If You Come Softly

Jacqueline Woodson's 'If You Come Softly' is a powerful young adult novel that delves into the intense first love between Jeremiah, a Black teenager with separated parents, and Ellie, a white teenager grappling with a history of maternal abandonment. Set in a New York private school, their relationship blossoms amidst personal demons and the external pressures of societal prejudice. The story takes a tragic turn with Jeremiah's sudden death, forcing Ellie to confront profound grief and the harsh realities of loss. This book is suitable for mature young adults, offering a deep exploration of love, loss, racial identity, and resilience.

After meeting at their private school in New York, fifteen-year-old Jeremiah, who is black and whose parents are separated, and Ellie, who is white and whose mother has twice abandoned her, fall in love and then try to cope with people's reactions.