Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

39 reviews

lcl_reads's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring sad

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

As a Black woman living in the United States who has read several novels by Jodi Picoult, I was curious to consider how this one would be handled, particularly because of what I know of Picoult's background. I must admit, I was a little shocked when the first "nigger" was dropped, but as I read I appreciated the way Picoult confronted her subject head on and without flinching.

As I was reading, I felt a bit conflicted about rating the book. I really appreciated this part of the author's note at the end: " I was writing to my own community - white people- who can very easily point to a neo-Nazi skinhead and say he's racist... but who can't recognize racism in themselves." I think my conflicted feelings are because this book is not written for me.

This book was bold in its pursuit and the amount of research and thought Picoult put into the topic was evident to me.

Some critiques I've read of the book are that Ruth's story is not as developed and I actually appreciated that. I would have loved to have more of the respectibility politics, colorism, and relationships between Ruth, her mother, and her sister explored. I also think Picoult was smart in identifying that that was not her story to tell nor was that the point of this particular book.

I think it is important to me to remember that no book can't be everything, so, yes, this book is not everything, but it is the story I think was right for Picoult to tell to the audience she has, from her position, with the support of the research she did and for what it is, it was executed as well as it could have possibly been.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Medical content, Death, Religious bigotry, Violence, Medical trauma, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Suicide

inirac's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Child death, Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Antisemitism, Grief, and Hate crime

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Blood, Self harm, and Medical trauma

lauragraceo's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Child death, Racism, and Hate crime

danyels_denouements's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Hate crime

schinavare's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Child death

Moderate: Hate crime

Minor: Suicide

cielo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Violence

caseyleigh1024's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Hate crime, Death, Child death, Violence, and Homophobia

destined_333's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Law, justice, racism, discrimination, and systemic issues

cheaploaf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was a ride. I really appreciated the 3 different angles it was told from. It was captivating, it was hard to put down. As a white person, it’s a book that made me think and reflect a lot. I appreciate Jodi Picoult’s author’s note and how extensive the research she did for the book was. I think it’s super important as a white author to be able to use your platform to talk about issues such as race.

I’m glad that the story didn’t revolve around white saviourism and that Kennedy didn’t even win Ruth her trial, the case was just acquitted. At first it seemed crazy to me that someone like Turk could end up on the complete opposite of the spectrum but I guess there are people out there like him in the real world.

Would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Murder, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, Slavery, and Miscarriage

mrs_elliott19's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I normally don’t write a hole sappy thing, but this boook!!!! I life is forever changed! I thing every needs to read this book at least once! I’m balling!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Bullying, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt