Handle with CareHandle with Care
Score Modern
What it's about
Willow O'Keefe was born with a severe form of brittle bone disease, and by six she has broken dozens of bones. Her family is drowning in medical bills. Her mother, Charlotte, discovers she can sue her obstetrician for 'wrongful birth', arguing she should have been told early enough to end the pregnancy. The obstetrician is her best friend, and to win, Charlotte must say in court that she wishes Willow hadn't been born.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's classic Picoult: an impossible moral dilemma told from every side.
You'll love it if you liked
House Rules
Nineteen Minutes
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeGood to know
Abortion, self-harm and an eating disorder are part of the story. The ending is controversial.
By the numbers
- Readers44 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller72 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #79 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #650 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1228 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
More by Jodi Picoult
Nineteen Minutes
Small Great ThingsHouse Rules
Mad HoneyIf you like this, read next
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Help
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The OverstoryExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Handle with Care worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,228 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Handle with Care about?
Willow O'Keefe was born with a severe form of brittle bone disease, and by six she has broken dozens of bones. Her family is drowning in medical bills. Her mother, Charlotte, discovers she can sue her obstetrician for 'wrongful birth', arguing she should have been told early enough to end the pregnancy. The obstetrician is her best friend, and to win, Charlotte must say in court that she wishes Willow hadn't been born.
How long does it take to read Handle with Care?
About 12 hours (497 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Handle with Care?
If you liked it, try House Rules by Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.