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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
reviewed on + 147 more book reviews


I've heard of Jodi Picoult but never read any of her books before this one which was loaned to me by a friend. The book was engaging but there were some things that I found a bit unbelievable. The note in the chart, which started the whole thing, was shocking but, as some other reviewers noted, that actually happened to a black nurse in Flint, MI. The fact that Ruth, the main character, who had been a nurse for 20+ years, felt she had to lie about her efforts to save baby Davis seems far fetched. And, then she continued to lie about it until nearly the end of her trial.

The cops breaking into Ruth's house in the middle of the night to arrest her also stretches the imagination. As the trial is nearly over and an acquittal seems likely, Ruth takes the stand and decides to go against her attorney's advice just to make a point. Seemed out of character for Ruth. She could have waited until after the trial was over and then given an interview.

There were a couple of interesting twists at the very end.