Small Wonder

In a collection of essays written in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Kingsolver explores themes of peace, environmentalism, and social justice. The foreword explains that writing became a way to process grief and make sense of a terrible event by examining its smaller, more manageable parts. The essays are presented as a mix of direct responses to current events and parables drawn from nature and personal life, arguing that global problems and their solutions are interconnected, originating from both remote corners of the world and one's own backyard. Royalties from the book are designated for several charitable and environmental organizations.

The collection opens with the title essay, "Small Wonder," which recounts the true story of a toddler who, after being lost for three days in the mountains of Iran, is found alive and being cared for by a mother bear. This act of interspecies compassion is contrasted with a news report about the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan, which killed several humanitarian aid workers. Using the Greek myth of Jason and the dragon's teeth, the author reflects on how violence often begets more violence. She critiques the "walls" that divide the world, particularly between the rich and poor, referencing the concepts of globalized consumer desire and the "millennial losers" it creates. The essay concludes with a personal anecdote about her daughter's despair over war, which Kingsolver counters by emphasizing the importance of finding hope in "small wonders" and the defiant act of loving the world.

In "Saying Grace," the author reflects on American consumerism and wastefulness in the aftermath of 9/11. A family trip to the Grand Canyon, taken because of post-9/11 anxieties about flying, becomes a meditation on national identity, using the metaphor of a "Fat Brother" to represent the United States' disproportionate consumption of global resources and its refusal to cooperate on environmental issues like the Kyoto Protocol. Kingsolver argues that while individual Americans are generous, the nation's official policies are often selfish. She suggests that the 9/11 attacks targeted symbols of economic power and calls for Americans to embrace humility and generosity to become "better citizens of the world.

"Knowing Our Place" describes the author's two homes: a rustic cabin in Appalachia and an adobe house in the Arizona desert. She details her deep connection to the natural world in both locations, from the forests and wildlife of the mountains to the riparian ecosystem of the desert. She contrasts this with the modern reality that most people now live in urban environments, disconnected from nature. Kingsolver argues that this separation leads to a diminished appreciation for the wild and a failure to understand humanity's dependence on the planet. She concludes that wild places are essential for providing perspective and grounding human endeavors.

The subsequent essays explore a wide range of subjects, continuing to weave together personal experience, scientific observation, and social commentary. "The Patience of a Saint" and "Seeing Scarlet" focus on conservation, detailing the fragile ecosystem of Arizona's San Pedro River and the endangered scarlet macaws of Costa Rica. In "Setting Free the Crabs," a family beach trip becomes a meditation on the nature of love and possession. In "A Forest's Last Stand," Kingsolver visits Mexico's Calakmul Biosphere Reserve to learn about sustainable farming practices. "Called Out" marvels at the science behind desert wildflower blooms. "A Fist in the Eye of God" uses the image of a hummingbird building its nest to critique the dangers of genetic engineering, while "Lily's Chickens" explores food ethics through the lens of her daughter raising chickens. Other essays address the influence of media ("The One-Eyed Monster"), the challenges of raising a daughter in a misogynistic culture ("Letter to a Daughter at Thirteen"), and the evolving relationship with her own mother ("Letter to My Mother"). The collection circles back to the themes of violence and hope in essays like "Life Is Precious, or It's Not," a response to the Columbine shooting, and "Flying," a personal reflection on the trauma of 9/11. The final essays reinforce the book's central message, advocating for a patriotism rooted in dissent and social justice ("And Our Flag Was Still There") and finding salvation in "small wonders" and a commitment to creating a better future ("God's Wife's Measuring Spoons").