Small Great Things or Talk Great Big Things?

*spoiler alert*

I don’t know why I wrote that title, it really doesn’t make that much sense. Here we have though another review! I really am enjoying these, I think I will be keeping these up in the new year. I may be changing the lay outs of my reviews…Watch this space for more!

The reason I wrote the title that I did was because I feel like this book has brought up some great big issues, that are very relevant for today. So let’s talk!…Write as the case may be.

Jodi Picoult: Small Great Things

The Break Down :

Ruth Jefferson works in Connecticut Hospital as a labour and delivery nurse, she has worked confidently for over 20 years, and working for many years as a single mother. During one shift Ruth begins her routine checkup on a newborn and when she returns, she has been told that she had been reassigned. As you read further into the book you find out that the parents are white supremacist, who do not want an African American taking care of their baby.

The Hospital takes the side of the parents and posts a post-it note. Even though this rule IS discriminatory.

During the next day the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone with the baby. Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and when the baby dies, Ruth 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 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.

Positive:

This book is an interesting one to read and is strongly written as well. I felt so uncomfortable reading it, but I felt like I needed to read it. As a white woman, there are topics that come up in the book that I had never considered before. Even thought it made me feel uncomfortable, I am very glad that I read it. You can tell that Jodi Picoult actually put a lot of research into it.

Even thought it is an extremely depressing type and eye-opening written book, it was so well written that you keep reading. I did struggle to read it initially because I was finding the topic so hard to read about. I am one of those positive people, that just wants to believe in the best in people. I found it hard to read because I just wanted the Hospital to stand up for Ruth and I wanted the white supremacist to get “over themselves” so to speak. I don’t get being angry at someone when you don’t know them.

This is an eye opening book! I cannot repeat this enough!

Negative:

Even though it was a great book I just didn’t like the ending. It felt like an Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader kind of scenario. I felt that it just happened too fast. It wasn’t the result of the court case that annoyed me, that was great. It was the very last chapter, about the father of the dead baby.

What I mean by Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader fast. I mean that one of the characters suddenly seems to switch complete personality, like a total finger click. I am not going to say which character in this book does that. I am just having a hard time believing that someone would change that fast. Sure it jumps ahead a few years into the future in the last chapter, which might account for the change. Considering it’s the very next chapter though in “our world”, I just found it difficult to believe.

Overall:

Overall I really enjoyed the book, even though it did make me squirm and made me feel uncomfortable,e but it was not because of bad writing or bad characters. I highly recommend everyone read this book, no matter your colour of skin!

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