Science class they were 'dissecting' apples. Melinda did good, when she pointed out that one of the apple seeds had a little flower coming out of it. That observation landed her extra credit.

Heather is now in the Marthas, but she continues to be Melinda's friend. When the Marthas hold a can food drive, Heather tells Melinda to make the posters, because if Heather screws this up the Marthas won't talk to her and she'll never get into a good group. So Melinda agrees to do the posters for Heather. I think that if you need to be that perfect for a group, they are not good friends. Heather should realize that she and Melinda would be really good friends if they get to know each other. She should realize that now since the Marthas are giving Heather a hard time during the can food drive. It was because Heather wasn't getting as many cans as she should. They also say how ridiculous the posters are, and Heather didn't even stick up for Melinda and her posters.

IT has been identified. His name is Andy Evans. I still stand on my prediction, before, that this Andy Evans will be a key factor in Melinda's calling the police. My theory is even more clear when Emily, one of the Marthas, says he's dangerous. Also when Siobhan, another Martha, said he'll sleep with anyone, Melinda's reaction gives that the reason she called the police has something to with that.

The Glass Castle Beginning

So far into this book, I have no connections relating to Jeannette Walls. I first am not a women with a husband living in New York. Also,nor my father or my mother had chosen to sustain a life being homeless such as jeanettes's parents. They did not accept help from their her as well, even though she had asked them before many times.

When Jeanette was a child, her mother had allowed her at three years of age to make hot dogs by herself. This then led to her dress being caught on fire, as well as her staying at the hospital for a few days. Her mother, I believe, is a person who takes too much pride into people who she thinks are the best, and when she sees other people with other styles of doing anything, she has to judge and act in a disrespectful manner.

My Sister's Keeper Finished

The end was a shocker. This took me by surprise and I had thought since I had read this book that Kate was the one that was going to die. But when the trial was in session, I believe that Anna's case brought many people to their senses about their true feelings, such as her parents, Alexander Campbell, Julia and even herself.

After the shocking ending of this book, I have to applaud the author writing this wonderful book that even made me see the world a little different.

My Sister's Keeper

I am almost finished with the book. So far I love it and I can't wait to see what happens in the end. The meaning of the book is truly interesting and it is very different to really be exposed to the moral issues of such a young girl experiencing such internal controversy. This book is really interesting.

Deadline

I have just started reading the book and I'm surprised with Ben's choice to keep the breaking news a secret from his family. If i were in his place, I'd do the exact opposite because I'd want my family to know even though I really wouldn't want to upset them. I understand he thinks he's doing the right thing because of the type of people his parents are but I think they're going to be somewhat angry after he dies. I especially think his brother is going to be mad at him for keeping everything a secret. I have a feeling that Ben is going to regret keeping everything a secret.

His weird dreams seem to be leading somewhere but they're somewhat mysterious. I think he's going to have these dreams throughout the book. Ben wants to do as much as he can before he dies but 'Hey-soos' is telling him he's trying to get as much done in such little time.

My Sister's Keeper

If I were in Sara and Brians situation were I would have to chose to put one of my daughters at risk and possibly damage their health inorder to possibly save my other daughter's life I would not know what to do! I wouldn't want to endanger either of my daughters but in this case no matter what you chose, one gets hurt. If I absolutely had to choose I would have my daughter donate her kidney for the other, the risk of doing this is a lot less dangerous then letting my other daughter die and feeling as if I could have saved her for the rest of my life.

Amanda*

Speak

pgs. 1-46

I started reading this book and I found it very interesting. Melinda (the main character) is an outcast, shunned from her group of friends. This is because she called the cops in the middle of a huge party. Everyone is mad at her for it. I don't understand why people are mad at her for calling the cops. I mean if I was arrested because of that or knew someone who was arrested I'd be pretty mad at her. But the people who were unharmed, why are they mad at her?

Heather, Melinda's 'friend', is a strange character. She just moved in from Ohio and wants to fit in. I get that. If I was a new kid, I would want to try in fit in with everyone else at the new school, but Heather wants to join a lot of clubs to find the 'right group'. She wants to find this group even though she is already sort-of friends with Melinda. The group that Heather found is the Marthas, a group of girls with well-off parents that do charity work around the school. Even though Heather wants Melinda to tag around in the group I predict that when Heather goes under the influence of the Marthas she will ditch Melinda for them.

The last paragraph of the portion I read mentioned Melinda's nightmare. The paragraph named this nightmare IT. IT is obviously a person, and I predict that this IT person is going to be a factor in why Melinda called the cops during the party.

