I have stories of things I believe in: a persistent river, a forest on the edge of night, the religion inside a seed, the startle of wingbeats when a spark of red life flies against all reason out of the darkness. One child, one bear. I'd like to speak of small wonders, and the possibility of taking heart.
-- Narrator (Small Wonder paragraph 2)

Importance: Kingsolver introduces her concept of small wonders: the unusual and often small miracles among the quotidian that provides her with a sense of hope. In the aftermath of September 11, Kingsolver seeks the stories that break away from the dichotomies of good and evil, black and white, and provide with an alternate experience to ponder. Those small wonders break away from the necessity to pay attention to the evils of the world and offer a more pleasant alternative. She has learned to turn away from rage and cope with political tragedies by focusing...