Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Willow O’Keefe is born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Type III - otherwise known as brittle bone disease. Willow’s bones can break by just sneezing or turning over in bed while sleeping. She will suffer hundreds of broken bones throughout her life span.

After a horrible experience in Disney World, the family consults an attorney and they are introduced to the term "Wrongful Birth". The attorney’s and Charlotte (Willow's mother) believe that Willow’s condition was not diagnosed in time for Charlotte to have the option of whether or not to terminate the pregnancy. Therefore a malpractice lawsuit is filed against her OB/GYN and BFF, Piper.

This lawsuit is the main focus and the one that sets the wheels in motion throughout the story. It is also what makes and breaks these people; including two marriages, friendships, and two innocent girls.

Charlotte O'Keefe has to convince a jury that although she loves her daughter unconditionally, the cost and ability to properly raise her is just something that her family cannot afford and therefore must come from someone else, all by standing up in front of a jury and admitting that if she had prior knowledge to her daughter's condition, she would have terminated the pregnancy.

Written in the same style of "My Sister's Keeper", this story is told from different perspectives (Charlotte; Sean - Willow’s dad; Amelia - Willow’s older sister; Piper - Charlotte’s OB/GYN and best friend; and Marin - Charlotte’s attorney) - yet, all the chapters are written as letters to Willow. To avoid confusion, all characters have their own chapters and their own font-type so that you are aware of who you are living through at the moment.

I’ve read several reviews that say that this story is a remake of "My Sister’s Keeper" and, although there are some similarities, I found the storyline to be very engrossing and something that I honestly could not put down.I also read some reviews that say that the story was too much like Picoult’s other books and therefore predictable, but I did not find this to be true.

I learned so much about OI and, of course, plan on googling to learn more about it. I laughed and I cried and was at war with myself on who was right or who was wrong. I will say that I cried just about every other page for the first couple of chapters, then totally lost it at the end, but what a ride through moral/ethical issues. I hope you enjoy it through your tears, I know I did.