Small Great Things: A Novel
Oct 2016 · Ballantine Books
4.7star
178 reviewsreport
eBook
496
Pages
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About this eBook
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In “the most important novel Jodi Picoult has ever written” (The Washington Post), the acclaimed author tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn’t offer easy answers.
“A gripping courtroom drama . . . Given the current political climate it is quite prescient and worthwhile. . . . This is a writer who understands her characters inside and out.”—Roxane Gay, The New York Times Book Review
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth 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 Black, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. 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 gives unexpected advice: 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 for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.
“A gripping courtroom drama . . . Given the current political climate it is quite prescient and worthwhile. . . . This is a writer who understands her characters inside and out.”—Roxane Gay, The New York Times Book Review
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth 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 Black, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. 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 gives unexpected advice: 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 for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.
Ratings and reviews
4.7
178 reviews
Victor Padilla
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11 October 2016
If you consider yourself a "white person" now is the time to speak out for fairness, and equality in this u.s. a. . Don't be scared, learn, earn, shake off the fear and speak the truth of respect for all human beings. Lets live it. This novel will help you get the courage to clean up our country"s consciousness. Dr. P
32 people found this review helpful
Toni FGMAMTC
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16 December 2016
This is a really good story about the subject of race. It does a great job of letting the reader feel everyone's point of view, and it gives so much food for thought. I was able to have empathy for all the characters even when I didn't agree on certain points. It brought things to the forefront that just don't come into a person's mind naturally. I'll definitely be digesting some of this story for awhile. Also, I didn't expect some of the turns the plot took toward the end. This book is definitely worth reading.
3 people found this review helpful
Cassandra Ford
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29 December 2017
I was grateful for her thorough explanation at the end of the research she did to try to create an honest and accurate novel on race. It paid off, and I appreciated some of thoughts/beliefs that it challenged in me. The characters really come to life in this book, and it creates a very special empathy building opportunity. Enjoyed reading this great book about humanity, racism, and facing your truth.
About the author
Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including By Any Other Name, Mad Honey (co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan), Wish You Were Here, The Book of Two Ways, A Spark of Light, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.
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