Challenge Corner discussion

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.

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.

Stage One: Early Labor
(view spoiler)[
I don’t know how old the intended reader of this book is. Am I seriously supposed to recognize someone because they used to say, “The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC!” in the 60s? I mean, the book came out recently, right?

Edit: so I found a YouTube video of that line, and I actually do recognize the voice! Not sure where I have heard it, but I guess he really is famous enough that even a 90s kid can recognize him!
(hide spoiler)]

Stage One: Active Labor
(view spoiler)[
I was pretty shocked when Ruth decided not to do anything about the baby not breathing. I know his file said she wasn't supposed to care for him, but I kind of interpreted that to mean just if the parents were watching. And I definitely didn't think it applied in emergencies.

It seems like that's not what they're going after her for, though. Instead their evidence is one bad joke she made, and bruising on the baby's chest from when she gave him CPR while he was dying. Wtf.
(hide spoiler)]

50%
(view spoiler)[This sucked me in right away, not that I’m shocked—her books almost always do.
I like Ruth, despise Turk and Britt, and love Kennedy so far. My favorite parts are watching the tentative almost friendship develop between Kennedy and Ruth. My least favorite parts are anytime we’re in Turk’s POV.
This topic is so relevant, and so hard to take at the same time. I have gotten so angry and felt so upset already in this book and we haven’t even got to the trial yet :/ (hide spoiler)]

67%
(view spoiler)[I’m so upset that Ruth’s mom died ;-(
I really loved her character and spirit. Poor Ruth, she already has so much to deal with. (hide spoiler)]

Stage One: Transition
(view spoiler)[
I liked seeing them going through all the potential jurors and decide which ones to reject. I'm wondering how realistic it was, though, especially all the research. Given how many cases Kennedy is handling right now, I don't see how she has time to devote so much effort into just one of them.
(hide spoiler)]

Stage Two: Pushing
(view spoiler)[
The trial was definitely the most interesting part of the book so far! I feel like the pace really picked up in this part. I did find the big speech about implicit bias to the jury a bit corny. It reminded me of Roark in The Fountainhead. Actually, this whole book reminds me a little bit of The Fountainhead, in that it had characters I care about and an interesting plot, was also was constantly beating me over the head with its Point.
(hide spoiler)]

Stage Three: Afterbirth
(view spoiler)[
Turk certainly changed a lot! I think it was kind of foreshadowed during the book, since there were a few moments where he questioned his worldview. That’s good. Otherwise it would have felt like too much a change to spring on me at the end.
(hide spoiler)]

Stage One: Early & Active Labor
(view spoiler)[
My heart aches for Ruth. There are parts of this book that are really hard for me to read, and I am someone who was born with fair skin, blonde hair, blue eyes. It makes me angry that such situations could easily be a reality in today's world. (hide spoiler)]

77%
(view spoiler)[OMG I can’t believe Turk’s outburst in court!! Ruth is going to win!! She’s got to! That was so perfect and I love the way Kennedy goaded him!! Haha (hide spoiler)]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Okay, I was mad at Ruth for still wanting to take the stand and basically throw away her win at first. But then I totally got it. Her win wouldn’t truly be a win for her, just pushing her back down hiding how she truly felt. She always needed to say her piece. I’m so glad she got to, and so glad Kennedy realized and gave the closing she did emphasizing what Ruth said. It was great.

I also kind of wished it just ended before the epilogue/afterbirth. I know it SAYS 6 years later...and I love the concept of change for the better...but it doesn’t FEEL like it’s been a long time at all since Turk was a raging white supremacist. So it’s hard to believe kind of. I do like that he randomly ended up in Ruth’s office though, and that we could find out she opened her own center. So it wasn’t bad at all, just hard to believe Turk’s change when just chapters before he was basically evil. (hide spoiler)]

Stage One: Transition
(view spoiler)[
I like Ruth and Kennedy's relationship, and how both are learning from each other. The psychology behind choosing the perfect jury is so fascinating to me. I'm interested to see how this trial goes... (hide spoiler)]

Stage Two: Pushing
(view spoiler)[
My emotions during this part: "Ruthhhh, how could you?!" "Edison, whyyy?!" "OMG Kennedy- you get it!" "Omg-Brit's-mom-whaaaaa" "YESSSSS!!!!" (hide spoiler)]

Stage Three: Afterbirth
(view spoiler)[
I appreciate the afterword from Jodi Picoult. It is my hope that I can, also, do small great things to check our own perspective and entitlement. May education and compassion lead the way as we try to change our world. (hide spoiler)]

Keri wrote: "Finished! (view spoiler)[
Okay, I was mad at Ruth for still wanting to take the stand and basically throw away her win at first. But then I totally got it. Her win wouldn’t truly be a win for her, just pushing her..." (hide spoiler)]

I totally agree! Turk's change didn't feel genuine. The ending felt a little too Disney-fied, wrapped up perfectly.