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Small Great Things
741 pages
A tense, issue-driven legal drama that forces its characters to confront the uncomfortable realities of prejudice and privilege.
What it feels like
This issue-driven legal drama immerses the reader in a fraught, emotionally charged atmosphere where personal tragedy collides with systemic prejudice. The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, building tension as it moves from the sterile, high-stakes environment of a hospital ward into the rigid confines of a courtroom. It feels heavy and probing, asking difficult questions about moral ambiguity, professional duty, and the insidious nature of white supremacy. The prose is accessible and deeply empathetic, focusing on the internal friction of characters who are forced to dismantle their most closely held beliefs. It is a perfect fit for readers who gravitate toward thought-provoking women's fiction that uses the framework of a courtroom thriller to explore complex social realities and the difficult journey toward cross-cultural understanding.
- Mood
- fraught
- emotionally charged
- heavy
- reflective
- Tone
- earnest
- probing
- tense
- empathetic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- systemic racism · moral ambiguity · the weight of prejudice · cross-cultural empathy · professional duty
- The writing
- Accessible and character-driven, focusing on internal conflicts and the stark realities of the courtroom.
- The arc
- Moves from a shocking, tragic inciting incident through a tense, defensive struggle, culminating in a profound re-evaluation of deeply held beliefs.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate issue-driven women's fiction and legal dramas that tackle complex social issues head-on.
Content notes
- racism
- white supremacy
- infant death
- medical trauma
About the book
"A woman and her husband admitted to a hospital to have a baby requests that their nurse be reassigned - they are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is black, to touch their baby. The hospital complies, but the baby later goes into cardiac distress when Ruth is on duty. She hesitates before rushing in to perform CPR. When her indecision ends in tragedy, Ruth finds herself on trial, represented by a white public defender who warns against bringing race into a courtroom. As the two come to develop a truer understanding of each other's lives, they begin to doubt the beliefs they each hold most dear"--Provided by publisher.
Description from Open Library.
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