Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Random House
Publishing Group - Ballantine
The book starts out with Ruth Jefferson, a respected African
American nurse in a Labor and Delivery Unit. One day she is removed from the
care of a child simply because the child’s parents are white supremacists and
don’t want her near them or their baby due to the color of her skin. The baby
develops medical issues and even though Ruth intervenes after some hesitation
the baby passes away. This leads to murder charges being filed against Ruth.
I didn’t read this book to enjoy it. I knew from the blurb
and the topic of race issues that it wasn’t meant to be a fun read but a
serious one. I was outraged on Ruth’s behalf due to the unfairness of the
charges but the author quickly points out that I am not allowed to be. I felt
like I was being preached at because I happen to be white. How dare I have any
empathy for a fellow human being who is being treated wrong? Just because I’m
not the same skin color I can’t relate?
The characters are complex and for the most part well
written. The courtroom drama is there. The racial tensions are high. Ruth has
several in depth conversations with her white attorney about why she can never
understand everything that she has gone through because she isn’t black. While
I understand what Picoult is trying to convey not everyone has reaped the
benefits of “white privilege”. Like it or not it needs to be said that there
are white people out there who have gone through similar things as to what Ruth
goes through.
The overall tone aside this book will certainly make you
think and question how you look at some things in the world. It was compelling
but it’s not an easy read.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley in return for
an honest review.
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