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Book Review of Small Great Things

Small Great Things
Small Great Things
Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
junie avatar reviewed on + 630 more book reviews


This is not my favorite story line. I don't like to read a book that "sends a message". The plot was all too familiar; white vs black vs white supremacy.

Ruth is a labor and delivery nurse for 20 years, on trial for murdering the baby of white supremacists She was told not to touch their as a sticky note was put in the file. When the baby went into cardiac arrest, she didn't know whether to act or not.

The defense lawyer Kennedy who takes on Ruth's case is a gem and is really the only character I liked; the relationship she had with her husband and the way she mothered her child. She truly cared about helping people.

On the other hand, Ruth was always on edge, has a chip on her shoulder and tries to prove something, while she lives in a white neighborhood, works in a white hospital, and only has white friends. She constantly pushes her bright son to be the best. She's ashamed of her sister who is blacker than she and lives in Harlem. She doesn't approve of him hanging around with his cousin since he smoked pot and ran around with friends she deemed unworthy.

SPOILER
The trial was interesting, I adore trial stories, but when Ruth defied her lawyer's plea's not to take the stand because she felt they already won, Ruth insisted and her anger got the better of her and caused an outburst at the white supremacists Zeke and wife Brit.

Kennedy discovered a shocking fact that Brit had a black mother she never knew who showed up at the trial, creating pandemonium.
Then came the closing arguments and Kennedy's was brilliant.

The ending was too perfect. All involved had a change of heart and were better people because of the tragic events that took place.

So all was right in the world?

So much was far-fetched and beyond belief.

All in all, I'm glad I read it anyway. Just not one of my favorites.
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