Small Great Things

A Novel

De: Jodi Picoult

Narrado por: Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell, Ari Fliakos

2017 Audie Awards, Winner

Number-one New York Times Best Seller

With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma that will lead listeners to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race, Small Great Things is the stunning new pause-resister from Jodi Picoult.

Soon to be a major motion picture

“[Picoult] offers a thought-provoking examination of racism in America today, both overt and subtle. Her many readers will find much to discuss in the pages of this topical, moving book.” (Booklist [starred review])

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than 20 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.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion - and doesn’t offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

Praise for Small Great Things

“Small Great Things is the most important novel Jodi Picoult has ever written.... It will challenge her readers...[and] expand our cultural conversation about race and prejudice.” (The Washington Post)

“A novel that puts its finger on the very pulse of the nation that we live in today...a fantastic read from beginning to end, as can always be expected from Picoult, this novel maintains a steady, page-turning pace that makes it hard for readers to put down.” (San Francisco Book Review)

©2016 Jodi Picoult (P)2016 Random House Audio

WOW! Great book. A must read.

I honestly have never read a book that isn't a mystery or thriller. Yet this book was highly recommended. This book has left me truly thinking & feeling all the pain with Ruth & Kennedy. I was haunted for days of how she educated us without trying . I love the social justice in this book and how every individual may walk away feeling something but it brings societies ignorance with social justice even if we think it doesn't affect them. I truly loved the way our author wrote this book. She took every aspect of this book & gave you the insight of how they think or feel. I never saw the ending coming, I never expected the twist with Brittany. But most of all, I love the story, the journey & the title of this book.

Read the last chapter, the author expresses why she choose this storyline. So well done.

Stunning

Jodi Picoult is a fantastic teacher and unbelievably wondrous writer. I believe "Small Great Things" should be required reading for high school students.

Bold, Difficult and Provoking.

This is a bold, difficult and provoking book that I listened to in two days. It makes the reader think, feel and question. It is often offensive -- not because the author offends but because the reader knows these things are real and that is offensive. The book exposes things that are hard to think about.

I liked Ruth and Kennedy. I hated Turk and those in his circle. All of that is expected. What makes it more interesting though is that Turk is also loving to his wife and son. He is even sweet when he talks about his love story. He isn't a caricature of a white supremacist. Or maybe he is. But there are still aspects of his personality that are likable.

I never post spoilers, so this next comment will not be illustrated -- I hated the ending. I may have given this book five stars if the ending were stronger and less perfect.

The narration was very good. I loved the voices for Kennedy and Ruth as they were quite distinct and it was easy to stay with the storyline. This book flows well, and the emotion is tight; the narration allows the emotion and allows for the offensive words to shock but not startle the reader out of the story.

A STORY SO REAL

Any additional comments?

Loved this book. It felt so real to learn that an African American woman would be targeted in a hospital where she had an amazing reputation. It does expose the prejudices that still might exist. The story also begs us to dig into our hidden prejudices. Great job!

Outstanding book

GREAT ALL AROUND!!!!!!! Recommended it to everyone I've come in contact with this week!!! This book spoke to my soul!!!! I haven't felt so many emotions listening to a boo

Excellent story telling on an important issue.

This book takes a look at an issue that plagues the US, racism. It gives perspectives of those on different ends of the spectrum. One individual who is discriminated against everyday, one individual who is overtly racist and one individual who is implicitly racist. It gives us the opportunity to look at ourselve and ask what we can do to change the way things are.

A myriad of similarities

I'm an African American woman, a nurse, a mother, and a woman who's seemed to have "gotten out". I'm also a woman that faces racism in varying ways and degrees. Although I now know that this book was written by a woman not of color, I am no less convinced that it speaks truth, even from MY point of view.

Informative

I struggled with this book in the beginning as I despise the word "nigger". But I've never read a book that made me understand how it is to be a different color. Thank you

Monumental

Every person on this Earth needs to read this eye and mind opening masterpiece. We are all works in progress. This story will move each of us ahead, progressing a bit more towards self awareness, human interaction, and opening our hearts to each other. Thank you Jodi, for inspiring me at this old age of 67. Bless you!

Simply Great

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I actually ordered this book by accident, but now I realize that everything happens for a reason. I NEEDED this book! It is a great story of course, but it has profound lessons in acceptance, love, hate, freedom and prejudice.

What did you like best about this story?

We are all Ruth Jefferson (the main character). African American women come from a long line of strong women. Our ancestors strength is planted in our DNA! Ruth displays this strength as she finds her life turned upside down, intertwined and face to face with the dark side of the human character.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Turk the Jerk met up with Ruth later on in life and explained how he was able to come out of the fog of hate and into light of love.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I came away asking myself serious questions about my own thoughts on race relations. I'm still pondering the answers.