A Book, A Mirror: Seeing Ourselves in Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
A Story That Demands to Be Heard
Some stories entertain us, others inform us—but a rare few hold up a mirror and ask us to look closely. Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things is one of those rare stories. Told through the powerful format of a full-cast audiobook, it becomes more than just a novel. It becomes a personal reckoning, a call to question the stories we’ve inherited, and a challenge to see the world—and ourselves—more clearly.
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When I tapped play on Small Great Things, I expected a thoughtful, well-crafted legal drama. What I didn’t expect was to be completely absorbed by the emotional weight of the story, the strength of the characters, and the deeply layered themes it explores. With its brilliant narration and powerful content, this audiobook quickly proved to be one of the most moving I’ve experienced in recent years.
If you’re looking for a story that goes beyond surface-level drama to tackle real, timely issues with heart and nuance, this is it. Picoult doesn’t shy away from difficult truths. Instead, she dives into them headfirst, inviting listeners to sit in their discomfort and come out changed on the other side.
A Complicated Case
At the center of Small Great Things is Ruth Jefferson, a Black labor and delivery nurse with over two decades of experience. During a shift at the hospital, she’s assigned to care for a newborn; but when the baby’s parents, who are white supremacists, request that no Black staff touch their child, Ruth is reassigned. Later, when the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the room, she hesitates before beginning resuscitation. The baby dies, and Ruth is charged with a serious crime.
What follows is a complex legal battle. Ruth is represented by Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender who initially doesn’t see race as a factor in the case. The opposing voice is Turk Bauer, the grieving and hateful father of the infant, whose character provides an unflinching look into the roots and consequences of prejudice.
Told through the alternating perspectives of Ruth, Kennedy, and Turk, the story unfolds as more than just a court case—it becomes a layered examination of race, privilege, and personal transformation. Picoult uses each character to explore uncomfortable but necessary truths, and the story’s impact is deepened by its refusal to offer simple answers.
The Power of Performance: A Full-Cast Audiobook
One of the standout features of this experience is how well it works as an audiobook. Small Great Things is narrated by a full cast, with separate voice actors for Ruth, Kennedy, and Turk. This format adds a depth and realism to the story that makes it even more engaging and, in many ways, more emotionally intense.
Ruth’s narrator conveys both strength and vulnerability, bringing her inner world to life in a way that feels deeply personal. Kennedy’s voice evolves alongside her growing awareness of systemic racism and her own privilege, while Turk’s narration is raw and disturbing, but never caricatured. Each voice actor brings their character to life with a level of authenticity that enhances the emotional weight of the story.
The transitions between narrators are seamless, and the pacing is spot-on. Rather than feeling like you’re being read to, it feels as though you’re sitting with each character, hearing their confessions, doubts, and revelations. For anyone who appreciates an immersive audiobook experience, this production is a prime example of how powerful the format can be when done right.
Difficult Conversations, Necessary Reflections
What makes Small Great Things so powerful isn’t just its compelling characters or gripping courtroom scenes—it’s the way it forces listeners to engage with the reality of racism in America, especially in ways that often go unnoticed by those who don’t experience it directly.
Through Ruth’s perspective, we see the daily burden of being judged not by your abilities, but by your skin. Her experience is nuanced and painful, revealing how systemic bias infiltrates even the most routine parts of life. Ruth’s inner dialogue is filled with strength, doubt, and resilience—and it’s impossible not to empathize with her as she navigates both a broken system and her own desire for justice.
Kennedy, the public defender, represents the well-meaning individuals who believe that not seeing race is the path to fairness. As the story unfolds, she is forced to confront the blind spots in her own thinking. Her transformation is one of the most relatable elements of the book. It’s not dramatic, but it’s honest. It reflects the real work of recognizing privilege and learning to use it for change.
Then there’s Turk, a character who is challenging to listen to but crucial to the story. His perspective sheds light on how hate is cultivated, how fear is passed down, and how transformation, while difficult, is possible. His chapters are unsettling, but they also serve as a reminder that understanding someone’s past doesn’t mean condoning their actions; it means recognizing the systems that shape all of us, for better or worse.
Why Small Great Things Still Matters
Although Small Great Things was first published in 2016, its themes are just as urgent now; perhaps even more so. The story is grounded in real-life issues that continue to shape conversations around justice, healthcare, and racial bias in America today. The audiobook format brings these conversations into a more intimate space, making it impossible to distance yourself from them.
What stands out most is Picoult’s ability to create multidimensional characters who evolve. She doesn’t offer easy resolutions. Instead, she asks listeners to sit with the complexity. In doing so, the story becomes a space for reflection, for questioning your own role in systems of power and privilege, and for imagining a better way forward.
This is not a story designed to comfort. It’s a story designed to challenge. But within that challenge lies the opportunity for growth. Small Great Things reminds us that justice isn’t just something that happens in a courtroom—it’s something we all have a role in shaping, every day.
When Fiction Feels Real
After finishing the audiobook, I found myself sitting in silence. Not because the ending was shocking (though it was powerful), but because the journey had stirred so much emotion. Few books make me stop and think the way this one did. Few stories feel so real, so necessary, and so unflinchingly honest.
I give Small Great Things five out of five stars, not just for its strong writing and compelling plot, but for what it asks of its audience. It asks us to listen. To question. To grow. And that, to me, is what great storytelling is all about.
Whether you’re new to Picoult’s work or a longtime fan, this audiobook is absolutely worth your time. It’s more than a story—it’s a reflection of where we are and where we need to go. If you’re ready to see the world—and yourself—through a new lens, Small Great Things is the place to start.
Like what you read? Drop me a line – let’s chat over virtual coffee.
~ Chrystal
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