This theme of this book is whether or not to vaccinate for childhood diseases. It not only reveals the issues raised by those who choose not to vaccinate for medical reasons but also by those who simply choose not to vaccinate.

The story tells of Kate O'Donnell who does not have her child, Rosie, vaccinated because of allergies. Unfortunately Rosie is exposed to measles and suffers the worst possible complications of the disease. Another child, Clara, who also was not vaccinated contracted measles but was fortunate enough to get through them with no unusual side effects.

Who exposed whom to the disease and who should pay for the lost time and hospital bills? This becomes the focus of the story as the two families go to court. Both families want what is best for their child but at what cost. Even though there is an unusual twist at the end of the story the question about the validity of childhood vaccinations remains to be answered. ( )

What a brilliant gut wrenching read this was! Is someone who chooses not to have their child vaccinated liable when someone else who is infected by their child gets sick or worse?
This debate about whether or not to have your child vaccinated will probably always go on. Some expects say there are no risks while many link it to autism or other risks.
When my adult children were of the age for their vaccinations, it wasn’t even debated. All the controversy came after that; while when I was a child, we all had all those diseases and I never heard of anyone with side effects. Not to say, they didn’t happen of course but it was rare.
The thinking of Madeline and Tom in not having their children vaccinated was a personal decision they made for their children based on what they knew. When their daughter Clara becomes sick with measles and three days later another child in the classroom, Rosie becomes ill with much more serious aspects, it sparks a debate/feud especially when it becomes apparent that Madeline knew her child was sick when she sent her to school.
Where does responsibility begin and end? The illness and events thereafter affected both families immensely and had ramifications that no one expected.
This is such a fascinating but heartbreaking story. I could feel for all parents involved; their lives were forever altered. Sometimes I agreed with the events but it was sometimes difficult to point out right and wrong in their actions when you knew their reasons. That little twist was also delicious.
I’ve never read this author before but if her other books are this well written and gripping, I will devour them all. ( )