Reviews with content warning for Racism - Red at the Bone

In Red At the Bone, Jacqueline Woodson has deftly woven an unforgettable & well-crafted multiple-perspective story. Woodson's lyrical yet sparse writing style perfectly paints a vivid portrait of familial devotion and pain. The perspectives of each individual are staggered on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Ultimately, this allows for a more complete picture of every single family member. Aubrey, Melody, Sabe, Iris, and Po'Boy are characters that will stick with me for a long time.

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dlrosebyh's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The novel begins in 2001, on the evening of Melody's sixteenth birthday celebration at her grandparents' Brooklyn brownstone. She makes her entry to the music of Prince, watched affectionately by her relatives and friends, wearing a stunning custom-made gown. However, the event is not without significance. Sixteen years ago, that very dress was measured and sewn for a different wearer: Melody's mother, for her own ceremony—a celebration that never happened.

Woodson considers not only Melody's parents and grandparents' ambitions and successes, but also the costs, the tolls they've paid for striving to overcome expectations and escape the pull of history. As it delves into sexual desire and identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and the life-changing realities of parenthood, Red at the Bone most strikingly examines the ways in which young people are frequently forced to make life-altering decisions—even before they have begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be.

The trouble about short novels is that you never know whether you'll like them or not. Most of the time, it leaves you with unanswered questions, leaving you unsatisfied—which is exactly what happened in this novel. It had a lot of potential. It's a powerful read with beautiful prose, yet something was lacking, and I'm not sure what it was.

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

first time reading jacqueline woodson and it's quite good. red at the bone is a story abt family (and all the complexity it entails), identity, and growing into oneself. the novel's relatively short but it packs quite a punch.

there's complexity in its characters - i particularly enjoy the polarity between iris and audrey - while also deftly exploring its themes and issues of race, queerness, and identity.

its unique structure, while oft intriguing, can also be confusing at times, making the reading experience a lil disjointed. nevertheless this is a good, surprisingly layered read esp considering its length.

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thenovelmaura's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Who knew such a short read could convey so much about this family and have such a powerful impact on the reader! I also loved how it delves into the impacts of the Tulsa Race Massacre, a topic that was briefly touched on in my U.S History classes in high school, but never in a meaningful way that conveyed the devastation wreaked upon these Black families.

I see why everyone raves about this book and the full-cast audiobook was incredible. Hearing Melody's grandfather speak about his family with such love and regret made me want to cry while listening. If you're going to read this one, get the audio from your library. Full stop.

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