Picoult follows what seems to be her tried and tested method of juxtaposing chapters to build tension and throws a couple of secondary characters into the mix with Campbell and Julia although this benefits the novel as it adds depth to what initally seems 2D characters, particulary Anna's lawyer, Campbell.

Anna was a genetically specific child born into a family where her older sister is suffering from a rare form of leaukemia - her presence in the family means a chance of saving her sister's life by providing stem cells from her umbilical cord. Unfortunately more is asked of Anna as her sister's disease deteriorates and we begin the novel as Anna pawns a treasured necklace to afford her lawyer's consultation fee.

This novel follows every member of the family and how they have all grown up with and learnt to live with the threat a relapse and the horror of imminent death. It shows how each family member deals with this is different ways which is a realistic and honest insight into the character's minds; looking at a child who is faced with her own mortality every day of her life and another child who instigates a law suit to enable her to make her own decisions about whether or not she should donate a kidney to save her sister's life.

I pre-judged Anna's situation in this book and I must say, Picoult's fair and unbiased view on this ethical hot-potato really made me think twice. I honestly don't know what I would have done, had I been in any of the family member's situations.

Picoult's natural flare for story telling and honest, detailed description mould into a very moving and emotional novel with such a surprising twist, I gasped out loud. (Honest! I was too engrossed with the characters to see it coming!).