Up Above My Head - Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Advantages: Good central performances, feel-good factor.
Disadvantages: Bit slow in places.

...One thing you know you?re going to get with Jodi Picoult is a thought-provoking moral dilemma. In this case, the plot revolves around sisters, the younger of which, Anna, played by Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine ? wow!, Nim?s Island ? yuk!), has been conceived by ivf to provide a medical bank of spare parts for her older sister, Kate, played by Sofia Vassilieva (outstanding performance), who suffers from cancer. This has meant that Anna?s life has been totally dictated by Kate?s needs, and she has never been able to do things she wanted. When, eventually, Kate suffers kidney failure, her mother (Cameron Diaz, doing much better in the role than I would have expected) sets everything up for Anna to donate her kidney. However, Anna refuses and seeks out a top lawyer (Alec Baldwin, nice competent turn), who agrees to work pro... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: An emotional and beautifully written story that you won't be able to put down
Disadvantages: Brings you to tears

...of her own life and imagine how different things would be if she wasn't constantly needed by her sister and parents. So she finally makes the difficult decision to sue her parents for the rights to her own body. ~ My opinion ~ The first time I picked this book up off the shelves in a shop and read the blurb, I thought that I could not read it as it just sounded like it was a book made to make you cry. But lately I've gotten quite into the more real life and emotional books and, with the film of My Sister's Keeper coming out at the cinema soon, I decided to eventually give it a try. The book is written from the points of view of all the main characters in story, with a different character for each chapter. This is a brilliant way of giving us an insight into each character's thoughts and feelings and we get each person's own... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It sends you a message to say to appreciate life, especially with siblings like Pearl and Jodie.
Disadvantages: People are used to Jacqueline Wilson's books having a happy ending, so they may dislike the book.

...In my opinion, I feel as if the book "My Sister Jodie" is a different emotional feeling from other age groups. For example, I am 14, and a younger sister, with a 17 year old older sister, so it's the same age gap. I really think that this book lets off different feelings, for example, I am reading it from a younger sister's point of view (as in Pearl's feelings) and it was hard for me at the end because I was sat there crying (luckily I was by myself) and thinking how lucky I am that I have a sister who is still alive and is more likely to get a longer life. I feel as if it is a chance to appreciate life more, seeing as Pearl's character was going through so much, especially towards the end, and many of us don't get that feeling in real life about their older sibling at the end. I then somehow felt Pearl's feelings as a younger... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful