Handle With Care (novel)
Encyclopedia
Handle With Care is a novel by Jodi Picoult
published in 2009. It debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
, a disease also known as brittle bone syndrome. To her parents-Sean and Charlotte O'Keefe-it also meant sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents and worst of all, the what-ifs.
After a disastrous vacation to Disney World that results in Willow suffering severe breaks to both of her femurs, Sean and Charlotte visit a lawyer to inquire about a lawsuit against the park and hospital. The lawyer mentions a different possibility: a wrongful birth lawsuit against the ob/gyn that treated Charlotte during her pregnancy. The suit the lawyer suggest was a wrongful birth lawsuit, meaning that they are saying that if they had known earlier that their fetus had OI, they would have aborted. But, the ob-gyn they are suing is Piper Reece - Charlotte's best friend.
This book is told in multiple points of view and explains over a 24 month period the effects the lawsuit has on the family and friends. Amelia, the eldest daughter of Charlotte and Sean develops bulimia and starts cutting herself. Sean and Charlotte almost filed for divorce, after disagreements about this lawsuit (but get back together.) Piper leaves her practice and becomes obsessed with redecorating her home. Marin Gates, the lawyer for the O'Keefes, has issues with the lawsuit as well as she is trying to find her birth mother.
During the trial, it is revealed that at an 18-week ultrasound, there was evidence of osteogenesis imperfecta which Piper should have acted upon. It is also revealed by Amelia that Charlotte is only doing the trial for the money and would never have aborted Willow. The jury finds in favor of the plaintiff (Charlotte) and the family is awarded $8,000,000.
The final chapter is narrated by Willow. She is starting first grade and is going to a camp for kids with OI. Amelia received treatment for her eating disorder and came back healthy and with a passion for painting. Charlotte wrote a recipe book (as she used to be a pastry chef) and is donating all the money to the OI Foundation. Sean and Charlotte never ended up getting divorced and they never cashed the check, leaving it on their refrigerator until they decide they need it. When Willow is outside getting Amelia, she crawls on the ice and falls in, drowning. The story concludes with a little afterword from Charlotte saying that they buried the check with Willow.
Sean O'Keefe is Charlotte's husband, Willow's father, and Amelia's stepfather. He is a police officer who works hard to support his family. Although he initially attempts to set aside his personal feelings about the lawsuit in order to support Charlotte, his disgust for the wrongful birth suit eventually leads him to testify for the defense. He also files for divorce from Charlotte, although they reunite eventually.
Willow O'Keefe was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. Despite her physical disability, she is extremely intelligent and is especially interested in trivia. She often reads while recovering from a bone break. During the lawsuit, she worries that her parents do not want her anymore because she isn't perfect. Near the end of the book, she goes out skating. The ice breaks, and Willow, trapped underneath, drowns. As she drowns, she reflects that she was loved, and that this time, it wasn't her that broke.
Amelia O'Keefe is Willow's older half-sister, who is often cast to the side whenever her younger sister breaks a bone. She suffers from bulimia and engages in self-mutilation. Suiting her character as a rebellious teen, in the novel she begins shoplifting from various stores and she dyes her hair blue. Sean eventually discovers her secrets after Piper brings them to his attention. Charlottle suggests that Amelia goes to a treatment center. Amelia, furious, states in court as a witness that Charlotte told Willow that she would never wish that Willow had never been born. Charlotte admits later on that they should have discussed the treatment center as a family before she and Sean made that kind of decision.
Marin Gates is the lawyer handling the O'Keefes' case, although she is privately opposed to it. She is adopted and searching for her birth mother, who she eventually discovers by chance on the jury for Charlotte's case. However, her mother tells her that Marin's father was a rapist and makes it clear she doesn't want to know her daughter. Marin accepts this and becomes closer to her adoptive parents.
Piper Reece is Charlotte's best friend and obstetrician, as well as the godmother
to Willow. She is a competent doctor, although she takes an extended break from work during the lawsuit. She brings to Sean's attention Amelia's bulimia and self-mutilation.
Rob Reece is Piper's husband. He is an orthodonist who works on many of the people in Bankton, including Amelia. His older brother, Stephen, committed suicide at the age of seventeen; the then-twelve-year-old Rob was the one to discover his body. Although the lawsuit initially causes strain in Rob and Piper's marriage, Rob ultimately agrees to support his wife.
Emma Reece is the daughter of Rob and Piper. She met Amelia through skating and became her best friend; however, she quickly casts Amelia aside after Charlotte sues Piper, and the two never reconcile. When she finds out about the lawsuit she made sure everyone at school alienated Amelia. She was the first one to notice Amelia's self-harming habits.
gave the book four stars, and The Washington Post
called it "a great read, with strong characters, an exciting lawsuit to pull you along and really good use of the medical context." However The Boston Globe
called the novel "fairly engaging if sometimes [an] arduous read."
Jodi Picoult
Jodi Lynn Picoult is an American author. She was awarded the New England Bookseller Award for fiction in 2003. Picoult currently has some 14 million copies of her books in print worldwide.-Early life and education:...
published in 2009. It debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Main Plot
This story follows the life of a girl named Willow O'Keefe and her family. Willow suffers from Osteogenesis imperfectaOsteogenesis imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic bone disorder. People with OI are born with defective connective tissue, or without the ability to make it, usually because of a deficiency of Type-I collagen...
