Another sensitively written short story from Jodi Picoult. She carefully weaves a story around two different worlds, which collide through the children of the two families when Ruth starts at Christina's school.

Picoult delicately starts to show how wealth and race differentiate and cause discrimination. Christina at school treats Ruth very differently at home.

This is a novella and is just a taster of what is fully developed in Picoult's novel 'Small Great Things'. I love anything that Picoult writes and ended up reading the novel before the novella because that is the order they became available to me. This did not matter and I enjoyed both!

Though short, this novella left me wanting more and raised many questions in my mind.

Sort but sweet I think describes this book although times bittersweet, a prequel but that didn’t distract from tale

It's been a while since I read Small Great Things, but the good news is that this short novel can be read as a standalone. As in many of her books, Jodi Picoult shines light on social injustices through a short glimpse into the life of a young black girl. It gives you a taste of what you can expect in the sequel.
An excellent narration from Rachel Handshaw.

This is a short story about a little girl sent to a prestigious school. She is the only Black girl there and experiences a range of racism - both the overt and microaggressions. It is well written and engaging, as you'd expect from Picoult. I do sort of wonder what the point was though? Is it supposed to be an introduction to racism for white people, through the eyes of the easily relatable and sympathetic very smart and innocent young girl? That's sort of what it felt like. I got this from netgalley as an ARC, but can see that it was originally published ten years ago. It did feel ten years out of date.
The audio narrator was good, but I really didn't need the random sound effects thrown in. The sound of a car starting every ten minutes or so doesn't add to the atmosphere at all.
Despite these criticisms, I would still probably recommend this. It is only an hour long and it is emotionally engaging and thoughtful.

A short story prequel to Small Great Things.

I loved Small Great Things so jumped on this. Ruth’s first day at the prestigious Dalton school on New York’s Upper East Side. The school’s posh, Ruth is the only child of colour, but she’ll be with her friend Christina, the daughter of her mother’s employer.

How will Ruth fit in?

It’s a short story, one hour fifteen minutes. It packs a punch but obviously can’t have the depth and detail of Great Small Things.

Great to spend a little more time with Ruth and her family, I just wish it were longer.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio

This was a nice short story. I liked that we got to see Ruth as a little girl and how her family was when she was growing up. I would have liked it to be a little longer and to see Maya get her comeuppance though. But I guess in those times racist little white girls didn’t get any comeuppance 🤨

This story did make me a little sad as it paralleled my own life in some respects- being the minority in a predominantly white school (I was 1 of only 3 children of colour and the only girl) and I was treated differently by the other little girls including those who were meant to be my friends.

This story definitely holds a lot of truths and is a great filler read if you miss Ruth.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the audio book in return for an honest review. I didn’t realise how short this was, nor had noticed that it’s a prequel to a bookI haven’t read. I didn’t really get into it so I think it would be better if one read Small Great Things first. I don’t think it’s badly written it just doesn’t seem to go anywhere, but presumably it does in the main novel.

Shine was a great addition to Small Great Things. Serving as a prequel novella to the heavy political and racially charged story Jodi told in that book, Shine gives us a look at young Ruth and what made her, her. I always adore Jodi’s writing and my only complaint would be the need for it to be longer, but obviously that’s not the point of a novella!
The audio performance was solid, and kept me interested the whole time.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to listen to this advanced listeners copy.

Small Great Things is a book that stays with you long after you've read it so I jumped at the chance to listen to this prequel novella.

I was a little disappointed as the length does mean the story doesn't get the chance to explore the themes beyond a cursory look. The writing is good as you'd expect, but it lacks the impact of a longer piece. I think I'll stick with Jodi's full length novels in future.

Shine is a moving and well-crafted prequel to Small Great Things. As a short story audiobook, it delivers emotional depth and insight into Ruth’s early life, adding meaningful context to the novel. I loved Small Great Things, and this didn’t disappoint- cleverly written, impactful, and a perfect companion piece.

