Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

8 reviews

katreena's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Self harm, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Violence, Child death, Classism, Death, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Gore, Mental illness, Hate crime, Murder, Misogyny, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Cursing, Slavery, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

a_beautiful_soup's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Child death, Hate crime, Police brutality, Self harm, Death, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

kanderson246's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Child death, Racism, and Police brutality

kxc319's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective relaxing 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Classism, Violence, and Self harm

miastegner's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Hate crime, Suicide, Racial slurs, Bullying, Grief, Antisemitism, Death, Classism, Child death, Medical trauma, Racism, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Violence

kpg1124's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. Not only is this book attention grabbing and creates characters so real you can’t help but get sucked into their world it also paints a starkly accurate picture of race in America. Particularly with a message that I believe is most important, it is the responsibility of white allies to talk to other white people about race and the system that benefits us. The author also gives the reader such a real picture that you find reason for empathy in every story, yes even the skinhead. A must read book for every white American.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Classism, Transphobia, Racism, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt

A lesson in how to write real life characters, race in America, and cultivate empathy everywhere. No one is ever too far lost if we take the time to get to know them.

gem114's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I understand what Jodi Picoult was trying to do here, and after reading her author's note, I accept and appreciate her efforts, but I still have a really hard time being fully okay with it. Picoult knows her audience, and I'm hoping some of her repeat readers benefited from reading this book. Hopefully Picoult is the medium they needed to face the issue of racism and do some introspection. Meanwhile, I'm just hanging out over here trying to stomach the number of times she uses the n word and that

the skinhead gets a redemption arc.

Yes, the story was engaging. Yes, Picoult is a pretty good writer. But yes, it gets super preachy. Overall, I'm feeling kind of meh about it for myself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Racism, Medical trauma, Child death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Medical content, Homophobia, Classism, Pregnancy, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Hate crime

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicide

lesliesorensen's review against another edition

fast-paced

2.75

I feel like this is... a great book for white people who haven't really confronted race, racism, and white privilege before. And people who need to hear compelling stories about how racism affects individual people -- especially individuals who are extremely palatable & upstanding -- in order to understand and care about it. If you know what I mean.

It's a good message, but the writing / delivery felt forced & heavy-handed... Like, as you read, you sort of picture it playing out like a movie...and this is not a particularly good movie -- but it thinks it's gonna get that Oscar. 

It's also questionable for a white woman to write from the perspective of any Black person.

It did keep my attention though, and I enjoyed the change of character perspective throughout. I also appreciated how well-researched it was.

Bottom line: it was fine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Medical content, Violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Classism, Violence, and Suicide

Minor: Pregnancy