If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
Penguin Young Readers
1998
This is the story of a black boy and a white girl who like each other. They met when Elisha transferred to Percy Academy and Jeremiah ran into her in the hallway. That chance encounter changed both their lives. They struggled with peoples reactions to them dating. "He's black, Anne."
She didn't say anything. I could feel the air between us getting weird.
Miah takes Ellie home to meet his mother, who turns out to be a famous novelist. Now, Elie has to deal with her own misconceptions about Jeremiah. "What If I had told you the truth from the beginning? That day, in the hallway, I wanted you to see...to see me, Ellie. Miah." I enjoyed this one but the ending was shocking and unexpected.Tweet
