[Review] Small Great Things - Jodi Picoult

Summary: 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 African American, 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. (Pub Date: Oct 11, 2016)


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

An engaging drama that had me biting my nails for Ruth.

Ruth has been a diligent nurse for more than 20 years until one baby she wasn't supposed to touch dies under her watch. Kennedy is the public attorney who happens to cross Ruth's way and now will move the whole system if necessary to make people understand her client.

I need to state I really enjoy Picoult's novels. Barring one, I have loved all the books I've read to this day and Small Great Things has surely proved itself.

I should also say I was iffy when I understood the main theme: racism mostly from the point of view of a black character—Ruth. You do get good portion of Kennedy's and of the white supremacist dad of the baby (yes, the mess goes that deep), still the main character was Ruth without a doubt. One thing reading about the minorities fight has taught me was to just stay away if it's not mine, for they deserve the credit for every win. I can't say if Picoult got prove her value as I'm not a black person. On the other hand, Picoult did a terrific job on proving racism from the other angles. I wonder if one less familiar with the minorities would be able to grasp just how terrific this book was. So I'm afraid that this book may not please either the extremes, but I must repeat I loved it.

And what I loved was exactly the daring—oh my, 21st century and this is the adjective qualifying this—thematic.

Still, what I thought was missing from the book was the mystery. I mean, there are some minor twists but where is Picoult's big finale? I wasn't disappointed there wasn't one because the plot didn't leave much room for secrets—just a raw feeling of indignation on Ruth's behalf. But I wish there were one. I guess I tend to ask for too much when things look perfect.

My real criticism was the white supremacist dad. I think she wrote him in for us to hate him and man, did I hate that bastard! I just don't think those people deserve the chance to give their points of view. And the story was from beginning to end lenient on him.

But really, this book was wonderful! It is indeed long, I think as long as Picoult's works usually are. And yet, I tried to read it as slowly as possible because I couldn't let it go.

This is simply great for a group reading, it's full of points to be discussed on racism. And boy, do we need this discussed asap...!

Rating: 4 out of 5