You are so light you move with the wind and the snow.... And it lifts you up--over a world of sadness and anger and fear. Over a world of first kis...
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reviews
Jan 02, 2012
Linda
rated it: 
Any words to describe this amazing author would be trite and corny. Suffice it to say, she is one worth reading. Few can deal with intense subjects and yet not succumb to over drama and embellishment.
While this is a companion to If You Come Softly, a book I haven't read, there was no difficulty following the story.
Well deserving of the Coretta Scott King award, in this small, but powerful book, Woodson tackles the topics of interracial relationships, grief, sorrow and a young More...
While this is a companion to If You Come Softly, a book I haven't read, there was no difficulty following the story.
Well deserving of the Coretta Scott King award, in this small, but powerful book, Woodson tackles the topics of interracial relationships, grief, sorrow and a young More...
Jan 14, 2011
Kirstynn
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I really enjoyed this book. It was really great! It shows you that even though someone's body isn't still here, deosn't mean their soul isn't with you, following you, watching over you like a guardian angel. This book show's you how close friends and family have to cope with losing someone so dear to them. It shows you pain and happiness, and let's you know that no matter how long their body's been gone, their soul will always be there with you, loving you, making sure your okay. I think the rea
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May 09, 2010
I really liked this book. I liked it better than the first one. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different person in Miah's life - how their lives are going since his death and how they are dealing with the loss. Woodson is an amazing writer. I would compare her to Angela Johnson, only slightly more poetic. Maybe that's not fair, I haven't read a Johnson book in a while. I read Behind You over the course of two days and really tried to let her words sink in as I sat on the co
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Feb 08, 2010
Magdalen
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I've been on a Jacqueline Woodson marathon for the past couple months--ordering all her books through the libraries interloan. YA novels, they are the perfect length to spend a morning with or start before bed and then stay up late to read the whole way through. Last night I was up until two with Behind You. Fifteen year old Jeremiah is mistakenly shot by cops as he's running home from his girlfriend's house through central park. The chapters rotate narrators: Miah's girlfriend-Ellie, his best f
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Nov 03, 2009
Emily
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Fiction/Death/Healing/Interracial
Behind You is written from the perspective of six different people. Each chapter title is named for the person who narrates it. The book begins with the death of Jeremiah and the rest of the story is about the healing process that his friends and family pass through as they deal with the loss.
This book was just ok. It had a good message about healing, but was written in confusing fashion. I feel that I never really got to know the charact More...
Behind You is written from the perspective of six different people. Each chapter title is named for the person who narrates it. The book begins with the death of Jeremiah and the rest of the story is about the healing process that his friends and family pass through as they deal with the loss.
This book was just ok. It had a good message about healing, but was written in confusing fashion. I feel that I never really got to know the charact More...
Apr 03, 2009
Raven
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Behind You, written by Jacqueline Woodson is about a young boy who is shot and killed by the police, and his family’s struggle to recover from it. Throughout the story we see how Jeremiah, the deceased boy, and his death effects everyone in is life. His parents divorce, his girlfriend, Ellie, falls into a deep depression, and his basketball team suffers and soon begins to reminisce and forget that they’re playing without him, this causes them to begin losing.
This book is More...
This book is More...
Dec 09, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 30, 2009
Josiah
rated it:
"Feels like I've known him since before he got to the world-longer than he knew himself, truthfully. Seems like we'd been friends really...Somewhere before life on earth..."
--Desire Viola Roselind, "Behind You", P. 24
"Kids are something. All they can see is the beauty in a moment."
--Norman Roselind, "Behind You", P. 37
"If You Come Softly" is one of the greatest stories that it has ever been More...
--Desire Viola Roselind, "Behind You", P. 24
"Kids are something. All they can see is the beauty in a moment."
--Norman Roselind, "Behind You", P. 37
"If You Come Softly" is one of the greatest stories that it has ever been More...
