The Challenge Factory discussion

Angie & Ezi - Small Great Things

by Jodi Picoult
BLURB:
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.

I got the book oday from the library. Reeady to read it when you are.

Ok. I'm still waiting but I'm first up

That's fine

Ok. I just got my audiobook so let me finish . I think tomorrow or Wednesday if you want

Sounds good.

Monday...as in tomorrow morning?

Works for me

I am on chapter 3:

I get so sick of hearing "a black/brown/white man" killed my loved one...so I hate the entire race or I'm scared of them.
This nurse is tenderly treating your infant and all Turk notices is her skin color!

BTW, his grandfather and the camping thing was wicked. He basically toss that kid to the wolves when he took his backpack tent and camping gear. Plus it was 6 degrees. That's just cruel, and awful

Why do your think Ruth keeps checking on Davis Bower? She seems to be fixated on this child?

Wow. First the hospital puts Ruth in an untenable situation where she is told not to care for a child because the racist parents don't want her. Then they are understaffed and she had to watch the child who of course dies during her watch.

Now the hospital attorney Carla Luango throws Ruth under the bus! Wow. That attorney is trying to distance the institution (hospital ) from their employee (individual)

I don't like The Bauers at all. I agree with you who kicks out a nurse that's caring for your child all because of her skin color.

I think Ruth keeps checking on Davis because she cares and still wants to do her job.

Turk's grandfather is an asshole.

So Ruth is 44 years old, worked for 20 years at that Mercy Hospital. I can't believe it's so easy to sacrifice her but I guess they felt they had to put her on the sword for the best interest of the hospital

Irony: After the issue with the Bauers, Ruth has to put her faith in a white public defender and the prosecutor is a black woman.

So according to Brit's father, her mother left them for a black man when she was 6 months old. That's certainly fire on their hate. But I don't believe him anyway. He's a liar. Who knows why she left his hateful ass.

All things considered, I loved Turk's proposal to Brit. It was sweet corny and personal.

But they are still hatemongers

Loved Rain's change of perspective, though Turk will never be friends with him again. They hate turncoats more than anyone

Irony: Prosecutor (ADA) is Black trying to show racist motivations and public defender is White trying to show her black client is a victim

I like what Edison said that as black people we have the burden of proof everyday to show we are....

So Turk Bauer asked from Ruth to be forbidden from doing her job but is mad that she didn't do her job????
Make up your mind, jerk!

I don't think Ruth had a right to rail at the Prosecutor Odette Lawson. She is just doing her job and it's not her fault. Though I think it's intentional that they chose a black person to try this case.
Definite posturing by the state

Do you think Marie Malone (Ruth's supervisor) bears some blame? Why or why not? What should she have done differently if anything?

It took five months to go to trial. That's a long time for both parties but actually quick for our overloaded court system.

Unfortunately Ruth is being her own worse enemy. She lost sight of what's important. Her freedom and being with her child Guding him towards college and freedom.

What's the point of adding the characters of Wallace and Ruth?

Why would Ruth say that it was better that the baby was dead than raised by The Bauers?

I refuse to believe an educated woman would piss away her future just to be "heard". She is having a breakdown.

I've literally just started this one this morning, I'm about 12% in on the audio book and I'm shocked already!
I'm up to where he has just figured out about his father and put him in hospital.

I can't believe that someone is so hurtful because of the colour of someone's skin, Turk is a douche!

Brittany Bauer's mom appears. OMG!!!!!!!
(view spoiler)[ she's black?????
Her racist ass daddy Francis loved a black woman? Turk loved a half-black daughter.
What a whopper of a twist!! (hide spoiler)]

V Nerd wrote: "I've literally just started this one this morning, I'm about 12% in on the audio book and I'm shocked already!
I'm up to where he has just figured out about his father and put him in hospital.

I c..."

I'm glad you are here V!!!

I haven't got to where you are Ezi but I'm loving the dynamics in the story.

Seriously did they really have to break down Ruth's doors at 3am. Just to handcuff both her and her son. Honestly what is Ruth suppose to think about all of this.

I thought Turk's proposal was sweet too.

Glad you joined us V!

I have finished!!!
This one was definitely touching and moving. The ending was dramatic to say the least.

Oh wow!

Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ wrote: "Oh wow!"

I was quite engrossed in this story. It was just angsty and I had to see the end

Francis and Turk: (view spoiler)[ the very people whom they had lead and gave all of their young lives to, BEAT THEM UP.
All because of Brit's mom.

I wonder what happened to him after the Verdict (hide spoiler)]

Omg the baby has gone

And they've walked in and seen it !

I can see where this is going ....

V Nerd wrote: "And they've walked in and seen it !

I can see where this is going ...."

In real life, waiting area is removed from where babies are recovering. This was just a tragedy waiting to happen.
I felt terrible for all involved

I need you two to read with me. I got the audio and want to start today

OOhh had no idea she had a new one out, need to have a look

Ezinwanyi~ThatEzi wrote: "V Nerd wrote: "And they've walked in and seen it !

I can see where this is going ...."

In real life, waiting area is removed from where babies are recovering. This was just a tragedy waiting to h..."

I can't believe this is actually based on a real story, i mean WTF!!!!

V Nerd wrote: "OOhh had no idea she had a new one out, need to have a look"

It's a new release today but I've been watching it for a while and I just Bought the audio a few minutes ago.

V Nerd wrote: "Ezinwanyi~ThatEzi wrote: "V Nerd wrote: "And they've walked in and seen it !

I can see where this is going ...."

In real life, waiting area is removed from where babies are recovering. This was j..."

I knew it was based loosely on a real story.

Her licence has been revoked What the hell???

V Nerd wrote: "Her licence has been revoked What the hell???"

You knew it was headed this way, right?

ugh this is bullshit!

V Nerd wrote: "ugh this is bullshit!"

When someone whom you feel hates you was alone with your baby and your "healthy baby" all of a sudden dies, that's suspicious

Oh Eddison that really is not going to help your mom

ok I did NOT see that coming#!!!

V Nerd wrote: "Oh Eddison that really is not going to help your mom"

I thought Edison did a really stupid thing. But it seems like him and his mother Ruth really stopped talking and leaning on each other.
Ruth wasn't listening to him and dealing with her son's fears and pain.

The bullying at school was mean too

just finished, loved this one, it's only the 2nd one if hers I've read and I've given them both 5 stars, maybe I have a new go-to author lol

V Nerd wrote: "just finished, loved this one, it's only the 2nd one if hers I've read and I've given them both 5 stars, maybe I have a new go-to author lol"

She's a great writer

I finished this tonight. I'm floored by her writing. Definitely got a new fan in me.

She did so well with this book, it is a tough subject to write about

Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ wrote: "I finished this tonight. I'm floored by her writing. Definitely got a new fan in me."

The twist with Brit's mom was just like OMG!