Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is simply fantastic !!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Synopsis->

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

Review ->

I have read a couple of Jodi’s books now and it is commendable how much effort and research she puts into each of her books. Small Great Things is a story about an African American Nurse (Ruth) who is on trial after the death of an infant on her watch . The infants parents are white supremist and that makes the situation a whole lot worse for Ruth.
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The story is narrated from multiple points of view – Ruth, Turk & Kennedy. Ruth’s story tells us how unfair society can be and how easy it is to judge and bucketize people into the stereotypes we hold . In spite of never having been actively discriminated against her whole life , Ruth faces backlash and can feel her carefully constructed life crumbling around her . The Infant’s parents are Turk & Britney , who are quick to blame Ruth for the unfortunate incident , because of who she is . The story from Turk’s perspective helps us understand how false agendas are spread among the unsuspecting young people . Ruth’s lawyer, Kennedy has lived most of her life oblivious to the racism around her & now it is all she can see . Her character provides the balance between the extremists and the accused. It is heartbreaking that this novel is based on real life incidents.
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Jodi’s books always teach me something & I love how well researched and reliable her writing is . My biggest takeaway from this book is the difference between active and passive racism and how both are equally damaging  . Another learning is the difference between equity and equality . “Equality is treating everyone the same , but equity is taking difference into account, so everyone has a chance to succeed.”
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The book is loaded with sensitive moral questions & will leave you wondering how aware you are of the discriminations happening around you. An eye opening read that will always stay with me .