Jan 23, 2012
Zhen
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This is one of the books or stories that very different from what I've read so far because it's not divided by numbers of chapters but separated with people's names that relate to the protagonist. In every section I get to read from different perspectives of the character's sides of the story and how they felt when the main character, Miah, passed away. I got to understand the parents, girlfriends, and even friends side of their story and how they felt inside when they still couldn't accept that
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Mar 16, 2011
Ann
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I read this a couple of weeks ago, and, honestly, I'm having a hard time remembering much from it, which may say something about the book. I do think that it was well written and quite sad, but because it is so short, it was hard to feel any lasting connection with the story and characters. I found out after reading it that it's actually a sequel to If You Come Softly, but everything I've read indicates that this book can stand alone. However, I think I would have liked to have read the other bo
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Dec 13, 2011
Xiao Wen
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This book is written in a journal format and each chapter is a journal from a different character, it confused me, and after I read the book, I still can not recognize which character is which except Miah, the one who died at the beginning of the book; Ellie, who Miah had close relationship with; and Nelia, Miah's mother. Even though this book is kinda confused me, but I still feel the mood of depress while I was reading. The thing that this book stands out is Miah is black and Ellie is white, b
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Dec 09, 2010
Cali
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In a short, 100 paged novel, Jacqueline Woodson attempts to tell a story of overcoming tragic teen death. The young, black Jeremiah was mistakenly shot in the park by a cop who thought he was a burglar they were trying to chase down. Each chapter is told from a different person's point of view from Jeremiah's girlfriend Ellie, and his parents, to the only other black guy on his school's basketball team. Each person deals with the grief differently, and beneath the grief there are also some minor
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Oct 21, 2009
Ellen
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I read this book with my Lunch Time book Club at the high school where I am a librarian. It was their pick out of 5 options I gave them and I have to say it wasn't what I expected. It is written from the perspective of several characters all dealing with the loss of a teenager named Miah, who was shot to death by two policemen in a case of mistaken identity. His perspective is also captured in the book as he is watching the people that he loved deal with the loss. It was a very emotional portray
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Dec 08, 2010
Danielle
rated it:
Genre: fiction/death/healing
Written from the perspective of six different people, Behind You begins with the death of Jeremiah and tells the story of the healing process that all of his friends and family go through. Throughout the story we see how his death truly affects those he knew and it's quite detailed and personal.
The message of Behind You is a good one, but the different perspectives confused me a little. I had trouble really feeling connected to any of the characte More...
Written from the perspective of six different people, Behind You begins with the death of Jeremiah and tells the story of the healing process that all of his friends and family go through. Throughout the story we see how his death truly affects those he knew and it's quite detailed and personal.
The message of Behind You is a good one, but the different perspectives confused me a little. I had trouble really feeling connected to any of the characte More...
Dec 09, 2010
Sydney
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Miah and Ellie were two young lovers and best friends. Despite the fact that Miah was black and Ellie was white, they broke the race barrier and were accepted by their peers. Then one night Miah is tragically killed. The story is about Miah looking back on those he loves while in an in-between state. He watches them mourn and try to overcome their loss, while subtly comforting him. It is a beautiful story about dealing with loss and making new friendships while not letting old ones die.
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Jan 30, 2011
Dominic
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Books written for young adults come in all packages, but Jacqueline Woodson creates some of the very best packages, I think. It is subtle and quiet, detailed and reflective. It's language and structure is simple enough for struggling readers, but the depth of emotion and level of wisdom is worthy of our most esteemed literature.
Thinking about Woodson (and authors like her) leave me wondering, "Why do we teachers continue to force books like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Ca More...
Thinking about Woodson (and authors like her) leave me wondering, "Why do we teachers continue to force books like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Ca More...
Nov 02, 2011
Rachel
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Just alright for me. I'm not a huge fan of depressing books, but I do like books that deal with serious issues, especially when they are mixed with hope. The book showed different perspectives of people dealing with the death of one boy. It was interesting to read, and rang true, as everyone deals with death in such different ways. However, I wish that the book had started a bit before the death, so that we got to know the main character as well as the family did.
Jun 11, 2010
Rob
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A young, black man is shot and killed by the police, and his loss impacts numerous members of the community. Each character sort of comes across in a series of candid interviews, almost like a documentary.
This book brings up a lot of important issues, like racial injustice, forgiveness, and overcoming loss, but sort of fails to do them justice because of the way it is written. Woodson switches through narrators every few pages, and never really allows us to get to close to any part More...
This book brings up a lot of important issues, like racial injustice, forgiveness, and overcoming loss, but sort of fails to do them justice because of the way it is written. Woodson switches through narrators every few pages, and never really allows us to get to close to any part More...
