Some books entertain you. Some books challenge the way you see the world.
SMALL GREAT THINGS by by Jodi Picoult is a powerful, thought-provoking novel about prejudice, privilege, justice, and the moments that force people to confront who they truly are.
On its 10th anniversary, this story still feels as urgent and emotionally impactful as ever.
When Ruth Jefferson, an experienced labor and delivery nurse, is ordered not to touch the newborn of white supremacist parents, one impossible moment sets off a chain of events that changes multiple lives. As Ruth faces devastating consequences, a courtroom battle unfolds alongside deeper questions about race, bias, fear, and what it really means to do the right thing.
Themes
⚖️ Justice & accountability
🖤 Prejudice & systemic bias
💡 Privilege & awareness
🤍 Courage under pressure
👩🏽⚕️ Identity & resilience
🗣️ Difficult conversations
Tropes
📚 Multi-POV storytelling
⚡ Moral dilemmas
🏛️ Courtroom drama
🔍 Social commentary fiction
💥 Life-changing moment
🧩 Character transformation
Recommended For Readers who love emotionally layered fiction, discussion-worthy books, morally complex stories, and novels that stay with you long after the final page.
📌 10th Anniversary Edition: This deluxe edition includes a brand-new introduction from Jodi, cover art, gorgeous sprayed edges and a stamped case.
QOTD: Have you read this book? What’s a book you read years ago that still feels relevant today?
Book Info:
Published: March 31, 2026 | Ballantine Books |
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 Black, 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: She 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.
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