Poem Analysis

One thing I found interesting in my book, My Sister's Keeper, was that the author chose to insert a poem, before each part, that relates to what's to come.

One example of this is at the very beginning:

"Brother, I am fire
Surging under the ocean floor.
I shall never meet you brother-
Not for years, anyhow;
Maybe thousands of years, brother.
Then I will warm you,
Hold you close, wrap you in circles,
Use you and change you-
Maybe thousands of years, brother."
-Carl Sandburg, "Kin"

This contributes to the story because the relationship between the brothers is similar to the one between Anna and Kate. Anna has to "warm" Kate in order for her to stay healthy. I really like that Jodi Picoult included these because they forshadow what is to come in the story. I believe it's nice to have hints about the future.