ISBN 13: 978-0345544957
Read Date: 03/17/2018 - 03/20/2018.
Publish Date: October 11th 2016
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult was a great read, albeit a massively difficult read.
This book was my literary introduction to Jodi Picoult. I was not disappointed.
Small Great Things is the intertwined story of 3 main people. Ruth, Turk and Kennedy. There are 2 things you need to know; First, Ruth is black. Second Turk is a White Supremacist. Ruth is a labor and Delivery nurse who is assigned to the after care of Turks newborn son Davis. Turk demands that Ruth be removed from his childs care and not be allowed access to the baby. The lead nurse, Ruths boss, allows the request. Rightfully upset by the new order, Ruth is removed from the care of Davis and re-assigned to another family. Following a routine circumcision, Davis is left under Ruths supervision due to an emergency in the L/D ward, when the childs condition deteriorates. Ruth is left with a choice. Obey the familys and her bosses orders and leave the child alone or follow her nurses oath and do what she can to aide the failing child.
Despite all efforts to help the ailing child, he does not survive. Entombed with grief, Turk blames Ruth for the death of his son and sets out to sue her personally for Murder.
You are taken through the trial prep, the trial and left with an outcome that you both expected and didn't. You are left with learning who changes and what changes them. While there is a large racial undertone to the entire story live, it is addressed both tastefully and head-on.
The book is fantastically written and while difficult to read, i did not want it to end.
It is not very often I add a vivid personal note to my reviews. However, I feel that in this case it is deserved. Given the current climate of racial tensions, this book was a head read, as well as a slap in the face. It takes you through what is felt on both sides. The constant fight of a minority to survive and be seen as who they are and what they can do rather than their skin color. As well as the things people say and do when faced with racism, fighting to convince everyone you don't see color, or that telling someone else " my best friend is * insert any race here * .. It makes you look hard at yourself, your thoughts and those around you. I've learned a few things about myself from reading this, both good and bad. I'm grateful for those lesson, as I don't know if I would have had to face them in another circumstance.
Reading this book made me uncomfortable, but i think that was partially the point.
So thank you Jodi Picoult, for putting this out into the world.
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