My Sister's Keeper

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My Sister's Keeper

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Major Character List

My Sister's Keeper

• Anna Fitzgerald, 13 youngest daughter of Brian and Sara, genetically engineered to be a perfect genetic match for sister Kate, seeking medical emancipation from her parents
• Kate Fitzgerald, 16 older sister to Anna, middle child of Brian and Sara Fitzgerald, diagnosed with leukemia at age 2
• Jesse Fitzgerald, 18 son of Brian and Sara, arsonist
• Brian Fitzgerald Anna, Kate and Jesse’s father, firefighter and amateur astrologer
• Sara Fitzgerald Anna, Kate and Jesse’s mother, former lawyer, stay-at-home mom
• Campbell Alexander Anna’s lawyer
• Julia Romano Anna’s court appointed guardian, Campbell’s ex-girlfriend.

Discussion Questions

My Sister's Keeper

1. On page 142, Brian says, “The safety of the rescuer is of a higher priority than the safety of the victim. Always.” How does this viewpoint affect his relationship with his family?
2. How do you feel about Sara as a mother? Do you agree with her when she says “mother” and “martyr” are the same thing?
3. If you could rewrite the ending, would you? What would you change?
4. Was it ethical of Brian and Sara to have a “designer” baby? How has Anna’s knowledge of her purpose in life affected her relationship with her parents? What about her relationship with Kate?
5. Why does Campbell lie about why he has a service dog?
6. What do you think about the story being told from different viewpoints?
7. During the second recess of the trial, Anna says that “Maybe who we are isn’t so much about what we do, but rather what we’re capable of when we least expect it.” (pg 307) What are some things that Anna’s discovered she’s capable of doing? What about Sarah? What about Kate?
8. Brian is a fireman. Jesse sets fires. Discuss how the two of them are alike and how they are different.
9. There are several sets of sisters in the novel: Anna and Kate, Sara and Zanne, Julia and Izzy. Do you suppose each set has a keeper? Who would it be?
10. Why does Sara buy evening gowns that she knows she has no place to wear?
11. In the epilogue, Kate says “One of us had to die.” Do you agree with her? Why or why not?