Handle with Care
Picoult has done it again! How this author manages to write a books so with so many issues, yet keep readers (me) engrossed is beyond me. Abortion, wrongful death, suicide, drunken priests, special needs children, infidelity, bulimia, cutting and baking. Alright, baking is not really an issue, but she throws in recipes on a regular basis to make us think. (Recipes are appreciated, but I usually think of them in Cozy Mysteries, but the main character is a pastry chef.) The story is about the struggles of a family with a special needs child. The mother has devoted her life to taking care of her daughter who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, more commonly known as brittle bone syndrome. Willow was born with broken bones and suffered additional breaks during the birthing process. Even every day activity may result in a painful break and a trip to the emergency room. After suffering a break and the humiliation of being accused of child abuse, the father tries to file a lawsuit on the family's behalf. The lawyer declines to take the case, but encourages the parents to sue for "wrongful death." The family is just barely holding together financially and the money from a big settlement would mean Willow would be taken care of for the rest of her life. The lawsuit tears the family apart and the book does not have a happy ending. I cannot recommend this book to my sister who has a special needs child. While I think this book is well researched and creates an accurate picture of the family dynamics, the story is just a bit too close to home. This book is not for the faint of heart. Handle with Care and plenty of tissues!