#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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Love this author, whose subject matter is so current, it always seems to make the headlines. Her writing style suits me, I get more out of a story with alternating viewpoints. It gives me a chance to evaluate my feelings and opinions, and also the ones of those around me. Great discussion books. More than once, her topics have hit home, and as with life, sometimes there’s no happy ending.
As a nurse, I could put myself in the situation of the story. I hope I would have handled the problem differently and avoided the ensuing legal issues. I found the story credible.
A much read in these times of divisiveness and racism that is often hidden.
one of my favorite books!
Given the state of our country and the division between races, this book helps the reader gain a better understanding of the racial struggles African Americans endure in the midst of a normal life. Once again, Picoult does a great job building her characters so you are able to put yourself in their shoes and as a result, show up in the world in a more mindful way. Picoult does not disappoint in the climatic point of her book which puts everything into perspective. After reading this novel, I feel more aware of the subtle hints of racism that exist in our world, and as a result, vow to do my part to treat all humans as equal.
I did not like this book after the first few chapters. Then, as usual for Ms Picoult, it got better & they figured it all out in the end. Her topics sometimes make me quite uncomfortable. But she usually finds an okay ending pulling it all together.
Writing novels of depth and demand, stories that ask the reader to reach beyond entertainment to additionally be moved by an idea, a concept, a discussion that involves controversy and debate, is always risky for a writer. Some readers don’t want to work that hard, some might not agree with the conclusions drawn; others might be offended by explorations of diverse lives and characters. And some, like me, are thrilled to be pricked by ideas, provocations, questions surrounding a story that propels forward with nail-biting intensity. Small Great Things is one of those stories.
The narrative involves a black neonatal nurse, Ruth, and the white supremacist couple whose child dies under her watch, an event that immediately throws us into the deep water of intense, skin scraping racial conflict. The resulting court case that evolves from this tragedy pulls together myriad perspectives about who did what, why; who didn’t do what they should have and who’s in the wrong. The attendant conflicts amongst the many characters involved drives the plot forward with a careening sense of “we don’t know where this is going,” which is thrilling and unnerving.
Picoult shows no fear in taking us into the grit and gut-punching (literally) reality of white supremacy, its philosophies and calculations, its terrifying hatred and sociopathic disregard for human life, and we are asked to listen, watch, absorb how a rabid racist is grown and nurtured so that a culture of hate and bigotry can survive. It’s brutal and it’s disturbing, because in the midst of darkness, we also see – via the first-person narrative of Turk, the young father — his capacity for tender feelings for his wife and his lost son, which confounds how we view someone with such a misguided sense of humanity.
Ruth’s world is equally rich in detail and character. At a time when some in the publishing and reading world feel that white authors ought not take on stories and characters of other races— which I believe is censoring and antithetical to the mission of art and creativity—a truer mandate emerges: that any author writing about any person, place, or thing outside their culture, their experience, their planet, their gender, their age, their race is obligated to do one thing: the work to GET IT RIGHT. That requires in-depth research, experiential exploration, a sensitivity to nuances of language and vernacular, an awareness of idiosyncrasies, idioms, predilections, authenticity. Engagement with sensitivity readers and people of the demographic being depicted to sharpen truth and offer honest, thoughtful, meaningful prose.
If you read Picoult’s Author’s Note at the end of the book, it’s clear this writer did that work, and the resultant depth of her depiction of Ruth and her family confirms that. Their background, their passions and positions on various topics; their pain and sorrow, their anger and joy; their love of family. We climb inside that world and feel both Ruth’s pride and sense of accomplishment for all she’s achieved despite the corrosive effect of systemic racism in America, as well as her panic, her fear that this beautiful world she’s created will crumble around her. We feel every hurt and are drawn into her story with tremendous empathy and illumination.
Some reviewers commented that they don’t want to read works that put forth a political view, that offer some enlightenment, debate, argument on difficult topics, but I am the opposite. I find nothing more satisfying than immersing myself in a page-turning novel that grabs my attention and pulls me urgently toward the conclusion, while offering something of merit and meaning in the tale.
Small Great Things is just that book.
Not up to Ms Picoults normal… sort of boring in it’s predictability!
Like this writer a lot.
Characters draw you into a scenario that is based on a true story. It speaks to strength and resolve, ignorance and hate, and ultimately irony…
I’ve recommended this book to anyone who actively reads, I loved it!
This book was very thought provocative about racial issues from a few key characters, I’m white and like to think not a racist, but it makes you realize that there is quite a divide between races and why. I think things can improve when people are able to understand both sides more.
Again, another entertaining book with a moral to it. I love how she is able to weave interesting, easy enough to read stories around issues of humanity and morality.
Makes one look at their own biases and prejudices in a whole new way.
Enlightening!
written by a white attorney trying to understand the black person. this book really makes you think and is not so easy to read. With that said, it is written so well and has so much to say! You will not be able to put it down!!! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!
As usual this author touches on a subject that happens all too often. Tragic but the ending was very uplifting.
A wonderful novel viewing the aspects of racial discrimination. Jodi Picoult is at her best!
Great story and very timely in today’s culture.
I loved this book. It is the first Picoult book I’ve read and I would like EVERYONE to read it and give it thought.
I enjoy books that have a moral dilemma, and Jodi Picoult does an excellent job in keeping you on pins and needles to the end of the story before you know what the outcome will be. The characters in this book were so realistic, that I was definitely not sure what Ruth’s fate would be. Thank you, Jodi for giving us the point of view from both sides of the issue, and a lesson in human nature at the same time.