My Sister's Keeper

Spoil Alert

After finishing My Sister's Keeper I was most shocked when Campbell had one of his seizures during the trial. I didn't really see it coming although there was a lot of foreshadowing before had when Judge kept barking and following Campbell. While dealing with a medical case as is i found it ironic that Campbell had something wrong with him too. Anna got what she thought she wanted when she won the case in court. But on the way home things things took an unexpected turn when her and Campbell got into a car crash. When I was reading that part of the book I was a little confused on what was going on because it was such a shock to me. I didn't realize what happened until Anna's father was saying that he was called to the scene not because his daughter was in the crash but because it was his job. But when he saw that familiar face in the car things became different.
After Anna was rushed to the hospital she was pronounced brain dead. Everything changed. Instead of having their attention on Kate Anna's parents were focused on Anna. The most unexpected thing that could have happened happened. But to Kate Anna was still closer than ever. Campbell having the rights to Anna's body for that short time made a decision to let Anna donate to Kate. By the end of the book Kate was very much alive. And somehow Anna was too. This book certainly made me cry; although it was very sad My Sister's Keeper was an excellent story. The Author must of had to do extensive research, I can tell because of the vocabulary used and all the medical

My Sister's Keeper

I am almost done with the book. I love it so far but I feel sad that Sara and Brian don't have anything to talk about anymore other than Kate's conditions and Annas lawsuit. Brian is always noticing how they used to be able to talk for hours and now they have nothing to say to each other. My prediction for the ending is that Anna will win the lawsuit because Brian is now on her side and Kate will sadly die. I think after its all over Anna will feel very guilty and wish she never started this whole thing.

Amanda*

The Glass Castle

I a about 100 pages into the book as of this moment. I can't relate to the Walls children at all. I don't have an alcoholic father or a free-minded mother, so I can't imagine what their lives were like. I am happy that Jeannette is now living a good life in New York City now, but it's odd that her mom finds that being homeless is fine. I was surprised that Jeannette's parents allowed her to cook and use the stove at age 3. They clearly didn't have very good judgment as Jeannette got badly burned from cooking hot dogs. Also, I didn't think it was beneficial for her when her father broke her out of the hospital. I feel bad that the Walls children always had to deal with having no money and always on the run from tax/bill collecters, moving from town to town.

My Sister's Keeper

I am a half way done with the book and the love connection that can be seen through Campbell and Julia are interfering with Anna's case. It really does have to be uncomfortable for Anna's attorney and her so called guardian have to "talk" with each other.

Also, the only person that is really being supportive of her is her own father. He fully understands and even agrees with Anna that her donating a kidney should be only her decision. On the contrary, her mother, Sara, still does not agree with Anna and pressures her by yelling. But Jesse had gotten arrested by stealing the judge's car. He is off the hook for now, but what Campbell did was very sincere and this tells that he cares enough about Anna to help her brother.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I know that this book takes place in the 1990's, but it seems like it's in the 1960's. I mean LSD and everyone smoking all the time and stuff like that. I know that that probably happened in the 1990's to, but its just the atmosphere and how everyone speaks and acts. Sometimes when I'm reading this book, I forget the time period and believe its sometime else.

Someone I know told me that this was her absolute favorite book of all time and she has read it like four times. I guess this isn't my type of book because, although it is good, I have definetly read better books. I do like to read it but i can't relate to it like I can to some books. I can't relate to Charlie and his high school problems.

The book is called "The Perks of Being a Wallflower, " but truthfully, I don't think Charlie is that much of a wallflower. He has friends and he's honest and has a girlfriend. I usually associate a wallflower with someone who doesn't get involved and doesn't have that many friends and avoids situations. I don't know maybe that's a steriotype, but that's always what I assumed a wallflower was.

My Sister's Keeper

I just finished the book and I was very shocked with how it ended. I was mostly surprised with the fact that Kate wanted to die. I change my opinion of Anna now because i realize she wasn't doing the lawsuit for her own greed, it was to help her sick sister. The act showed how much she truly loved Kate because she went through everything to win the case. Their family had a lot of issues in the time but Anna was doing it all for Kate.

My Sister's Keeper

I am nearing the end of the book and through out the whole book I have been most interested in Anna's side of the story. Sense Anna was little she has had to donate to her sister Kate. But now that she has to donate an organ she doesn't want to. To her parents it is not a choice but a decision ever sense Anna was created. Many kids can be considered a mistake but Anna was not she had a purpose to serve and she could not make the call on whether or not she wanted to do what she had to to save her sister, unlike other children Anna already knew her destiny.
I think that Anna has every right to charge a lawsuit for the rights of her own body, after all she wouldn't be alive if her sister wasn't sick. Just because she refuses to donate does not mean she doesn't love her sister. Anna just wants to be able to live a normal life but she knows that is not possible. I have about 30-20 pages of the book left.

My Sisters Keeper

I can't believe that Anna is still going to pursue her trial, even after her mother talked with her. She is a selfish girl but I do get her point, but I would never do that with my parents. Kate isn't getting better and her symptoms are getting worse. The parents don't pay attention to Jesse much and he is still acting like a rebel, even though he fully understands the consequences of his actions.

