If You Come Softly

by Jacqueline Woodson

Book Overview

A lyrical story of star-crossed love perfect for readers of The Hate U Give, by National Ambassador for Children's Literature Jacqueline Woodson

Jeremiah feels good inside his own skin. That is, when he's in his own Brooklyn neighborhood. But now he's going to be attending a fancy prep school in Manhattan, and black teenage boys don't exactly fit in there. So it's a surprise when he meets Ellie the first week of school. In...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142415227
• ISBN13: 9780142415221
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

why is this book in the sexual abuse section?

It is not about sexual abuse/rape. I don't think there's even a mention of it. Anyway, I read this when I was about 13 and liked it a lot. It's about a white girl who falls in love with a black guy and how their friends and families have more of a negative reaction than they would expect. I guess it's kind of an "issue" book, but it is well-written and the relationship between the boy and the girl is sweet, believable, and unique. They're not stock characters who were just invented so the author could make a point. I feel like I should mention, it doesn't have a happy ending.

Breath Taking

If You Come Softly is an outstanding novel that Woodson delivers beautifully, and will leave you pondering a question when you near the conclusioin, as to why the world looks upon love and race so negatively. Many in the world feel that relationships need to stay in the race and no one should ever date outside the race. But isn't change good? Woodson delivers the topic of racial differences and love in a modest yet eye-opening manner. Woodson depicts two characters Jeremiah and Elisha who are of a different ethnic background, but are drawn to each because of their love for one another. As Jeremiah and Elisha struggle with the similarites and differences they are facing such as school,getting prepared for college, how to express their feelings for each other, and how to deal with what the world sees as "not appropiate" , they find out that despite their racial differences they are very much alike. Jeremiah and Elisha discover they attend the same high school unwillingly, and find out that there is more to a person than just judging them from what they see on the outside, or by their color. Spending more time together initiates a relationship, and they fall in love. Now this is more than just your typical fairytail ending, the conclusion is what really takes your breath away and if you had to wipe a tear from your eye, join the club. If You Come Softly goes beyond the notion of two teenagers falling in love with each other in high school, but expresses the emotional issues that they have to deal with digging deeper into what really goes on in a relationship. Woodson leaves you astounded and makes you ponder about the real issues facing todays society. Do not hesitate to read this novel over and over again, and if this is your first time hearing of If You Come Softly, place this on your Winter or Summer reading list, because Woodson delivers this piece outstandingly!

If You Come Softly- A Very Touching Book

I chose to read "If You Come Softly" for a book for school, and I loved it. I like to read love stories and this book really kept my interest. It is about interracial dating with a black boy and a white girl. This story delt with discrimination against people of different races being together. It also delt with the hardships a couple must go through when they are being discriminated against. I would recommend this book for teens who are interested in reading romance books ...

Good introduction to issues of race and relationships

I've recommened this book for my students to read because I think it provides a love story woven together with much needed insights about race, racism, and personal relationships. Woodson writes about these issues critically without being preachy. It would be a great to teach this work at the 7-9th grade level, for often students will miss the subtle points the author is making about race and racism.I look forward to more books like this being written.

A heartbreaking novel about love and loss.

I thought that this book was exceptionally well-written. Ms. Woodson's shift between the first-person and third-person narrative allows the reader to more fully comprehend the story that she's telling. I thought that the two teen major characters were well drawn and sympathetic, and it broke my heart when it became clear what was about to happen. It is a novel that I hope will get us to think, once again, about the fictions that we live by in this country when it comes to race, and how ultimately, the human heart knows no color.