Sep 23, 2010
Kali
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I Thought this book was interesting because it was about an interratal relationship. The boy dies and everyone is trying to fit in the world again. Finding new info one piece at a time. At 15 years old their son gets shot and dies, the mom has been dead for a while and all the family and friends illustrate what has happened and will happen..pay attention when you read its a little hard to follow!!
Dec 26, 2007
Patrick
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Spoiler: this is the sequel to Woodson's tragic tale of inter-racial romance If You Come Softly. That book ends with the main character, Jeremiah, shot dead by New York City police, in a case of mistaken identity. Jeremiah is back here telling the story from the great beyond, similar to The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and After Life by Gary Soto. Yet Jeremiah's is not the only voice, as his friends and relatives also reveal their sorrow. The book isn't plot heavy, instead focusing on the strugg
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Nov 20, 2007
Seana
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This book was really good! It made me cry, an laugh. I think that guys or girls good read this book, but girls may like it a little more because girls tend to be into romance novels more than guys are. In this story a kid named Jeramiah, or miah for short. Was shot because he was black, just like someone who had just committed a crime, he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Everyone misses him, his girlfriend Ellie, who was white, his best friend Carlton. Kennedy, his parents, etc.
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Oct 15, 2010
Anne
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Holy Lord - Jacqueline Woodson is an incredibly powerful, evocative writer. I want to teach this book. I want to teach all of her books. Can't wait to start Locomotion. How the characters in this story deal with grief and moving on after their son, boyfriend, best friend, teammate dies is a poignant reminder that death does not mean abandonment.
May 06, 2011
i just stared reading this book and i like it. its about and black boy name miah and he was shot from the back and he died because the shot went through his heart. this book is his family and friends telling us about his life aND HOW HE WAS Smart and all. i really like this book i should be done wit this book next week and im on page 37.
Aug 17, 2010
Amanda (manda4099)
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 30, 2010
Kirby
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Although I liked the first one better, I still enjoyed this book. It takes places after Jeremiah is killed by police, and each chapter is told by a different character. I know this book is supposed to be about hope, but it was just really sad to me and I wanted Miah to be alive and he and Ellie to really have a shot.
Aug 03, 2008
Katrina
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In If You Come Softly, Jeremiah Roselind was shot down by two policemen in a case of mistaken identity. Behind You continues where If You Come Softly left off, showing how Jeremiah's passing affected the lives of the people who were close to him. But it's not only family and friends who are dealing with the loss of Jeremiah; Jeremiah also has to come to grips with the fact that he's no longer with the ones he loves. He has moved on to a better place, yet he keeps watching the world and those who
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Jul 21, 2011
Imani ♥ ☮
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And I thought the first book was bad...
This book was just all over the place. Ellie is devastated over the murder of her boyfriend, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah is black.
Ellie is white.
No big deal, right? Wrong. Of course. Boo. And since Jeremiah is black(and the black people in books and films always die first) Jeremiah is shot by mistake while in Ellie's neighborhood.
(=_=)
I was very upset. And so now this is the sequel to this happy book. Elli More...
This book was just all over the place. Ellie is devastated over the murder of her boyfriend, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah is black.
Ellie is white.
No big deal, right? Wrong. Of course. Boo. And since Jeremiah is black(and the black people in books and films always die first) Jeremiah is shot by mistake while in Ellie's neighborhood.
(=_=)
I was very upset. And so now this is the sequel to this happy book. Elli More...
Oct 09, 2009
Afsana
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This is the sequal to "If You Come Softly" DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW IF YOU HAVENT READ THE 1ST BOOK .!!!!! So As you know Jeremiah died. The love of elishas life. What is elisha going to do. She is miserable and the book basically explains how her life with out jeremiah is. Her souless body, praying for jeremiahs sould to rest in peace. its a sad adventure but the book is really good.
Sep 05, 2009
Anderson
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this book is one of my favorite books. this book talks about different points of view from family and friends. of a black student who was shot because he was supposly confused for another person. i think that the shot the student for racist reason and it wasnt right.
Nov 11, 2010
Marie
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I enjoyed it but am wondering if it was really necessary to make a second book. She could have just added it to the first. It was only 118 pages and didn't seem to stand on it's own in my opinion. But I still enjoyed the story and the writing.