I still do truly feel sorry for Kate. Not only are her symptoms getting worse, but she also has to deal with her sister choosing not to donate a kidney, to her. The parents are trying their hardest and Anna isn't making the situation more helpful.

My Sister's Keeper-Finished

-Spoilers-

Although I heard about the ending of the story before I had gotten to it I still didn't expect Anna to die. Reading through, I didn't think ahead to the ending and the affects Anna's death would have on the other characters. The reason I stuck to what I was reading at the time was because it was difficult for me to grasp the fact that she actually died.

Looking at the story now, I realize the characters do care for Anna, especially the mother. She always seemed like she treated Anna worse than her sister but she didn't know what she had until Anna died. Kate had always cared for Anna and I understand the bond they shared. Jesse and Brian were of course devastated, but I wish there were separate chapters for each person's point of view. I did like how the last chapter was from Kate's perspective. I was waiting the whole book for views from Kate and I am glad that we got her views at the end.

When Kate said Anna took her place and that was why Kate hadn't died, I had agreed. I think when one door closes another opens.

The title of the story, My Sister's Keeper, could be interpreted many different ways. At first, I believed the title meant Anna was Kate's Keeper, but until the last line of the book, Kate became Anna's keeper since she has Anna inside of her.

I enjoyed the story for many different reasons. The decisions Anna had to make were a burden and I couldn't make them. She was strong and independent, and that is a reason I enjoyed her character and the plot. The ending was a twist which I liked as well. Anna's death was unexpected and made me cry. It must have been awful to be a parent and choose to let a child you loved to death die. They had to turn off her respirator. The characters were interesting but I feel Campbell and Julia were focused on too much.

Ellen Foster

I am now finished with the book and I was surprised at how it played out. Ellen spends the summer with her grandmother, whom she calls her "mama's mama," and is miserable with her. Ellen's grandmother thinks that Ellen is an image of her father, whom both they hate. She reminds Ellen that she is just like her father and somehow wants revenge on him through her torture of Ellen. Ellen's grandmother also tells Ellen that she is to blame for her mother's death, because Ellen had allowed her to die. Now Ellen is scarred for at the end of the book, and she still cannot cry. After her grandmother's death, Ellen is sent to live with her aunt Nadine, and her cousin Dora. Nadine and Dora treat Ellen condescendingly and ignore her for being "cheap," though they have little more money than Ellen and far less integrity. For Christmas, Ellen wants to give Nadine and Dora a wonderful gift. Because she cannot afford to buy them a present, Ellen uses her artistic talent and paints them a picture of two cute-looking cats. She never coexisted with them so she had left.

Ellen wears her best dress so that she will make a good first impression. The woman, to be Ellen's new mom, welcomes Ellen into her home and is concerned for her well being. Then Ellen thinks to herself how lucky she is to have her new mom.After Ellen has settled in at her new mom's house, she wants to invite her old friend to sleep over, since they have split apart as they have grown older. Ellen is ashamed as she remembers how she acted because of their skin color. When Starletta come over Ellen's new house, Ellen confesses to her of how she feels for prejudices. This ending reminds me of another book I read about a baseball in which they didn't allow different colored people to play on their team until they realized how these people really are. I really disliked the grandmother thinking that Ellen was always the bad one, but my prediction had been right she did find her way with help and now she's safe.

My Sister's Keeper

I'm glad that Anna won her case. The fact that Judge was actually a seizure dog was unexpected. Anna's death and Kate's survival came as a real shock. Anna finally won her case after a great deal of effort, tears, and disagreements, but ended up dying on her way back from making it official. She never even got to enjoy the privileged of being medically emancipated from her parents. However, I believe Campbell made a smart decision in which Anna's kidney was given to Kate. He saved Sara and Brian from having to lose two children. I feel that the author didn't include enough details about the death, though.

I'm was glad to see the Kate ended up living a healthy and long life after in transplant in the epilogue. I was surprised to see that Jesse had decided to become a policeman because of his rebellious past. I was happy to see that the Fitzgerald family wasn't mad at Campbell for Anna's death. I was also happy that Campbell and Julia got married. I was pleasantly surprised when Kate and Sara found that one last picture of Anna. Overall, I though it was a very good book.

My Sister's Keeper

As I continue reading the book, I feel that Anna is very selfish. She still continues with the lawsuit even though she knows that if she wins the case, Kate will die. That fact doesn't seem to bother her at all but yet she continues. The lawsuit has also caused many problems with the Fitzgerald family and everything is just crazy around their house. None of this seems to change Anna's mind and it could lead into many more problems.

