My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult
59 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2004

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Anna is a 13-year-old girl who was conceived specifically to act as an allogeneic donor for her older sister. She has undergone numerous blood and bone marrow extractions since infancy. Her constant medical interventions leave her feeling unseen as an individual. She possesses a quiet maturity and decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body.

Key Relationships

Sister of Kate Fitzgerald

Daughter of Sara Fitzgerald

Daughter of Brian Fitzgerald

Sister of Jesse Fitzgerald

Ward of Julia Romano

Date of Kyle McFee

Sara is a former trial lawyer who abandoned her career to care for her children. She operates with absolute determination to keep her middle child alive. This single-minded focus causes her to disregard the physical pain and emotional needs of her other children. She reacts with intense anger when served with her youngest daughter's lawsuit.

Key Relationships

Mother of Kate Fitzgerald

Mother of Anna Fitzgerald

Mother of Jesse Fitzgerald

Sister of Zanne

Client of Dr. Harrison Chance

Client of Dr. Beata Neaux

Served by Vern Stackhouse

Brian works as a firefighter and paramedic. He often rescues strangers but feels entirely powerless to cure his own daughter's illness. He spends his free time as an amateur astronomer on the firehouse roof. He recognizes the unfair expectations placed on his youngest child and occasionally attempts to provide her with a safe space away from his wife.

Key Relationships

Husband of Sara Fitzgerald

Father of Kate Fitzgerald

Father of Anna Fitzgerald

Father of Jesse Fitzgerald

Campbell is a witty, intelligent attorney who accepts a highly unusual medical emancipation case. He comes from a wealthy background but maintains a distant relationship with his demanding parents. He constantly invents outrageous lies to explain the presence of his service dog. He guards his privacy closely and uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism.

Key Relationships

Lawyer for Anna Fitzgerald

Former Boyfriend of Julia Romano

Owner of Judge

Employer of Kerri

Interviewer of Dr. Peter Bergen

Kate is a 15-year-old girl who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia at age two. Her illness dictates every aspect of her family's schedule and emotional state. She relies entirely on her younger sister for life-saving physical donations. She feels profound guilt about the immense burden her disease places on her healthy siblings.

Key Relationships

Sister of Anna Fitzgerald

Daughter of Sara Fitzgerald

Daughter of Brian Fitzgerald

Sister of Jesse Fitzgerald

Romantic Interest of Taylor

Patient of Dr. Harrison Chance

Jesse is the 18-year-old eldest child of the family. He grew up feeling entirely invisible because his parents focused exclusively on his sick sister. He channels his frustration and guilt into destructive behaviors like setting fires in empty buildings. He pretends to be tough and unbothered but deeply cares about his younger sisters.

Key Relationships

Brother of Anna Fitzgerald

Brother of Kate Fitzgerald

Acquaintance of Duracell Dan

Supporting Characters

Julia is a court-appointed guardian ad litem tasked with determining what is best for a minor seeking medical emancipation. She has a sharp, observant eye and quickly recognizes the unhealthy dynamics inside the family home. Her professional duties become complicated by her unresolved past with the opposing counsel.

Key Relationships

Guardian ad litem for Anna Fitzgerald

Former Girlfriend of Campbell Alexander

Judge DeSalvo presides over the medical emancipation hearing. He demonstrates kindness and patience when speaking directly to young witnesses in his chambers. He maintains strict control over his courtroom and insists on appointing proper advocates to protect vulnerable children from manipulation.

Key Relationships

Judge for Anna Fitzgerald

Judge for Sara Fitzgerald

Dr. Chance serves as the primary oncologist handling a difficult pediatric cancer case. He frequently recommends aggressive chemotherapy treatments, blood transfusions, and bone marrow transplants to keep his patient alive. He operates strictly from a medical perspective and focuses entirely on extending life.

Key Relationships

Doctor for Kate Fitzgerald

Doctor for Sara Fitzgerald

Zanne is an aunt who occasionally steps in to manage childcare when hospital emergencies consume her sister's time. She tries to offer financial assistance and emotional support during high-stress periods, recognizing her sister's extreme exhaustion.

Key Relationships

Sister of Sara Fitzgerald

Aunt of Jesse Fitzgerald

Taylor is a 16-year-old cancer patient undergoing his own severe medical treatments. He forms a quick and deeply understanding bond with a girl who shares his frightening reality and physical limitations.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Kate Fitzgerald

Judge is a highly trained service dog who accompanies his owner everywhere, including the courtroom. He frequently alerts his owner to invisible physical changes, though his owner constantly invents bizarre stories to explain his presence to strangers.

Key Relationships

Service Dog of Campbell Alexander

Dr. Bergen is a psychiatrist who sits on a hospital ethics committee. He testifies in court regarding the boundaries of medical interventions involving minors and whether the hospital properly reviewed specific donation requests.

Key Relationships

Interviewee of Campbell Alexander

Duracell Dan is a homeless man living in the local community. He agrees to hold onto dangerous items for a troubled teenager in exchange for basic necessities.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Jesse Fitzgerald

Vern is the local sheriff tasked with serving official court papers to county residents. His arrival at the hospital severely disrupts a family's delicate medical routine.

Key Relationships

Process Server for Sara Fitzgerald

Kyle is a teenage boy who asks a classmate out on a typical adolescent date. Their physical interaction leaves his date highly confused about normal teenage experiences outside the hospital environment.

Key Relationships

Dr. Neaux is a child psychiatrist called to testify about the psychological impact of specific medical decisions. She offers a professional opinion on family trauma and the mental weight placed on siblings.

Key Relationships

Witness for Sara Fitzgerald

Kerri is a legal secretary who manages the daily appointments, phone calls, and communications for a private attorney.

Key Relationships

Employee of Campbell Alexander