Small Great Things Audiobook By Jodi Picoult cover art

Small Great Things

A Novel

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Small Great Things

By: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell, Ari Fliakos
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In “the most important novel Jodi Picoult has ever written” (The Washington Post), the acclaimed author tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn’t offer easy answers.

“A gripping courtroom drama . . . Given the current political climate it is quite prescient and worthwhile. . . . This is a writer who understands her characters inside and out.”—Roxane Gay, The New York Times Book Review

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: 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. Social justice Thought-Provoking Fiction Literary Fiction Scary Genre Fiction Sagas Heartfelt Inspiring Women's Fiction

Critic reviews

“Small Great Things is the most important novel Jodi Picoult has ever written. . . . It will challenge her readers . . . [and] expand our cultural conversation about race and prejudice.”—The Washington Post

“A novel that puts its finger on the very pulse of the nation that we live in today . . . a fantastic read from beginning to end, as can always be expected from Picoult, this novel maintains a steady, page-turning pace that makes it hard for readers to put down. It also allows for conversations to be had and for people to sit back and look at their lives, actions (past and present) and wonder how they will move forward. This is a fantastic book not only because it addresses something that happens in America and around the world every day, but it also shows us that change is possible too.”—San Francisco Book Review

“A gripping courtroom drama . . . Given the current political climate it is quite prescient and worthwhile. . . . This is a writer who understands her characters inside and out.”—Roxane Gay, The New York Times Book Review

“Small Great Things embraces . . . empathy, hope and humility.”—Newsday

“[An] author at the top of her heart-rending game.”—The National

“A gripping read about an issue of urgency.”—The Vancouver Sun

“A book that needs to be read.”—The Detroit News

“Exciting and fast-paced.”—New York Journal of Books

“[Picoult] offers a thought-provoking examination of racism in America today, both overt and subtle. Her many readers will find much to discuss in the pages of this topical, moving book.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Powerful . . . revelations abound.”—The Free Lance-Star

“Picoult has outdone herself.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“A courageous and important work.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“I couldn’t put it down. Her best yet!”—New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman

“A compelling, can’t-put-it-down drama with a trademark [Jodi] Picoult twist.”—Good Housekeeping

“It’s Jodi Picoult, the prime provider of literary soul food. This riveting drama is sure to be supremely satisfying and a bravely thought-provoking tale on the dangers of prejudice.”—Redbook

“Jodi Picoult is never afraid to take on hot topics, and in Small Great Things, she tackles race and discrimination in a way that will grab hold of you and refuse to let you go. . . . This page-turner is perfect for book clubs.”—Popsugar

Featured Article: The Absolute Best of Jodi Picoult in Audio


You’ve probably heard of Jodi Picoult and her stellar reputation in the world of contemporary fiction. Picoult’s novels explore topical issues through compelling stories that are often known for inspiring listeners to shed a tear. But Picoult is such a prolific writer that it can be difficult to know which audiobook to listen to first. Here are our suggestions for the best Jodi Picoult audiobooks—the ones that should go on your listening list straight away.

Featured Article The Absolute Best of Jodi Picoult in Audio
Compelling Narrative Structure • Thought-provoking Exploration • Unexpected Plot Twists • Emotional Impact

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When I saw the subject matter and that the author was white, I rolled my eyes. I thought here was go again, another white author trying to tell a story from a black perspective. I continued to roll my eyes through at least a third of the book. Then I realized she’s telling my story, my husband’s story, my sister’s and my friend’s stories. The book is told in such a way I forgot the author was white and appreciated the work. I’ve recommended it to several friends of all races. Can’t wait to hear their reactions.

Rolled my eyes

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I read a review from a listener before I got this book who said, “duh.” As a black 39 year old light skinned female with 2 degrees, I say, “duh.” Yes. That’s pretty much it. I’ve never read any of Picoult’s other novels. This one was recommended to me by an older white woman in a book club I’m a part of, where I’m the only woman of color and the youngest by at least 10 years. There is not a moment that goes by where I’m not thinking about my race as I interact with these ladies. There is not a moment that goes by when I’m at work that I don’t think of the old man standing at the counter in the south Texas store where I work threw his change at me because he’s racist and didn’t want to touch my hand, or if he’s just a jerk. There’s not a moment, when I am dropping my black son off at preschool that I don’t think about how my interaction with him will be viewed by the very nice people who run the school, and who also wore pro-Trump shirts for an entire month before the election.

So, yeah, this entire book is a summary of the very basics of what it’s like to be colored in this country. I say colored because you don’t have to be black, you can be brown like a Hispanic or Native American or Arab. This is non-white 101. This is the stuff I talk to my 4 year old black son about almost daily when I’m trying to tell him about his attitude at school and behavior in a store. Because when HE misbehaves, he’s not a typical 4 year old acting up, he’s a black kid being raised by a black Mom who’s out of control and not being raised right.

Uh, Yeah. That’s pretty much it.

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Jodi does not disappoint . She hits it out of the park! She touched every emotion possible .

Magnificent

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The first half of this novel was amazing! The protagonist is an African-American obstetrics nurse in conflict with a white supremacist. A baby dies, and the nurse is charge with murder. It was riveting and disturbing. The other major character is the white, female public defender. This novel is told from the point of view of the nurse, the white supremacist, and the lawyer. Each voice has a different reader, and all are great. The second half of the book deals head on with issues of racism and white privilege, and deals with them really well. The story suffers a little in Picoult's efforts to deal with these important issues. The second half was good, but not great, yet there were still many powerful and touching moments. The trial was especially engaging. I have read 3 or 4 of Jodi Picoult's novels, and I thought that this was by far her best.

Picoult's best!

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We who are white need to read this. Those of us who say “but I’m not a racist” need to read this. As a story this is gripping and moving and wonderful and awful in all the ways an amazing story should be (and then some). As a catalyst this book is fantastic and needed. Read this!

Read it!

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