Book Review Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

I was very hesitant to read this book. It's about a wrongful birth lawsuit with the premise that if the mother had known about her child's disability early enough she could have had an abortion. As a mother of three children and two with special needs, this was a touchy subject for me.

True to a Picoult novel, this wasn't about abortion rights or even rights for those with disabilities. It was about a mother's love and the dynamics of the family. How far will you go to prove your love for your child? What if it hurts your personal friendships? What if it ruins your marriage? Would you still fight the fight knowing you might only be left with yourself?

I really wanted to hate the mother; I wanted to hate her before I even opened the book. Unfortunately I couldn't because I related to her too much. I know the feeling of wanting, longing for a child and then the child is less than "perfect". I know what it's like to raise a child with special needs. Thankfully, our special needs are nowhere close to the emotional or monetary strain that this family lived with. However, I could relate to her love for her child and fighting for your child when no one else will and no one even believes there's a fight to be had.

This book was beautifully written as are all of her books. She has a way with words and symbolism that many of today's writers lack. Like many of her previous books, the ending is one that leaves the reader with more questions to answer and also wanting more time to spend with these families and their dynamic relationships.