A review by serendipitysbooks
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 If You Come Softly is a YA novel. It features a sweet interracial romance between Ellie and Miah. Both have interesting issues they are dealing with. She has a mother who left the family on more than one occasion, while he’s dealing with having famous parents. As the story opens we know they are no longer together and the bulk of the book is the cute story of their romance, although they do encounter some issues due to her being white (and Jewish) and him being Black. But then. But then there is a single line of ominous foreshadowing and it is clear this book is not going to give them a second chance or a happy ending. I imagine it made quite the splash and was rather groundbreaking when it was first published nearly 25 years ago. What’s sad is that it it still so relevant today. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings