Incredibly powerful and moving, Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is full of honesty and empathy.
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse with 20 years of experience. When Ruth begins a routine check-up of a newborn baby, she’s quickly reassigned cases. The parents are a white supremacist couple and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, on their case. Ruth is told to stay away from the child, however when the team is short staffed she is the only one left to care for him when he goes into cardiac distress. Ruth is left with the impossible decision of whether to obey orders or intervene…
Ruth is charged with a serious crime and we are brought along for the court case that ensues. Small Great Things is told from the perspectives of Ruth, Turk (the white supremacist father of the baby), and Kennedy (Ruth’s lawyer). It was both fascinating (and at times horrifying) to get into the heads of these 3 characters.
I was extremely impressed by Picoult’s ability to make these hard and uncomfortable topics approachable through her writing. To me, this is a book that everyone should read.
It was also really interesting to read about Picoult’s research for the story and motivation for writing this book. I definitely recommend reading her author’s note.
Top quotes:
“It just goes to show you: every baby is born beautiful. It’s what we project on them that makes them ugly.”
“…I knew that sometimes when people spoke, it wasn’t because they had something important to say. It was because they had a powerful need for someone to listen.”
“She is hunched over in her seat in the gallery, a human question mark, as if her whole body is asking why this happened to us.”
Dream by Day 
It sounds like a very interesting and emotional story!
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It really is, parts of the story were heavy and full of emotion!
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Oh wow,this sounds great.I recently got this book because I like Jodi’s writing.It sounds intriguing and glad to see that you enjoyed it.Great review!
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She’s such a talented writer! I really enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it 🙂
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Wow! I’ll have to read that one!
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Hi. I enjoyed the review. I haven’t read any of the author’s work yet but wanted to start with one of her books in the near future. Would this be the one you recommend?
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Thank you! This is actually the first book I’ve read by Jodi, but I absolutely recommend it! I’ve also heard Nineteen Minutes is really powerful.
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This on is on my November TBR and I am really looking forward to it 🙂 Great review!
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Thank you! I hope you enjoy it too 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Vanishing Writer.
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I LOVE Jodi Picoult – and next week I’m going to hear her speak about Small Great Things at our local cathedral, so hugely excited about that!! The price of our ticket includes a signed copy of the book too so that’s just amazing! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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That’s amazing! I would absolutely LOVE to hear her speak in person, she’s such a wonderful author. Have a great time!
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