, a disease also known as brittle bone syndrome. To her parents-Sean and Charlotte O'Keefe-it also meant sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents and worst of all, the what-ifs.
After a disastrous vacation to Disney World that results in Willow suffering severe breaks to both of her femurs, Sean and Charlotte visit a lawyer to inquire about a lawsuit against the park and hospital. The lawyer mentions a different possibility: a wrongful birth lawsuit against the ob/gyn that treated Charlotte during her pregnancy. The suit the lawyer suggest was a wrongful birth lawsuit, meaning that they are saying that if they had known earlier that their fetus had OI, they would have aborted. But, the ob-gyn they are suing is Piper Reece - Charlotte's best friend.
This book is told in multiple points of view and explains over a 24 month period the effects the lawsuit has on the family and friends. Amelia, the eldest daughter of Charlotte and Sean develops bulimia and starts cutting herself. Sean and Charlotte almost filed for divorce, after disagreements about this lawsuit (but get back together.) Piper leaves her practice and becomes obsessed with redecorating her home. Marin Gates, the lawyer for the O'Keefes, has issues with the lawsuit as well as she is trying to find her birth mother.
During the trial, it is revealed that at an 18-week ultrasound, there was evidence of osteogenesis imperfecta which Piper should have acted upon. It is also revealed by Amelia that Charlotte is only doing the trial for the money and would never have aborted Willow. The jury finds in favor of the plaintiff (Charlotte) and the family is awarded $8,000,000.
The final chapter is narrated by Willow. She is starting first grade and is going to a camp for kids with OI. Amelia received treatment for her eating disorder and came back healthy and with a passion for painting. Charlotte wrote a recipe book (as she used to be a pastry chef) and is donating all the money to the OI Foundation. Sean and Charlotte never ended up getting divorced and they never cashed the check, leaving it on their refrigerator until they decide they need it. When Willow is outside getting Amelia, she crawls on the ice and falls in, drowning. The story concludes with a little afterword from Charlotte saying that they buried the check with Willow.
Characters
Charlotte O'Keefe is the mother of Willow and Amelia O'Keefe. She files a lawsuit against Piper Reece, her ob/gyn and best friend, in order to be able to secure the resources for her daughter, Willow. The lawsuit succeeds, and Charlotte is awarded $8 million in damages. After Willow's death, however, she tucks the check into the lining of Willow's coffin, never cashing it.Sean O'Keefe is Charlotte's husband, Willow's father, and Amelia's stepfather. He is a police officer who works hard to support his family. Although he initially attempts to set aside his personal feelings about the lawsuit in order to support Charlotte, his disgust for the wrongful birth suit eventually leads him to testify for the defense. He also files for divorce from Charlotte, although they reunite eventually.
Willow O'Keefe was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. Despite her physical disability, she is extremely intelligent and is especially interested in trivia. She often reads while recovering from a bone break. During the lawsuit, she worries that her parents do not want her anymore because she isn't perfect. Near the end of the book, she goes out skating. The ice breaks, and Willow, trapped underneath, drowns. As she drowns, she reflects that she was loved, and that this time, it wasn't her that broke.
Amelia O'Keefe is Willow's older half-sister, who is often cast to the side whenever her younger sister breaks a bone. She suffers from bulimia and engages in self-mutilation. Suiting her character as a rebellious teen, in the novel she begins shoplifting from various stores and she dyes her hair blue. Sean eventually discovers her secrets after Piper brings them to his attention. Charlottle suggests that Amelia goes to a treatment center. Amelia, furious, states in court as a witness that Charlotte told Willow that she would never wish that Willow had never been born. Charlotte admits later on that they should have discussed the treatment center as a family before she and Sean made that kind of decision.
Marin Gates is the lawyer handling the O'Keefes' case, although she is privately opposed to it. She is adopted and searching for her birth mother, who she eventually discovers by chance on the jury for Charlotte's case. However, her mother tells her that Marin's father was a rapist and makes it clear she doesn't want to know her daughter. Marin accepts this and becomes closer to her adoptive parents.
Piper Reece is Charlotte's best friend and obstetrician, as well as the godmother
Godmother
A godmother is a female godparent in the Christian tradition.Godmother may also refer to:*A female arranged to be legal guardian of a child if untimely demise is met by the parents...
to Willow. She is a competent doctor, although she takes an extended break from work during the lawsuit. She brings to Sean's attention Amelia's bulimia and self-mutilation.
Rob Reece is Piper's husband. He is an orthodonist who works on many of the people in Bankton, including Amelia. His older brother, Stephen, committed suicide at the age of seventeen; the then-twelve-year-old Rob was the one to discover his body. Although the lawsuit initially causes strain in Rob and Piper's marriage, Rob ultimately agrees to support his wife.
Emma Reece is the daughter of Rob and Piper. She met Amelia through skating and became her best friend; however, she quickly casts Amelia aside after Charlotte sues Piper, and the two never reconcile. When she finds out about the lawsuit she made sure everyone at school alienated Amelia. She was the first one to notice Amelia's self-harming habits.
Reception
PeoplePeople (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
gave the book four stars, and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
called it "a great read, with strong characters, an exciting lawsuit to pull you along and really good use of the medical context." However The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
called the novel "fairly engaging if sometimes [an] arduous read."