Small Wonder Summary
Barbara Kingsolver

Small Wonder Overview

In her collection of essays, Barbara Kingsolver examines American national consciousness in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Alongside her indictment of the impetus to perpetuate war and violence in cycles of retribution, she writes about environmental crises, species extinction, and what people can do right from their homes to create a better and more sustainable world. Kingsolver emphasizes personal habits of consumption, the ethics of food, and the virtues of gardening as ways of impacting greater social issues. Her essays challenge American values that result in xenophobic and violent behavior while upholding the view that change is possible if people look toward the small wonders that rekindle a sense of hope for a better future.