68 pages • 2 hours read
Jodi PicoultHandle With Care
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult explores the ethical and emotional dilemmas of Willow O'Keefe, a child born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), and her family. Following a misdiagnosed fracture, Willow's mother, Charlotte, sues her obstetrician and best friend, Piper, for wrongful birth to secure funds for Willow's care, leading to complex emotional and legal battles. This novel addresses themes of disability, motherhood, and the consequences of pursuing controversial lawsuits. This source material includes depictions of medical procedures and trauma, self-harm, sexual assault, suicide, disordered eating, outdated and offensive mental health beliefs and terminology, police brutality, and the death of a child.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult is an emotionally charged novel praised for its compelling characters and thought-provoking moral dilemmas. Critics commend Picoult's skill in addressing complex issues with sensitivity. However, some find the plot manipulative and the ending controversial. Overall, it’s a moving read that prompts deep reflection.
Who Should Read Handle With Care?
Readers who appreciate deeply emotional and thought-provoking fiction, akin to My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult or The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, will enjoy Handle With Care. This novel explores complex family dynamics and moral dilemmas, making it perfect for fans of contemporary, issue-driven stories.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
850L