The Fitzgerald family’s situation is complicated. Does Picoult succeed in making each narrator’s stance on the situation sympathetic, or at least understandable? Explain your case with evidence from the text.

What kind of mother is Sara? Is her hyperfocus on Kate’s illness detrimental to her other children, including Kate herself? How might Sara have acted differently?

Why does Brian change his testimony after speaking to Campbell? What does this say about his relationship with Sara? What does it say about his relationship with Anna?