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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a Romeo and Juliet retelling, which I guess should have tipped me off to how superficial this book would be. They’re in an interracial relationship, a wealthy black boy with famous parents and a wealthy white Jewish girl, who meet a private school and fall in love at first sight. What keeps them apart is race- the world around them disapproves, and Ellie (Juliet) is afraid to tell her family.
First and foremost, Ellie and Jeremiah are supposed to be sophomores in high school, but they both talk, act, and think like 5th graders. Jeremiah is supposed to be 15 and still calls his dad Daddy. Their relationship is equally immature and superficial, which does mimic Romeo and Juliet well, but it just felt very forced and like I was reading about two middle schoolers falling in love- at least Romeo and Juliet felt like teenagers. They each claim to not be able to live without the other the second time they meet, basically. While this is very true to the original, I just feel like thats one aspect that could have been changed to make the story more compelling.
They lack the rebelliousness of the original Romeo and Juliet, and of other high schoolers in love for the first time. Both of them are scared to talk to others about the relationship, even their friends. Both resent their parents- any teenager who resents their parents will rebel against them in some way. Jeremiah and Ellie are too scared to talk to their parents about their relationship, which is exactly what I mean about them acting like 5th graders and not like actual high school sophomores, who would be fighting tooth and nail for their love just like Romeo and Juliet.
In addition, this made the story weaker because it felt like nothing really kept them apart. Ellie tells her sister she has a crush on a black boy early on, and her sister disapproves. Her sister is also a lesbian, which I feel like was actually a great detail- it was a good way to show that whiteness transcends all other identity. But anyway, that was the only person in their lives who disapproves verbally. Ellie even cuts her sister off after that interaction, so it doesn’t feel like theres a continued disapproval that should be present in a retelling.Even the kids at school are fine with them, all they get are the occasional stares, really. They’re heckled once, but its glossed over quickly and never analyzed. Jeremiah introduced Ellie to his mom and she’s literally completely fine with the relationship.
Then Jeremiah is shot and killed after being mistaken for someone else. The book ends quickly after this and focuses on Ellies feelings and moving on. Overall, I just feel like this book showcased a lot of the worst aspects of Romeo and Juliet- their immaturity, the quickness and superficiality of the relationship, and lacked the good parts- the drama and the feeling of like love conquers all, I guess.
First and foremost, Ellie and Jeremiah are supposed to be sophomores in high school, but they both talk, act, and think like 5th graders. Jeremiah is supposed to be 15 and still calls his dad Daddy. Their relationship is equally immature and superficial, which does mimic Romeo and Juliet well, but it just felt very forced and like I was reading about two middle schoolers falling in love- at least Romeo and Juliet felt like teenagers. They each claim to not be able to live without the other the second time they meet, basically. While this is very true to the original, I just feel like thats one aspect that could have been changed to make the story more compelling.
They lack the rebelliousness of the original Romeo and Juliet, and of other high schoolers in love for the first time. Both of them are scared to talk to others about the relationship, even their friends. Both resent their parents- any teenager who resents their parents will rebel against them in some way. Jeremiah and Ellie are too scared to talk to their parents about their relationship, which is exactly what I mean about them acting like 5th graders and not like actual high school sophomores, who would be fighting tooth and nail for their love just like Romeo and Juliet.
In addition, this made the story weaker because it felt like nothing really kept them apart. Ellie tells her sister she has a crush on a black boy early on, and her sister disapproves. Her sister is also a lesbian, which I feel like was actually a great detail- it was a good way to show that whiteness transcends all other identity. But anyway, that was the only person in their lives who disapproves verbally. Ellie even cuts her sister off after that interaction, so it doesn’t feel like theres a continued disapproval that should be present in a retelling.Even the kids at school are fine with them, all they get are the occasional stares, really. They’re heckled once, but its glossed over quickly and never analyzed. Jeremiah introduced Ellie to his mom and she’s literally completely fine with the relationship.
Then Jeremiah is shot and killed after being mistaken for someone else. The book ends quickly after this and focuses on Ellies feelings and moving on. Overall, I just feel like this book showcased a lot of the worst aspects of Romeo and Juliet- their immaturity, the quickness and superficiality of the relationship, and lacked the good parts- the drama and the feeling of like love conquers all, I guess.
A little too short for my taste however was an amazing story, very cute and heartrending.
emotional
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was a good YA novel that spoke about race the same way young people do. It showed budding high school romance which is always awkward and based on infatuation. I really enjoyed the dialogue throughout the book. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because *spoiler-ish alert* the ending came out of nowhere and didn’t really do the characters justice. So many other things could’ve happened so I feel like it was just a cheap take.
Jacqueline Woodson’s, If You Come Softly, follows a Romeo & Juliet storyline in a modern-day New York setting. This novel is beautifully written and the characters are each to their own.
The romance between the characters is so pure and adorable that it brings you into a romantic mindset and has you rooting for their two worlds to mix together in the most happiest of ways (naturally there will be some objection but that is just a romance novel for you).
I have given this book 5 stars due to the brilliant writing, beautiful main characters, and just the sheer amount of joy the novel brought into my head. I would have loved to read more interactions between the characters but I am happy to re-read over and over.
The romance between the characters is so pure and adorable that it brings you into a romantic mindset and has you rooting for their two worlds to mix together in the most happiest of ways (naturally there will be some objection but that is just a romance novel for you).
I have given this book 5 stars due to the brilliant writing, beautiful main characters, and just the sheer amount of joy the novel brought into my head. I would have loved to read more interactions between the characters but I am happy to re-read over and over.
2.5
I’ve got disappointed while i was reading this book and thought to give it just 2 stars but oh man that ending broke my heart.. like why bad things happens to sweet people like Jeremiah? This is so sad.
I’ve got disappointed while i was reading this book and thought to give it just 2 stars but oh man that ending broke my heart.. like why bad things happens to sweet people like Jeremiah? This is so sad.