Jacqueline Woodson’s writing is so beautiful and moving that I want to read everything she writes. This is a truly gifted author. Told through the two main characters’ points of view, the story of Miah and Ellie is profoundly sad and hopeful at the same time. 

Woodson’s work is often inspired by poetry, which lends a poetic quality to her writing that is unequalled. If You Come Softly gently guides the reader to feel deeply, and teaches wonderful life lessons in the process. Although this is outwardly a story about race, there is so much more to it–characters learn to seize opportunities, cherish relationships, and be honest about who they are.

A modern-day retelling of “Romeo and Juliet”, If You Come Softly engages readers young and old.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A character is chased by two people and feels a pain in his side and falls to the ground with the implication that he has been shot, but there are no details given; afterward readers understand that the character has died.

Sex/Nudity:  Characters kiss (4 times); a character thinks about kissing (3 times); a character touches another character’s face; a character kisses another character’s hand; characters hold hands; an adult jokingly flirts with an underage character.

Mature Subject Matter:

Divorce, death, racism, abandonment, pregnancy out of wedlock is discussed, unmarried adults live together.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adults drinks wine socially.