Small Great Things
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4.6 • 300 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A woman is caught in a gripping moral dilemma that resonates far beyond her place in time and history in #1 New York Times bestseller Jodi Picoult's latest novel.
A young woman and her husband, admitted to hospital to have a baby, request that their nurse be reassigned--they are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is black, to touch their baby. The hospital complies, but the baby later goes into cardiac distress when Ruth is on duty. She hesitates before rushing in to perform CPR. When her indecision ends in tragedy, Ruth finds herself on trial, represented by a white public defender who warns against bringing race into the courtroom. As the two come to develop a truer understanding of each other's lives, they begin to doubt the beliefs they each hold most dear.
Praise for Small Great Things
“I couldn’t put it down. Her best yet!”—New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman
“A compelling, can’t-put-it-down drama with a trademark [Jodi] Picoult twist.”—Good Housekeeping
“It’s Jodi Picoult, the prime provider of literary soul food. This riveting drama is sure to be supremely satisfying and a bravely thought-provoking tale on the dangers of prejudice.”—Redbook
“Jodi Picoult is never afraid to take on hot topics, and in Small Great Things, she tackles race and discrimination in a way that will grab hold of you and refuse to let you go. . . . This page-turner is perfect for book clubs.”—Popsugar
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult's 24th novel, is the remarkable story of an African-American nurse, a white supremacist couple, and one infant whose fate pits them against each other. But it’s so much more: an insightful exploration of the overburdened American justice system, a potent meditation on race, and a dramatic tour de force. The New York Times bestselling author is a supremely gifted storyteller whose characters are never less than unforgettable.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestselling author Picoult's latest page-turner is inspired by a Flint, Mich., event in which a white supremacist father refused to allow an experienced African-American labor and delivery nurse to touch his newborn. In Picoult's story, a medical crisis results in an infant's death and a murder charge against a black nurse named Ruth Jefferson. The story unfolds from three viewpoints: Ruth's, the infant's father a skinhead named Turk and Ruth's public defender, Kennedy McQuarrie, a white professional woman questioning her own views about racism. The author's comprehensive research brings veracity to Ruth's story as a professional black woman trying to fit into white society, to Turk's inducement into the white-power movement, and to Kennedy's soul-searching about what it's like to be black in America. Unfortunately, the author undermines this richly drawn and compelling story with a manipulative final plot twist as well as a Pollyannaish ending. Some may be put off by the moralistic undertone of Picoult's tale, while others will appreciate the inspiration it provides for a much-needed conversation about race and prejudice in America.
Customer Reviews
Very informativw
As a very privileged white woman, it was really helpful to be placed in the shoes of a black woman experiencing discrimination. It did follow the usual Picoult plot but because it was my first of her books to have ever read I didn’t find it very predictable, as I probably would now. I really appreciate this narrative and I found it very insightful into a world I am very fortunate to not experience. It opened my eyes a lot and has changed my worldview for the better. The characters had a good amount of depth and I even found myself at times sympathizing with the antagonist despite him being a deplorable person. Picoult really did the research here and brought life to the characters which made this book hard to put down and even harder to get over after I finished the novel. I recommend this book especially in these current times as a great way to inform yourself how to do better for marginalized individuals.
Small Great things
One of the best books ever written
Small Great Things
I couldn't put it down. I am a fan a big fan of this author. I just have to say this is her best work and she's done amazing work in the past. I hope this becomes a movie. I hope all the people I have told about this book will read it. I hope we all learn more about ourselves and each other. I hope healing can begin and hate can stop. I hope we all wake up before it's to late. Thank you for this courageous act - we need this so much right now.