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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Elisha (Ellie) and Jeramiah (Miah) attend the same fancy prep school. They are both new to the school, and they literally bump into each other. They are instantly attracted to each other. Though their lives are outwardly very different, they are very much alike on the inside.
Ellie is white and her parents are still together, but no longer in love. Ellie has several older brothers and sisters who have all moved away from home. Miah is black, the only child of a celebrity couple who has recently divorced. Both feel misunderstood and out of place at home, but find understanding in each other.
Miah and Ellie quickly start spending all of their free time together and their relationship blossoms. Though no one says anything directly to the couple, their peers (and random strangers) stare and talk about them. Miah finally introduces Ellie to his mother. Just when Ellie gathers the courage to tell her parents about Miah, tragedy strikes.
The story is told with grace and Woodson gives us lots to think about. The ending was beautiful and sad. Though it was well-done, I was a bit disappointed, if only because I wanted something more for Miah and Ellie.
Ellie is white and her parents are still together, but no longer in love. Ellie has several older brothers and sisters who have all moved away from home. Miah is black, the only child of a celebrity couple who has recently divorced. Both feel misunderstood and out of place at home, but find understanding in each other.
Miah and Ellie quickly start spending all of their free time together and their relationship blossoms. Though no one says anything directly to the couple, their peers (and random strangers) stare and talk about them. Miah finally introduces Ellie to his mother. Just when Ellie gathers the courage to tell her parents about Miah, tragedy strikes.
The story is told with grace and Woodson gives us lots to think about. The ending was beautiful and sad. Though it was well-done, I was a bit disappointed, if only because I wanted something more for Miah and Ellie.
At long last, I'm writing the reviews for books that I've read within the past several months! This one was, admittedly, quite hard to gather my feelings on. While the message of the story is important - and timely now, more than ever - the emotional impact just wasn't there for me. I find this to be a pretty consistent struggle with Jacqueline Woodson's work, because while her writing is undoubtedly beautiful and relevant, there's just something I don't connect with. Maybe it's the length of the story, or the literary style. Regardless, this was still a well-written story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a short, but still emotionally affecting read.
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3.5/5 Stars RTC! <3
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3.5/5 Stars RTC! <3
Minor spoiler in review
A precious love story and an important dialogue about race. A true tragedy im the end that I want to be explored more.
A precious love story and an important dialogue about race. A true tragedy im the end that I want to be explored more.
emotional
slow-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
The first read of Life's Library book club. While written in the 90s, this story holds up well today. Woodson's writing is beautiful and her description of a new teen relationship feel authentic.
Beautifully written, heartbreaking, nowadays still as relevant as back then when it got published for the first time!
There are so many reasons to love this book. I'd put the over/under at about 20.
The relevance of certain books seem to have more to do with the time in which it came out rather than excellence in terms of form or content, and 'If You Come Softly' is one of those. Certainly a fun-to-read tale of young love, and race in America, but having read Angie Thomas' 'The Hate You Give', and other similar works, this one left me underwhelmed.
If I could give this book 100 stars I would. It was beautifully written, it was heartbreakingly captivating. Love love love it.
Jacqueline Woodson never disappoints and I was thrilled to grab this backlist title from over 20 years ago on libro.dm during one of their sales
This was incredible on audio. It is a short book, about 3 hours as an audio book but it packs a lot into this story. It is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet in modern day - with the enemies of their love being racism, police brutality and people’s general stupidity - all of which are still very at play in America.
Written in 1998, this story and the reality of how Black men are perceived and treated, even in their teen years continues to be one of violence, brutality and assumptions. The dynamics of an interracial coming-of-age love story also holds up over time with both characters struggling to live and go to school under the constraints of Whiteness and Racism.
A timely read for sure - almost felt like it was ripped from our headlines.
Fantastic on audio and highly recommend.
This was incredible on audio. It is a short book, about 3 hours as an audio book but it packs a lot into this story. It is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet in modern day - with the enemies of their love being racism, police brutality and people’s general stupidity - all of which are still very at play in America.
Written in 1998, this story and the reality of how Black men are perceived and treated, even in their teen years continues to be one of violence, brutality and assumptions. The dynamics of an interracial coming-of-age love story also holds up over time with both characters struggling to live and go to school under the constraints of Whiteness and Racism.
A timely read for sure - almost felt like it was ripped from our headlines.
Fantastic on audio and highly recommend.