Jodi Picoult
I have mixed feelings about this book. At times, I was really drawn to the book and couldn’t stop listening, but at others I was so tired of the same theme that’s woven throughout the novel. The story begins with an unknown person giving birth to a baby in a barn located near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It’s soon revealed that Katie Fisher, the young girl who gave birth, is a member of an Amish community and not married, a sin in the eyes of the chuch and the community. What follows is a long story about a Philadelphia lawyer who tries to come to the girls rescue, but struggles with a defense, because Katie refuses to admit she gave birth, even though medical records show that she did indeed have a baby. This is where I became tired and frustrated with the book. Ellie, the lawyer, and Katie, her defendant spend about 150 pages going back and forth about whether or not Katie gave birth. Katie, in complete denial, refuses to admit she had a baby, while Ellie reviewing hospital records, knows she gave birth. If you have the patience, you might enjoy this book.