Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors as her novels always challenge and provoke whilst tackling controversial topics. In her latest book, Lone Wolf, she prompts one to think about the sanctity of life as her main character is kept alive by machines in his hospital bed while his children argue about whether he should be allowed to die. The novel is made more interesting though as we learn about Luke Warren’s past and the somewhat unorthodox relationships he has had with his family.

The title – Lone Wolf is apt as we discover that Luke is a biologist who has spent his life studying and learning about the behaviour of wolves.

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I love reading Jodi Picoult’s books and they never fail to make me think as well as make me feel a huge range of different emotions. Her characters are often faced with moral dilemmas and the choices they have to make are never easy. This is the case with ‘Harvesting the Heart‘ which was one of her earliest books, published in 1993, but has recently been republished.

‘Harvesting the Heart‘ centres on a young woman called Paige who’s life has never been easy. Her mother left home when she was five, she had an abortion just before she graduated high school and ran away from her home at age eighteen rather than face her father’s daily disappointment in her. She arrives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and fortunately finds waitressing work in a diner, where she becomes quite well known for the drawings she creates of all the customers.

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I am a huge fan of the American author, Jodi Picoult, and almost always find her books powerful and thought provoking especially as she is not afraid to tackle some quite contentious issues. This is definitely the case in her latest book, ‘Sing You Home‘, where she explores the controversial theme of gay adoptions and parenting. That would be compelling enough on its own. However, the story becomes more riveting when you realise that it also involves a custody battle over unborn children – embryos currently frozen after IVF procedures.

Max and Zoe were very happy when they first married and, like many couples, assumed they would have children in order to make their family complete. However, life often does not go to plan and after they realise that they both have fertility problems, they embark on IVF treatment.

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Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors and having read most of her books they usually meet my expectations and more although there have been a couple that I have not enjoyed quite so much. Generally though she writes thoughtfully and provocatively, liking to challenge her readers with moral and ethical dilemmas. Because of this I wouldn’t recommend reading her novels back tyo back and I definitely like to intersperse them with a bit of lighter relief. However, when the time is right, her books are brilliant page turners and this is how I felt all the way through reading Handle with Care.

Handle With Care is a tragic and controversial modern day story about a little girl called Willow who was born with an extremely serious condition known as osteogenesis imperfect (OI) otherwise known as brittle bones.

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I have read quite a few of Jodi Picoult’s novels before, but having just finished ‘Plain Truth‘ I feel that this was the most moving and compelling by far.

In ‘Plain Truth‘ we are taken right into the heart of the Amish (Plain) Community in America, where an eighteen year old girl, Katie Fisher, is accused of murdering her new born baby. Katie claims not to remember what happened on July 10th, when in the middle of the night in the family barn she gave birth silently and secretly, only later, after falling asleep, to discover that her newborn has died. Once the baby’s body is discovered, there is a police investigation and Katie stands accused of first degree murder. There is a great deal of evidence to incriminate her, not least is the fact that she concealed her pregnancy from everyone.

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‘The Pact’ is easily the best novel that I have read by Jodi Picoult so far. It tells the story of the Hartes and Golds, two families who at the start of the book seem to have it all! They have lived next door to each other for the past eighteen years; their children have grown up together and now Chris and Emily, both seventeen, seem to be a golden couple! Everything is as good as it possibly could be until everything changes one November night.

Both sets of parents are called to the emergency department at the local hospital where they discover there has been a shooting incident.

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If you have not read this amazing book by Jodi Picoult then I thoroughly recommend it. But be prepared, it is not always easy reading, and will take you on a roller coaster of emotions by the time you reach the end!

‘My Sister’s Keeper‘ centres on a 13 year old girl called Anna. Anna would never have been born if it were not for the fact that her elder sister Kate was diagnosed with leukaemia. At the age of two she desperately needs a bone marrow transplant, but no one in the family is a match and it is extremely likely that a suitable donor will be found elsewhere.

family, IVF, Jodi Picoult

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‘Perfect Match’ was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult and I chose it as a result of reading lots of positive reviews about her books. I was not disappointed!

‘Perfect Match‘ tells the story of Nina Frost and what happens to her when she discovers that someone has harmed her son in the worst possible way. The story follows her discovery of the truth, her immediate actions and the enormous consequences which affect not only Nina but her family as well. To outline the plot in some detail, but not to give too much away would be to say that this story takes place in Maine, USA, where Nina Frost is a very successful prosecuting attorney. She is married to Caleb, a man who builds walls and paths, and they have one son, Nathaniel.

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‘Vanishing Acts’ was the second book I read by Jodi Picoult, and although, in many ways I would have to say it was a good read, I have to admit feeling slightly disappointed by it!

In essence, this is a good story. The central character is Delia Hopkins who has lived the last twenty eight years with her father after the death of her mother. Or is that really the case? As the story unfolds, we discover that Delia’s father, Andrew, has been living a lie for the last twenty eight years – in fact a lie so serious that he is arrested and a trial ensues! When the truth starts to emerge, this is devastating for Delia who suddenly feels that she does not know who she is any more, nor does she know her father.

Jodi Picoult, lie, vanishing

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