#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is a born storyteller who “writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail, and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships” (The Boston Globe). Small Great Things is Picoult at her finest–complete with unflinching insights, richly layered characters, and a page-turning plot with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart.
… dilemma at its heart.
Ruth Jefferson, a labor and delivery nurse, begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone on the ward. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case, but Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible–especially for her teenaged son. And as the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others–and themselves–might be wrong.
From the Hardcover edition.
more
This book should be read by every white person who does not understand “white privilege” to gain understanding of what persons of color go through every day. Jodi Picoult has done an excellent job of researching the aspects of this story to bring to light the double standards of our society and see how racism is alive and well in the USA. But there is hope.
Not many books can actually change your values, opinions, or feelings about different topics. This book forced me to confront some of my own prejudices.
Like many of her books, this one keeps you thinking long after finishing the book.
Excellent book!
I loved the story of the book. I read this book for a book group and had also heard from others about how good this book was.
We never realize how much bias is out in the world eventhough we think we do.
Some of it was a bit overboard and I was very dissapointed with the ending. It seems like it just stopped. I would have loved a bit more.
I have read several Jodie Piccoult books and this one is a very good one.
I thought this book did a good job exploring the many facets of racism.
This was truly an eye-opening book. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It gave me a glimpse into people’s lives that I have not thought about or would ever be able to experience. It told a story that could be on the front page of newspapers all over the country. Jodi Picoult has written a book that puts a whole different slant on the subject of racism. There were times while reading the book that I would get confused about who was talking while expressing their feelings and ways of looking at the world. How alike we all really are!
Thought provoking look at racism!
I read this book because of the author, Jody Picoult. Once more, I was not disappointed. She is among the best! It was thought provoking and stayed with me long after I had finished this outstanding work.
This was the best book I have read all year. So realistic in the way of the world, even though this was set in 20th century, 70s I think. I felt bad for some of the characters, and then I wanted to rip some of their heads off.. but all comes together. This is definitely something we should all read. lOved it.
Everyone should read this book. Good story, plus a lot of incite for many of the characters. I really enjoyed it.
A great read furnishes a great way to absorb deeper information about race relations. The two leading characters, one a white Public Defender, the other a professional obstetrical nurse are thrown together by a white supremist couple whose baby dies and the nurse is blamed. Who learns more from this trial, the nurse or the public defender. The narrative keeps the reader on the edge of her seat. I heartily recommend this book. A great discussion is possible for book clubs.
This is a very thought provoking read. The twists at the end are amazing too!
It’s a real eye opener to realize that we still have people with so much hate in their lives. And I think it gives one a glimpse of how minority’s are treated even in today’s society. Great book as are all of Jodi Picoult’s.
I enjoyed this book very. It’s a great read. As they say, “ripped from today’s headlines.” A novel that reminds us we are all prejudiced in some degree in some way. Jodi Piccoult is an author I enjoy reading – good stories that make you think and question your beliefs.
It was ok. Not my favorite book of hers.
Makes you think.
I love this author! You could feel the emotion and suffering of the characters. Definitely worth reading!
Changes the way you see things. Very eye opening.
I would NOT recommend this book! I have read most of her other books and this one was disgustingly and and unnecessarily violent. I got nauseous reading it and had to stop. Hope she isn’t caving to what’s popular with our current culture of violence.