![Picture](/uploads/2/2/7/1/22711432/8513510.jpg?214)
Anna stands out as the main character because of her conflicting feelings. She wants to support Kate and be a good sister, yet she wants to be independent and not constantly be Kate's life source. She feels guilt for wanting to live separate from Kate and wonders if she is an terrible person for feeling that way even though it is a natural feeling for siblings of cancer patients. But Anna also wants to do what’s best for her sister. Kate decides that she does not want to live, so Anna brings a lawsuit against her parents for medical emancipation. The lawsuit satisfies both sides of Anna's conflicts: it gives Anna control of her own body and since Kate will die without Anna’s kidney, Anna can fulfill Kate’s wish to die. Anna is a complex character that shows the many different emotions and reactions through a teenage sibling's view of neglect and normal teenage reactions of wanting to be independent and original.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/7/1/22711432/6831902.jpg?196)
Kate’s cancer is at the heart of the story, but she only narrates the prologue and epilogue. She has struggled with cancer nearly her entire life, and she appears to have come to terms with the fact that she might die when it is revealed that Anna is suing because Kate asked her to. The girl Kate could have been is seen through her short relationship with Taylor, dress shopping, and a few of the conversations she has with Anna. However, her struggle with cancer defines her character.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/7/1/22711432/3653504.jpg)
Sara Fitzgerald is a devoted mother and her need to keep Kate alive motivates her more than anything else. Whatever other problems she encounters, whether it is her relationship or her family and how they are reacting/feeling, none of it is as important as keeping Kate alive. Her decisions show this desire. The paradox is that she focuses so much on being a mother to Kate she does not always act like a mother to her other children. It's also seen with her and her husband Brian because their relationship revolves around Kate. Sara struggles to talk to Brian about anything other than Kate even when he purposely tries to make time for them. Even with Kate, Sara focuses mostly on her physical, rather than emotional, health because she always wants to make sure she is okay and will continue living. For example, when Anna says on the stand during trial that Kate doesn’t want to live any longer, Sara does not believe her because she has never spoken to Kate about these feelings.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/7/1/22711432/7966935.jpg?175)
Brian Fitzgerald is the father of the Fitzgerald children and a talented firefighter. Brian serves as a character foil to his wife Sara. He views the situation from his children’s perspectives, making him both more perceptive and understanding at times. Yet Brian also escapes into his work to avoid dealing with the hardships surrounding his family. For example, when Anna and Sara fight, he and Anna stay at the firehouse in order to both be away from the situation. He can be kinder than Sara at times, but at the end of the story Sara proves to be the emotionally stronger of the two because Brian breaks down during the trial and when he is on call during Anna's accident.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/7/1/22711432/1620083.jpg?188)
Jesse is the oldest of the Fitzgerald children and a delinquent because he is an arsonist and drug addict. Despite his tough exterior, Jesse is a vulnerable and sensitive character. He uses his destructive behavior to mask a fundamental feeling of inadequacy and neglect from his family. Jesse cannot save Kate, and he has never been able to forgive himself for that because as her older brother, he feels it is his job to protect her. In addition, he has often felt ignored by his parents, who focus their attention almost exclusively on Kate, and he acts out in part to gain their attention. For example, he sets buildings on fire as a way to get his father, a firefighter, to notice him any time he wants.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/7/1/22711432/5092574.jpg?230)
Campbell is a complicated character due to his backstory and evolves from a sarcastic, emotionally aloof opportunist who fears intimacy. At the beginning of the story, Campbell has very few friends, except for his service dog, Judge. Instead, he keeps himself closed off from others, because he is scared that his epilepsy will cause people to pity him or think that he is a burden, as seen in his failed relationships. He uses his sarcasm to keep people away. He repeatedly tells dumb jokes about why he needs a service dog. Once he begins to care about Anna and to reconnect with Julia, however, Campbell begins opening himself up to new relationships. For example, Campbell’s epilepsy and the lack of control he feels over his own body help him to bond with Anna, who also feels that she has no control over her body. Towards the end of the book Campbell starts being honest about his feelings, and less sarcasm appears in his conversations. He agrees to act with power of attorney for Anna’s medical decisions, proving they have established a bond. His growing of emotions and being able to handle relationships finally becomes evident when he and Julia get married.