Book Summary of My Sisters Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

Main characters:
Sara Fitzgerald: Mother
Brian Fitzgerald: Father
Kate Fitzgerald: Daughter and leukemia patient
Anna Fitzgerald: Daughter, sister
Jesse Fitzgerald: Son, brother
Campbell Alexander: Annas attorney
Readers notice early on in the novel that the narrative point of view switches between characters,
and the timeline is not static. Although it primarily stays in the present, it skips to the past
frequently. There is only one chapter, the epilogue, that occurs in the future.
The plot opens by introducing Anna and Kate as sisters. Kate was diagnosed with an aggressive
form of leukemia in 1990 and was not responding to treatment or chemotherapy, sparking the
need for her to find a suitable donor.
We then learn about Kates diagnosis as a baby. The story explores the fact that Anna was a test
tube baby, conceived to fill the need for a donor to keep her sister alive. Anna is custom-made
to be a perfect match for Kates medical needs, and from the moment Anna is born, she is
pricked, prodded, and cut open in order to donate bone marrow and healthy cells to her sister.
The story then fast forwards 14 years through Kates illness and the life of the family. Through
these years, we learn about Kates unending suffering, as well as the struggles that Sara and
Brian face as a couple as a result of their daughters illness. We also get the impression that Sara
is solely focused on Kates struggles and illness, taking attention away from her other children,
Jesse and Anna (who is frequently undergoing painful and invasive procedures because of Kate).
The story takes a turn when 13-year-old Anna approaches attorney Campbell Alexander, asking
him to represent her while she sues her parents for medical emancipation. Kate is in the final
stages of kidney failure, and Anna does not want to give Kate her kidney. Alexander agrees to
represent Anna for free.
When Sara is served with papers notifying her Anna is suing, she becomes outraged and does not
understand Annas actions at all. However, Brian understands to an extent.
Kate becomes very ill and is hospitalized, given a week to live. The trial begins, and Sara,
previously a lawyer, represents herself and Brian. During the trial, Anna admits that she filed the
lawsuit because Kate asked her to, wanting to end her own suffering. Anna also admits that she
does wish to have more personal freedom and cannot have that while being a donor.
After hearing testimonies from Kate and Annas doctors as well as Anna herself, the judge grants
Anna medical emancipation, and Campbell is given medical power of attorney over her.
After the trial, on the way to the hospital to visit Kate, Campbell and Anna get into a near-fatal
car accident. Anna suffers from injuries that have left her with irreversible brain damage.
Campbell, who now has power of attorney, directs doctors to take her kidney and give it to Kate.

The final chapter of the book is the epilogue, narrated by Kate, years later. She discusses the
extreme grief her family experienced after Annas death, but explains how Anna saved her,
putting her in a lasting remission and how Anna will always be with her.