#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.
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My favourite Jodi Picoult book and one I will likely re-read. A black nurse is blamed for the death of a newborn baby in this riveting book which tackles racism head on. A thought provoking powerful read.
I was awestruck by the book, Small Great Things. I was enraged like Ruth, when Turk didn’t want her to touch his baby. And Ruth had no choice but to follow her boss’ order in the hospital. It was so stunning for me to learn that it is based on a true event. During the reading, I often ask myself, “How do we allow this to happen?” The narrative is raw, painful, and eye opening. Ruth and Kennedy’s relationship has changed over time in the story, but it was so challenging. Although the attorney-client relationship remains professional, Kennedy and Ruth get closer both accidentally and purposely because Kennedy can’t represent Ruth unless she understands what Ruth’s life has been like, as much as she can, in addition to the unreasonable accusation that Ruth had to put up with. All three voices, Ruth, Kennedy, and Turk, seamlessly emerge and Picoult skillfully allows readers express their strong emotions freely and settle them at the same time. The ending is a little bit too obvious but satisfying.
Jodi Picoult is not only a great story teller, but her research on the subjects she writes about her complete and accurate. She’s very intuitive with excellent character development. The reader comes away with insight about both sides of coin on this subject. Highly recommended.
Three different people. Three different backgrounds. Three different views.
Turk Bauer is excited to raise his baby boy within the community of the superior white race. Yet, an unexpected event causes his son to enter cardiac arrest at the tender age of three days. Devasted by his loss, he knows there is only one person responsible and he wants justice.
Ruth Jefferson has been a nurse for over twenty years. Seen as a role model to other nurses with the Labor and Delivery department at her hospital, she is thrown when her supervisor removes her from the Bauer’s care. Targeted for the newborn’s untimely death and shaken with uncertainty, she may need to let her public defender take the reins.
Kennedy McQuarrie is ready to take her career to the next level, so when she is assigned to Ruth’s case, she grabs the opportunity. Influenced by the unwritten rules of the court she focuses on the technicalities versus the hidden truth behind the charges. None the less, determined to get an acquittal for her client, she may need to dig deep and reevaluate her approach.
As their paths collide in to each other, will any of them come out unscathed?
A modern day “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Jodi Picoult’s “Small Great Things” follows a court drama which brings the continued issue of racism to the forefront. Jodi pulls the reader inside the minds of three diverse characters with distinctive facets on community. Her due diligence and passion of the topic unfold into vast visions across one’s mind through her words, leaving her readers feeling as though they are watching from the gallery.
With more than 10 instances of profanity and some detail of sexual acts, a rating of 4 out of 5 stars is awarded. However, given the personality of her white supremacist character, and his colleagues, the amount of profanity and sexual content is necessary to get him to come through properly.
Recommended for those interested in a glimpse into others unlike yourself, Small Great Things is an incredible representation of how one person’s interpretation can be drastically changed when seen through another’s eye.
I love Jodi Picoult but need to be in the right mood for it (because you never know how deeply invested you are going to get into the emotional arcs — usually pretty deep, so the book can leave you exhausted — or how the ending may end up a bit twisted). I listened to the audio book and the narrators did a fabulous job. I loved the plot line, the thought provoking questions about our perceptions on life and our social and justice systems, and the characters. The writing style is superb. I found the story riveting. And as is with her other books, it sounds like she did her research. Highly recommend.
Great book for our society today. It really makes you think and feel life from another person’s shoes.
Great book, Jodi has a way of building very down to earth stories that surround complicated beliefs and behaviors. Love her books and have never failed to learn something from each and everyone I have read.
Wonderful book—everyone should read this
This is one of the best books I have read recently, and so appropriate for our current times. The author did an excellent job of showing all the different angles of the race problems so prevalent in today’s society. Would definately recommend this book for book clubs to expand the conversation!!!
Very interesting read, especially with everything going on in our world right now.
A great example of how racisom can be expressed. A tragic story with a twist and a great outcome.
It made me look inside! So well written and so relevant right now! I think it should be required reading for everyone!
Actually have hardcover book and lent it to a few friends. It made me aware of how blacks were discriminated against. This was before covid and it has gotten worse if possible. I strongly recommend this book.
I love all her books. She always manages to make me really stop and think- put myself in the main characters place and decide how I would handle the situation.
Very thought provoking which is a Jodi Picoult signature.
Well written with a nice twist. Thought provoking.
It helped that I am a nurse, as there are some technical words, otherwise a very deep and “thinking” book. Loved it!
Wow! What an intense experience I had reading this book. It provided me with some very vivid dreams.
Jodi Picoult always does such a great job of showing all sides of an issue. I find racism and discrimination to be reprehensible, but Ms. Picoult was able to make the character of Turk Bauer (the white supremacist) understandable at least. I won’t go so far as to say that he became a sympathetic character, but he did have some redeeming qualities, and it helped to see what made him the way he was. This book will haunt me for years, and for many reasons. Thank you Ms. Picoult for once again bringing a difficult situation to light.
I cried and laughed . She is really makes you feel what she has to say