Outside Reading Blog Post #5

In the next couple chapters I've read, the characters that are developed the most are Kate and Jesse. In one of Sara's chapters, she shares a story about a time when Kate is at the hospital for treatment and meets a boy named Taylor. Taylor also has a form of leukemia and is at the hospital for chemotherapy. Taylor and Kate's relationship develops and they spend more and more time together, just as normal teenages would do. Kate's leukemia returns, and she goes in for chemotherapy treatment. Taylor comes to help her through the excrutiating process. While they are there, Taylor asks Kate to the hospital sponsored dance. Through the next part of the chapter, Sara tells about the preparations for the dance. For once in her life, Kate gets to be treated as a "normal" child. Sara is glad to see her daughter be able to do regular teenage things for once. Brian is also overjoyed, and Sara states, "It was only when he turned around that I realized he'd come in here to cry" (319). Also in the section I recently read, we are able to see a different side of Jesse. In the beginning of the book, Jesse came across as a "bad boy" and very rebellious and angry. But in the last couple chapters we are able to see Jesse's softer side. While Kate is in the hospital, we see Jesse sitting at her bedside. He kisses her on the forehead and makes friendly conversation. This shows how much he cares for his sister and how much he truly loves her. He wants Kate to live and for her to not have to suffer anymore.

The two main conflicts in the most recent chapters I've read are the trial and Kate's hospitalization. Firstly, now that Anna's dad has taken her side, Sara is on her own. Cambell questions two doctors and also Sara. He asks Doctor Chance about the many procedures Anna has gone through. He claims that the procedures did not have any major risks, but Cambell pointed out that they did. Then he goes on the question Sara about the many procedures Anna has gone through for her sister. She gets angry at Campbell because he did not understand the other side of the story. In expressing her anger, she states, "But you only represent one of my daughters, Mr. Alexander, and only in this courtroom. I represent both of them equally, everywhere, every place. I love both of them equally, everywhere, everyplace" (298). If Anna wins the trial she is not obligated to give her sister a kidney, but then her sister may die.

This book relates to The 400 Blows because both deal with the rebellion of a child. Antoine doesn't want to be sent to military school, so he rebels and runs away. Similarily, Anna doesn't want to be a donor anymore for her sister, so she brings her parents to trial. Both Anna and Antoine are very courageous to go against their parents' will.