Small Great Things is my (current) favourite Jodi Picoult book, so I was really excited to get the prequel. It was an absolute masterpiece and I recommend to everyone. The story follows the experience of eight year old Ruth, and her experiences as she begins school at an elite, predominantly white private school in the 1970s.

I listened to the audio and it was excellent. The narrator had fantastic pacing and I was captivated the entire time.

Thank you to Bolinda Audio, the author and NetGalley for an LRC in return for an honest review

Shine acts as a prologue to Jodi Picoult's 2016 novel Small Great things. Set in 1979 this very short e-book centres on 8 year old Ruth Brooks' transition to an an elite private school via a scholarship. Ruth is the only black student and the story explores how she is treated because of this.

Unfortunately, this story didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t say I disliked it, but it left me feeling indifferent. Maybe it was the brevity—it simply didn’t give me enough time to connect with the characters or themes. Whatever the reason, it didn’t click with me and I don’t feel compelled to explore more of Picoult’s work at this time.

Narration by Rachel Handshaw was clear and well-paced, but the added sound design and music—billed as an “immersive listening experience”—actually detracted from the story rather than enhancing it.

#Shine #NetGalley

The prequel for “Small Great Things” is a testimony of the racism still in the seventies in thenUSA. The difficulties faced by black people in a world surrounded by white and privileged white people. The audiobook with Audra McDonald is a masterpiece. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC. this is my honest review.

"Shine" is the prequel to "Small Great Things"--I have only read about 100 pages of "Small Great Things" but even that little bit really helped give me some much-needed context (I think) to center this novella on. This novel is told in third-person and gives us Ruth's history growing up as a brilliant child who gets to go to a prestigious school, that is all-white. She doesn't fit-in at school becuase she's black; then, she doesn't fit in with her neighborhood friends, because of where she's going to school. This short story deals with some really worthy topics. I had the audio version and the author was a good match. The audio also had some added elements for background effects. *I received a complimentary audio ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Shine is the prequel to Small Great Things which I haven't read but will now be looking out for.
I listened to the audio version and the narrator was perfect but I didn't really appreciate the sound effects at all. In fact some seemed quite inappropriate, especially the footsteps of 8 year old Ruth's footsteps which sounded more like an adult man's.
Shine is a thought provoking story, and although it's quite short, it held my interest throughout.

I loved Shine by Jodi Picoult - a short but mighty prequel to her novel Small Great Things.

I’m pleased I had seen a review warning that Shine was a short story as I’d have been disappointed about it ending so quickly otherwise. However, there was a lot of story for such a short book and it’s well worth an hour or so of everyone’s time. I’m now dashing off to find my copy of Small Great Things in my huge TBR pile to take on summer holiday with me!

Once again a truly wonderful audio experience from Bolinda Audio. After my initial surprise at the sound design and music, I felt it enhanced this short story and created an immersive listening experience. The narrator was excellent and really helped to bring the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for an ARC of this special short story.

Great short story to complement the book. Tackling big issues as always, I expect nothing less from Jodi.

I enjoyed listening to this short story on audiobook. It’s well narrated and a poignant subject handled sensitivity by Jodi as the author. I really tuned in to the emotions of Ruth, the little girl and main character. At times, it’s very sad but then has a very positive outcome. I did find the sound effects on the audio a little distracting. I would prefer it to be read like a book and imagine the sound! Overall, a great listen.

I loved Small great things so this was a must read.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story.
I love Ruth and liked being able to understand a bit of her background, which of course contained racism, and her struggling to feel like she fit in.
So much to think about from a short book. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc.

I read Small Great Things in 2017 and absolutely loved it. I was intrigued to know what this prequel would be like. Whilst I enjoyed it - it brought back some of the book to me - I’m not sure it was really needed. However, it reiterated the awful time that Ruth had even as a child. If only racism wasn’t an issue. Picoult does a great job writing about it. My heart sank a few times reading Shine, I just wanted to grab Ruth out of the story and keep her safe!