The Things I Could Tell You!

by J.L. Woodson

The Things I Could Tell You by J. L. Woodson, is the story of Cameron Spears, a Chicago teenager growing up in a house filled with secrets and domestic violence. After changing identities and moving... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 097026996X
• ISBN13: 9780970269966
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Macro Publishing Group
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Mahogany Book Club Best Youth Fiction Award

We recieved this book to review and had a hard time keeping it in our club.When our youth reviewer took it to her Grandmothers, her Grandmother took it to read, when she got it back she took it to school where her English teacher wanted to review it for the class. All in all this is an oustanding novel by a new young writer. A story great for teachers to use in class, a story all teenagers and adults should read.And it all started as an English assignment!

Teenage writer wise beyond his years

This is J. L. Woodson's debut novel. He is a teenage writer wise beyond his years. He is an excellent writer. The book is very captivating. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. I began reading it on Thursday and finished on Sunday. The book is about a young man, his sister and mother who lived in an abusive home. Their father was physically and mentally abusive to him and his mother. His younger sister was daddy's little angel and the apple of his eye. She could see no wrong in her father. The father was Mexican and the mother was African American. The children were of mixed heritage. After years of abuse, the mother shot the husband in self defense. The husband was sent to jail, and the mother and children moved to Memphis and changed their identity. Since I live in Memphis, I like to read books that have a Memphis connection. Some of the references to Memphis were accurate, and other's were fictional. The transition of moving from Chicago to Memphis was somewhat of an adjustment for the family, but after a while they began to like the city. This is a great book, especially for a first time writer. I can't wait to read J.L. Woodson's next book. Review given by Collean Payne-(correspondent sec.)The Sophisticated Souls of Learning Book Club

What Would You Do?

What would you do if a loved one became your worst enemy? At what lengths would you go to protect those around you? Through the voice of thirteen-year old Cameron Spears, readers experience domestic violence and its lasting imprints no teenager should have to endure. Through embodied characters and superb storytelling, one can easily misinterpret J.L. Woodson's, THE THINGS I COULD TELL YOU, as his personal recollection.Chicago held nothing but bad memories for Cameron Spears, his mother Anna and younger sibling, Andrea. As if being born of mixed heritage by an African-American mother and Mexican father did not contribute its own set of problems, the incessant yelling and fighting between his parents did. Domestic violence, attempted murder and deadly [shouting] provoke Anna torelocate her children from the windy city of Chicago to Memphis, Tennessee with high hopes of starting over and the chance at a stable life.Cameron Spears has had it rough and his new comrades are not aware of the nightmares he has experienced the last couple of years. Just when his family becomes accustomed to living a life of normalcy, the Spears receive deplorable news that will alter everything they have worked so hard to obtain--but this time murder prevails and either Anna, Cameron or Andrea are heldaccountable.THE THINGS I COULD TELL YOU is captivating! I was astonished and overjoyed upon realizing that a sixteen year-old high school student has penned a powerful novel of such a disturbing act. At the beginning of each chapter, Woodson, demonstrates his respect and admiration for literature with inspirational quotes from authors such as: Trevy A. McDonald (Time Will Tell), Sesvalah (Speak It Into Existence) and his Olive Harvey Middle School Principal, Helen Hawkins. What was to be an English assignment has transcended into a remarkable story of one family's survival and the aftermath of one person's innocent deed. This reviewer expects great things from this budding author and highly recommends THE THINGS I COULD TELL YOU. Reviewed by Nicki Lancaster...

A Captivating Read

This debut novel is a definite page turner from beginning to end. It tells the story of Cameron Spears and his account of domestic abuse amongst his parents, and how he grows to hate his father because of it. His character displays a strong voice that draws the reader's into his life story. He is also a teenager going through adolescence and facing teen relationship issues, yet trying to remain focused in his education studies while trying to "not be like his father". I would recommend all teens to read as it displays positive insight on issues such as premarital sex, peer pressure, respect for your parents, and many other juvenile related issues. But I strongly encourage parents/adults to read this book because it shows what we as women tolerate some things sometimes for too long and how our children can pick up the negative behavior they become subjected to. I believe J.L. Woodson speaks very clearly in this novel, and he is truly an excellent writer.

THIS SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD WRITES BETTER THAN SOME ADULTS!!

I have to admit when I learned of the author's age, I didn't think this book could hold an adult's interest. Well, it did that and then some. The boy is BAD!! J. L. Woodson told the story from a teenager's point of view on a domestic violence situation in such a way that most adult authors I've read haven't been able to do. The story is carefully created, humorous at the right times, but you'll feel the impact on the children in the household of the mother's decision to stay with an abusive husband for so long. Then your heart races as they flee Chicago and hide after a threat on their lives. Just as they come to terms with things and rebuild their lives, wouldn't you know it--the father resurfaces. But the family is stronger and should be able to deal with the threat, even if it's in a deadly way. This young man is brilliant. I'm proud of him and every single mother in America would do well to read the insights from this teenager's writing.Seventeen isn't just a number, it's the beginning of a powerful career for this young man. And for the record, I'd like to say move over Michael Baisden, Eric Jerome Dickey and Omar Tyree. There's a new kid on the block and his stories have a great deal more SUBSTANCE and doesn't have to shed a negative light on women to do so.