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Fiction. Literature. HTML:Jodi Picoult tackles issues of race and privilege in this ebook original short story, a prequel to her upcoming novel Small Great Things. In �??Shine,�?� the master storyteller and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leaving Time and My Sister�??s Keeper introduces readers to the unforgettable Ruth Brooks. Today is Ruth�??s first day of third grade at Dalton. The prestigious institution on New York�??s Upper East Side couldn�??t be more different from her old school in Harlem. Despite being the smartest girl in her grade, Ruth suspects that her classmates and teachers only see her dark skin. She also notices that Christina, the daughter of her mother�??s employer, treats Ruth very differently when they�??re hanging out with the popular girls rather than playing together. Ruth must navigate between two worlds, never losing sight of the dreams she has for herself�??in hopes that someday, someone will see her for who she really is. Includes a preview of Jodi Picoult�??s highly anticipated new novel, Small Great Things! Praise for Jodi Picoult �??Picoult writes with unassuming brilliance.�?��??Stephen King �??It�??s hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes.�?��??Financial Times �??Picoult writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail, and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships.�?��??The Boston Globe �??Picoult is a mas… (more)
User reviews
It soon becomes apparent that her friend Christina is more of a friend at her home than she is at school. The friendship arrangements at school are different; Christina has new friends who don’t want to be friends with Ruth. Christina’s best friend is Lola, a friend of several school years. Another friend, a new girl, is Maia from Texas with a stereotypically Texan view of Black people. (The term African-American is not used in this novel).
This is a YA coming of age novel with a principal conflict of racism both explicit and implicit. There are several incidents to which Ruth reacts that reveal different perspectives of youth (Ruth) and more mature adults (Granny at home and the coach at Ruth’s school). This short story and teaser very successfully led me to pre-order Small Great Things a Picoult novel due out in October 2016.