Comments on: If You Come Softly

By: kych

kych — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:34:28 +0000

I dont get how Jaramiah died…

By: lace

lace — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:53:45 +0000

don’t feel alone with the whole crying thing- books make me cry on an every day basis. Anoying sibling says its ’cause i can’t discern fantasy from reality. Still. i my World’s better this way.

By: Jennifer Sheffield

Jennifer Sheffield — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 03:02:31 +0000

I think it’s hilarious that I should have gotten a book recommendation from Nif via your blog, Justine. The day after reading this I went up to her room after breakfast and found her copy… It’s quite a book. Thank you for posting about it.

Jen (also of Big Blue Marble)

By: Amy @ My Friend Amy

Amy @ My Friend Amy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:05:58 +0000

I also loved this book! Someone just pointed out this review to me because I reviewed the book today. I cried as well, but like you, yes, I cry quite frequently during books.

But I definitely recommend it!

By: Jaya Lakshmi

Jaya Lakshmi — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:03:14 +0000

I read this book four years ago, and it made me cry. What a tragedy.

By: Electric Landlady

Electric Landlady — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:09:09 +0000

Weird coincidence: I was just down at the farmer’s market that happens in front of City Hall on Wednesdays, and the library was having a sale of castofs, and what did I see but If You Come Softly?

So thanks to you, I bought it. 50 cents well spent. Thanks for the rec — I probably wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise!

By: Jacob Hernandez

Jacob Hernandez — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:22:23 +0000

I agree with Meredith. Behind You was…wow.

I haven’t read If You Come Softly yet, but I’m planning to soon. If it’s as good as Jacqueline Woodson’s other books–which I don’t doubt it is–I’m sure it’ll be excellent.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:20:57 +0000

If you thought If You Come Softly was sobworthy, oh my god. You’re going to seriously flip when you read Behind You. I almost cried, which sounds…uh? except that I very rarely cry when I read books, so it was a major event.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:06:53 +0000

We just got If You Come Softly in my library this week–in fact I finished cataloguing it and shelved it this morning. I just hope it’s still on the shelf when I get to work tomorrow morning.

By: Shveta

Shveta — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:43:21 +0000

Just checked it out–and fell over a bookshelf in the process. (Don’t ask.) Ouch! Anyway, can’t wait to read it.

By: Justine

Justine — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:54:59 +0000

Nif: Of course, it was you. Curse my hideously bad memory. I suck. Thank you so much for the recommendation. If You Come Softly is amazing.

By: Julia Rios

Julia Rios — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:47:00 +0000

Thanks for the recommendation. I just got If You Come Softly from my library, and would have commented when I got home an hour ago, but I opened the book first just to read a page or two, just for a minute… You can see how well that worked.

By: Jennifer Woodfin

Jennifer Woodfin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:40:27 +0000

Um, it was me. Since you’ve only met me a couple of times in fannish contexts, you are totally forgiven for not remembering me.

I sent email at the beginning of June (yours being one of the first books I read after Book Expo) squeeing over Liar and complaining that it had kept me up late.

Toward the end I said,
“I totally think that people should read LIAR back to back with Jacqueline Woodson’s If You Come Softly. There are a LOT of good discussions in that pairing.”

I didn’t mean to make you cry!

You’re welcome.

Nif
Jennifer Woodfin
General Manager
Big Blue Marble Bookstore

By: susan

susan — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:14:36 +0000

Justine,

Woodson’s number one fan here. lol I loved this book and like you, her ability to say so much in so few words impresses me greatly. And it isn’t just the economy of words, but the subtlety of her writing. She doesn’t bang you over the head with messages. A few readers have reviewed this title for Color Me Brown. I hope more readers will discover this gem.

I know many readers who pass over Woodson because most of her books are slim and my first read by her was a middle grade book (and I focus on older YA) but the writing impressed me enough to look for more. For me, the size of the books was one of the reasons I continued to read her. I was looking for books that addressed serious issues for older but reluctant readers. I couldn’t suggest lighter and shorter fare intended for MG readers, but I also knew many of my girls were intimidated by thick volumes. Woodson provides the perfect mix for us.

By: rhapsodyinbooks

rhapsodyinbooks — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:13:14 +0000

I didn’t cry at the end. Rather, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and I was just left gasping for air. But this is not to say don’t read it! I thought it was wonderful. But as Susan of Color Online said, Be prepared!!! (I just rechecked my review – it posts on the 14th, and I say “get the kleenex ready!!!”)

By: annie

annie — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:01:40 +0000

if you come softly is one of my absolute favorite YA books. i think i read it back in middle school and it was really great book. one year, i attended the national book foundation’s summer writing camp and i attended a workshop jacqueline taught

By: Justine

Justine — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:56:53 +0000

MissAttitude: I am a notorious sook. Many books make me weep. You’re most likely made of sterner stuff than me. I look forward to hearing what you think of Softly.

By: MissAttitude

MissAttitude — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:49:37 +0000

I must read this book! It’s been recommended to me so many times and now this post. I’m ashamed to say that I ignored Ms. woodson’s books because they were so small and I thought that an advanced reader shouldn’t read them (I thought this during my MG years). Ha no more!
I’m heading to the library to get this book (actually as many of her books as I can find) as well as every Time A Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia.
I hate crying though