To read is to learn...

This quarter I read a book entitled Handle with Care by one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. Picoult writes books that often address social/moral issues (teen suicides in The Pact, rape and murder in The Tenth Circle, school shootings in Nineteen Minutes, capital punishment and organ donation in Change of Heart, and most recently medical ethics in Handle With Care).

Willow was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), which is a genetic bone disorder characterized by bones that break easily. She is five years old and have broken over 68 bones in her body. People with Willow's type of OI can break a bone by slipping on a fallen napkin, they can break a bone if the car stop too suddenly, or if they sneeze too hard. But Willow also has a great spirit. She knows how to read at a 6th grade level and can surf the web. She enjoys learning random facts that no one else knows.

Well, one day her mother decides that although she loves her daughter dearly and can't imagine life without her, she wants to sue her obstetrician, who also happens to be her best friend, for not telling her about Willow's disease sooner and thus giving her the option to abort the baby. The lawsuit that ensues tears apart Willow's family, and leads to many questions: How disabled is TOO disabled? And as a parent, how far would you go to take care of someone you love?

I really enjoyed reading this book, not only because it was written by Picoult but because the issues it addresses were interesting and so were the characters. The book is written from the points of view of four major characters and though Willow is the central character, we don't really hear her speak till the end of the story. The story line is compelling and it captivates the reader till the very last word.