#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
One of the best she has written so far.
Thought provoking story told from both sides
This book was FANTASTIC!!! It addresses racial intolerance in a very real way. The story is so very we’ll written. It challenges the reader to see racism and prejudice for what it is, even if you must step out of your comfort zone to do so. I absolutely loved the main character, Ruth Jefferson, the neonatal nurse. Her character is written so well that I couldn’t help feeling her emotions first-hand. I highly recommend this book!!!!
This was an amazing eye opening book!!
The book takes a hard look at discrimination from different people’s perspectives. It makes one realize that bigotry is everywhere and can be all consuming.
Perhaps one of Piccoult’s better books, kept my interest from beginning to end. She always has such a good story line and develops her characters.
Loved the Characters that the author created. Very in-depth insights into the struggles and obstacles people face that we are oblivious to. A great enlightenment.
Thought provoking! And enjoyable
I am not sure any of these words describe Small Great Things but it was very hard to put down and at times difficult to read but an important read.
This was a very thought provoking novel. It gives you many incites into racial problems.
Thought provoking on many level
What a great book! Loved the topic(s). Very thought provoking in regards to discrimination. Will remember this book always.
Read it and immediately suggested it to my book club. My 91 year old moth st loved it. Caused her to remember being the only white nurse on the “black ward” in Virginia in the early 1950’s.
Quite thought provoking.
One of the best books I’ve read this year.
I enjoyed this book. Good character development. Thought provoking read.
One of my favorite books from start to finish. Can’t wait for our book club discussion this month! Ran the emotional scale from sweet to angry to shock to tears to happiness.
Everyone needs to read this. It’s perfect for the times
Made one think about racism
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is one of the best books I’ve read recently. The topic of race relations hits all of us. I thought about the topic a lot and how my past experiences with race relationships were not as I thought they were. I will be recommending this book to my book group for discussion.