Junior Celebrity Health: "My Sister’s Keeper", genetic planning, Dakota Fanning and Abigail Breslin

Maybe I should read this book “My Sister’s Keeper” first before I say something about it. But it intrigued me when I read that Dakota Fanning and her little sister Elle are pulling out of the movie adaptation of the book.

And I thought, Dakota? The little miss who has taken on more challenging roles? Well, she didn’t like to shave her head for the movie so she pulled out of it, along with her little sis. And that’s where Abigail Breslin comes in to take over her role, along with Cameron Diaz and Sofia Vassilieva, who had to appear bald for the film.

So what is “My Sister’s Keeper” all about?

It’s a film about a young girl who was genetically engineered to be a perfect match to her cancer-ridden older sister. Major WHOA! Now that’s a loaded book. The twist – she sues her family for it.

Here’s a description from the back of the book –

“Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister Kate can somehow fight leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate-a life role that she has never challenged . . . until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister-and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for her sister she loves.” (IMDB)

I think I just found my summer read!

“My Sister’s Keeper” (2009) stars Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Jason Patric, and Thomas Dekker. Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack also star. Directed by Nick Cassavetes.