Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult is a heart-wrenching family drama. Picoult has written this book with effortless brilliance and clarity. I could not put it down and regrettedit when the novel ended.
The book centers around Willow, born with the debilitating disease osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease. Intelligent, witty and incredibly appealing, Willow’s personality impacts all those who come in contact with her.
Sean, a police officer, and Charlotte, a stay-at-home mom who was an accomplished pastry chef, do all they can to provide Willow with as near-normal a life as possible. Tempers flare with countless emergency room visits due to fractured and broken bones, bank accounts are depleted with special casts, wheelchairs, walkers for Willow. Sean finds himself working overtime to escape, neglecting his marriage and his family.
Charlotte, her patience pushed to the limit, files a “wrongful death” lawsuit against her gynecologist and best friend Piper Reeve, alleging that Piper did not do enough to warn her of Willow’s disease while Charlotte was pregnant. Because of this litigation, Charlotte’s older daughter becomes bulemic, starts cutting her arms, and is bullied at school. Sean then leaves the house and files for divorce, refusing to support Charlotte in the lawsuit. Friends and neighbors turn against Charlotte, who is suing only because she wants Willow to have the money to pay for all the expensive equipment she will need in order to live a fruitful life. The strong friendship between Charlotte and Piper is violently ripped apart and Piper starts having trouble in her own family, with her daughter and husband.
The trial is explosive and riveting, characters complex and emotional, family dynamics and action non-stop. The ending is completely shocking and the high-wire tension will tear you apart. Picoult, who lives in New Hampshire, stated that Handle With Care is the saddest book she has ever written. I couldn’t agree more.
Barbara Bonsignore