Small Great Things - Jodi Picoult ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

 

A legal story focusing on race in America 

"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way"

-Martin Luther King Jr-  

Small Great Things is a book that weaves around
the life of Ruth; an African American labour
and delivery nurse. She's faced with workplace
discrimination when two white supremacists:
Turk and Brittany Bauer stop her from doing
her job. When their newborn dies within three
days of birth, the grieving parents seek revenge
from Ruth who was with the baby at the time of
death. The parents suing Ruth have much to do
with their own hate and grief rather than any
fault of the nurse. 

The state files a lawsuit charging Ruth of murder
and negligent homicide. A legal case presumes.
Kennedy, a white public defender acts as her
savior figure. Even though the characters are
somewhat stereotypical they allow us to take a
look into the lives of both parties involved in
this matter especially for someone who doesn't
have a first hand experience of racism in
America.

At the trial Ruth was advised not to give
testimony as her case was winning, but
she risked the chance of losing because
ultimately freedom for her was not just staying
out of jail but making her voice heard.
The novel is more than just disheartening cases
of racism; the reader can find a comic relief
in the relationship of Kennedy and her doctor
husband Micah. 

What I personally liked most about Picoult's
writing is that she shows that everyone has a
backstory. Her message is strong when she
implies that everyone behaves the way they do
for a reason. The legal aspect of the book
makes it a thrilling page turner. She also deals
with the issue of how extremists are made of
young minds without a purpose.

However, the book had a rushed ending and
it was also packed with a lot of race related
themes which made the story a bit bleak.
The story shows how both good and bad
have roots most powerful. We are made aware
that emotions like fear, anger, and grief can grow
into indiscriminate prejudice and hatred.
Picoult ultimately shows that redemption is
possible regardless of past mistakes.