September-Book Blog 1 - Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

In the novel, Shay Bourne (a convicted murderer on death row) has a dying wish to give a young girl, Claire, his heart.  Claire has a terminal heart condition and if she does not get a heart transplant, she will die.  Heart transplants can be extremely dangerous because the heart must “fit” and agree with its’ new body.  Shay Bourne, as unlikely as it may seem, has the perfect match for Claire.  Another wrench in the plot is that Shay Bourne is on death row for killing Claire’s sister and father.  This fact made Claire’s mother, June, reluctant to accept Bourne’s heart.  Could she live with herself for granting her family’s murderer’s dying wish?  Could she handle knowing that Shay’s heart would live in Claire forever?  As a reader I also got the feeling that Bourne desired to help Claire because he wanted to redeem himself for killing her family members.  Based on these facts, I understood why Claire’s mother didn’t want to take Shay’s heart; she wanted to take the chance for redemption away from Bourne because he had taken something from her family.   

However, while I could understand June’s point, I couldn’t help but question whether this was the right move.  I felt like in her position, I would give up my vengeance against someone in order to save someone I loved.  It was almost as if June was telling Claire that getting her revenge on Shay Bourne was more important than she was.  I felt like June was being selfish by not allowing her daughter to live because she didn’t want to grant her enemy’s dying wish.  The doctor who would be doing the surgery even stated “if she was my daughter I would have already scheduled the surgery.”  The whole situation made me angry with June and actually made me feel bad for Shay Bourne.  I understand that he committed a heinous crime but if Bourne gave up his heart, he would still die and receive his punishment of death for his crime.  If June doesn’t accept the heart, her other daughter and husband are still going to be gone and so would Claire.  I just think that is a ridiculous move.  I wouldn’t even think twice about the decision to take the heart.   

Book Blogging Requirements

Each month, you will be required to complete one approved novel.  You may choose the novel from home or from the KMS library, but either way, the novel choice must be approved by Mrs. Newell.  After approval, begin reading.  Create a blog on your blogspot page titled "Month- Book Blog- Title by Author" (ex. September-Book Blog-Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult).  Throughout the month when you are reading you will need to make four journal entries about the novel.  These journal entries should reflect on the thoughts, opinions and reactions you are having to the novel you are reading.  In order to give yourself more to discuss in your posts, I would suggest you spread out the journal entries (one at the beginning, two in the middle, one at the end).  Within your blogs you may also ask questions about the book, question the author or state how you might have adjusted the novel if you were the one writing.  You are encouraged to be creative in your journal entries (write as if you are the character, write to a character, write to the author, etc.).  All journal entries should give enough information to prove that you read the pages you are responding about, and should be thorough and complete (there is no specific length, the expectation is that you make sure you explain yourself well).  The four journal entries for September's Book Blog are due Friday, October 5th.