Handle With Care

Sean and Charlotte are Catholic. What is the role of their faith in the narrative? Does it impact their decision-making surrounding Willow’s birth and how they proceed with the lawsuit?

Many characters bring up eugenics as a comparison to the O’Keefes’ lawsuit. How does the novel explore this ethical dilemma and the history of eugenics, if at all?

The novel explores The Power and Shortcomings of Motherhood and Maternal Love. Consider the characters of Marin, Charlotte, and Piper. What kind of traits are important to each of them as mothers?

Research osteogenesis imperfecta on the OI Foundation website. Is Picoult’s depiction faithful to people’s experiences with the condition?

Consider when Charlotte includes recipes in the narrative. Do the recipes appear at specific moments more often than not? What effect do they have on the narrative?

Make one of Charlotte’s recipes in the book. How does the recipe—its taste, smell, and appearance—connect to the section of the novel it’s from? Does Charlotte’s commentary affect the experience of making it?

Charlotte wins her lawsuit, but does that mean that Piper is guilty of malpractice? Why or why not?

Ultimately, Willow dies at a young age regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome. Was the lawsuit worth it if Willow never benefited from it? What does the novel suggest about what it means to “provide” for one’s child?