If You Come Softly is a teenage novel written by author Jacqueline Woodson and was first published by Penguin Books on 30 September 2013. Woodson is a decorated author, having won both the MacArthur Fellowship and the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2020.
The book follows the trials and tribulations foo a young black boy, Jeremiah, as he struggles to cope with his feelings for his fellow classmate, a Jewish girl called Ellie. The book challenges social norms when it comes to interracial relationships as well as the differences between race and cultures. A key message of the book is to embrace the differences between different races and to preventing this from being a barrier to love.
Woodson's novel has been well received, with Kirkus Reviews stating, “Woodson perceptively explores varieties of love, trust, and friendship, as she develops well-articulated histories for both families.” Publishers Weekly also said, “Woodson's lyrical prose draws the audience into the tenderness of young love, her perceptive comments about race and racism will strike a chord with black readers and open the eyes of white readers.”
