Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

21 reviews

lukel's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, and Police brutality

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, Racism, and Violence

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

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

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

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

vanesst's review against another edition

challenging tense fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, and Alcohol

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

amerikanerin's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia and Police brutality

Minor: Suicide, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

carobllt's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma

janeywaneyb's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Some times you read a book and you have to take a pause to think whether it was a plot wtist, a character, a theme or that it was just such a good read. With Small Great Things it was all those things, Picoult writes in such a way that you are able to stand alongside each character and share their experiences but with this book there is a hand on your shoulder saying "No, your experiences are not the same. No, you don't really understand." I am still processing this book, my own white privilege and how I can strive to be better

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent

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

Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicide

ella_1203's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child death