Ellen Foster

I am about in the middle of the book and there are many occurrences going on. She starts speaking about her father very harshly saying she wanted to kill him and I agree,but the story changes after her mother dies. Her mother commits suicide by overdosing on her medication, and Ellen, the narrator of the book, must find a home and family to take her in. After her mother's death, Ellen goes through physical, psychological, and sexual abuse by her drunken father and, because of the father's habit,she is forced to pay the bills, shop for groceries, and cook for herself. Ellen goes to her friend Starletta's house for shelter from her father. Starletta and her parents, who are black, live in a grungy cabin without an indoor bathroom, but they still take her in.When her teacher finds a bruise on her arm, she reacts, and Ellen is sent to live with the school's art teacher, Julia and Roy, her husband. Both Julia and Roy are young, hippies who care for Ellen as best they can while she is with them. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in Ellen's position. This story reminds me of another show I had seen on TV in which it was a young girl and both her parents, but her mom had been a drug addict, in which she had killed herself, and her father had been a rapist. I predict that Ellen will remain with Julia's family until she is safe and can live on her own.

My Sister's Keeper

I am around the middle section of the book. I feel really bad for Anna because I know she feels like she doesn't really belong in the world. If Kate weren't sick, she wouldn't be alive. She doesn't get much attention like Kate does. I also feel bad for Jesse because of how he's treated. No one ever pays attention to him and I feel like that changed the kind of person he is.

My Sister's Keeper

I am nearing the end of the book now. I think it's good that Anna has her dad on her side. I feel bad for Jesse because as he barely gets any attention, as a child and as a teen. I don't think they will find out that Jesse is the arsonist, seeing as they don't pay attention to him. Also, I don't think it was fair that Anna wasn't able to go to the USA Hockey camp. Even though, it was fully paid, she wasn't able to go because she wouldn't be home if Kate needed her to be a donor. I'm guessing that the judge will rule in Anna's favor. I am interested in seeing what the outcome of the lawsuit and book is.

My Sister's Keeper

Im in the middle of the book right now and i keep feeling as if Anna's mom doesn't care for her the way she cares for Kate. I always get the feeling that she is treated like an adopted child and does not belong in the family.

*Amanda*

Finshed My Sister's Keeper

I was happy and surprised that Anna won her case. I think that Campbell was a good attorney and represented her well. He presented good points to why Anna's donations were unfair and too much. He compared Anna's case to that, stating if a house was on fire and one of your children was in it and your other child was the only one that knew the path to take to find her would you sacrifice her and send her in the building? He reasoned that the risks were high you could lose both of them, you could save both of them, or one could be injured/dead while the other survives. He pointed out that risking Anna could take its toll one day.

I was really shocked to hear that Kate wanted to die . I knew the pain she was in with all the treatments, chemo, and transfusions but she held on for 16 years and why waste 16 years of struggle. I was not shocked to find out that the reason Anna filed medical emancipation was for her sister and not just her own attention. I thought and realized that Anna was being helpful not selfish.


The entire book I though Kate was going to die because Anna's lawsuit would pass for the medical emancipation, but when I read that Anna died in a car accident, I was simply shocked. Turning the table of the plot when the reader expects it the least made the novel very interesting.It would have been a different world if Anna never filed a lawsuit and just donating her liver to Kate. They probably would have both survived and live happily ever after.

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult is an amazing writer. The end of this story has such a plot twist. It's unbelievable. It takes you by suprise to know that Kate actually asks Anna not to donate a kidney. Then there is the fact that Anna dies and Kate doesn't. Even though this is the second time I have read this book, I couldn't stop crying at how this story turned out. It was so unexpected. I believe that is what made this story so great-- the many plot twists unexpected events. I love how throughtout the book, Anna is always talking about how hard it will be for her to go on when Kate dies. She talks about how she will be able to grow up and have everything Kate couldn't-- a family, kids, etc. But really, in the end, it's the other way around. It makes it a much sadder story, I believe.

I wish that they showed Anna's car accident in her perspective. I really want to know how Campbell and her got into the car accident, and what was going through their heads. I feel very bad for the father that he had to witness his daughter dying; that's probably unbearable. After the accident and Anna dying, I really think that Campbell changed. He was the one who decided to give Kate the kidney, which put her back into remission for years. Anna's mother changed to. At the beginning of the story, I couldn't stand her because of her attitude toward Anna. But now that she ahs lost a daughter, you can see how distraught she is. At the hearing, she said, "Did I understand that maybe it wasn't fair to ask her to do it? Absolutely. But I also knew that it was the only chance I had on saving both of them." (p. 406) I know she might have seemed like a witch in the beginning, but she truley did love all her chikdren equally, even though it might not have showed.

I was really happy to read that Jesse graduated from the Police Academy and busted a major drug deal. I think Anna's death really changed the whole family--some in good ways and some in bad. I was also happy to read that Campbell and Julia did get married. All in all, I really thought this story was amazing. You really have to have an imagination to come up with such a plot and ending for this story. I really enjoyed it.