Jodi Picoult - Handle With Care

Reviewed by Maggie Perkovich on 7th May.
I am a great fan of Jodi Picoult so when a new book is announced I ask our sponsor 'Bourdeaux' to get it for me. This one is no let down.
Charlotte & Sean O'Keefe, mother & father of Amelie and Willow have not got an easy life. Willow was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, brittle bone disease in layman's language.
She breaks bones as she is born, she lives in a world where she will never grow very much. She will be unable to live a normal life. Her parents and sister love her and try to make her world as comfortable as is possible but obviously, a huge burden is placed on all their shoulders.
As in he previous novel 'My Sisters Keeper' Picoult emphasises the mixed feelings her sister Amelie has for her, protective of course, but resentful that their lives are so curtailed by her sisters disability.
After an accident when they try to holiday in Disneyland and their parents are arrested for child abuse (they forgot to bring their own doctor's letter explaining Willows condition), Charlotte is speaking to a lawyer when she realises that there is a chance they could sue their obstetrician for neglect as she did not read the scan before birth that would have told them of Willows disability. If they win a large sum of money will ensure a better life for all of them however this would mean standing up in court and admitting their lives would be better without Willow ie she should never have been born!!
Add to this mix, the obstetrician is a personal friend, that the dad of Willow is a feisty cop who is against the whole court action and Willow herself is a child with a very clever and active brain, you can see what an engrossing novel this is.
Picoult has done her usual meticulous research and the ending is one that no-one would suspect.
I loved it!!