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Redwood Court
A breathtaking debut about one unforgettable Southern Black family, seen through the eyes of its youngest daughter as she comes of age in the 1990s.
"A beautiful exploration of a family . . . deeply moving." Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful
“Mika, you sit at our feet all these hours and days, hearing us tell our tales. You have all these stories inside all the stories everyone in our family knows and all the stories everyone in our family tells. You write ’em in your books and show everyone who we are.”
So begins award-winning poet DéLana R. A. Dameron’s debut novel, Redwood Court. The baby of the family, Mika Tabor spends much of her time in the care of loved ones, listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. On Redwood Court, the cul-de-sac in the all-Black working-class suburb of Columbia, South Carolina, where her grandparents live, Mika learns important lessons from the people who raise her: her exhausted parents, who work long hours at multiple jobs while still making sure their kids experience the adventure of family vacations; her older sister, who in a house filled with Motown would rather listen to Alanis Morrisette; her retired grandparents, children of Jim Crow, who realized their own vision of success when they bought their house on the Court in the 1960s, imagining it filled with future generations; and the many neighbors who hold tight to the community they’ve built, committed to fostering joy and love in an America so insistent on seeing Black people stumble and fall.
With visceral clarity and powerful prose, Dameron reveals the devastation of being made to feel invisible and the transformative power of being seen. Redwood Court is a celebration of extraordinary, ordinary people striving to achieve their own American dreams.
"A beautiful exploration of a family . . . deeply moving." Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful
“Mika, you sit at our feet all these hours and days, hearing us tell our tales. You have all these stories inside all the stories everyone in our family knows and all the stories everyone in our family tells. You write ’em in your books and show everyone who we are.”
So begins award-winning poet DéLana R. A. Dameron’s debut novel, Redwood Court. The baby of the family, Mika Tabor spends much of her time in the care of loved ones, listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. On Redwood Court, the cul-de-sac in the all-Black working-class suburb of Columbia, South Carolina, where her grandparents live, Mika learns important lessons from the people who raise her: her exhausted parents, who work long hours at multiple jobs while still making sure their kids experience the adventure of family vacations; her older sister, who in a house filled with Motown would rather listen to Alanis Morrisette; her retired grandparents, children of Jim Crow, who realized their own vision of success when they bought their house on the Court in the 1960s, imagining it filled with future generations; and the many neighbors who hold tight to the community they’ve built, committed to fostering joy and love in an America so insistent on seeing Black people stumble and fall.
With visceral clarity and powerful prose, Dameron reveals the devastation of being made to feel invisible and the transformative power of being seen. Redwood Court is a celebration of extraordinary, ordinary people striving to achieve their own American dreams.
Paperback
First published February 6, 2024
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About the author
DeLana R.A. Dameron
7 books171 followersDéLana R. A. Dameron is an artist whose primary medium is storytelling. She is a graduate of New York University’s MFA program in poetry and holds a bachelor of arts
degree in history from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her debut poetry collection, How God Ends Us, was selected by Elizabeth Alexander for the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize, and her second collection, Weary Kingdom, was chosen by Nikky Finney for the Palmetto Poetry Series. Dameron is also the founder of Saloma Acres, an equestrian and cultural space in her hometown of South
Carolina, where she resides.
degree in history from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her debut poetry collection, How God Ends Us, was selected by Elizabeth Alexander for the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize, and her second collection, Weary Kingdom, was chosen by Nikky Finney for the Palmetto Poetry Series. Dameron is also the founder of Saloma Acres, an equestrian and cultural space in her hometown of South
Carolina, where she resides.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 726 reviews
December 25, 2023
Redwood Court is a family saga about a black family in South Carolina, covering three decades of family life. Weesie and Teeta move into Redwood Court soon after the Korean War. Segregation is still a given, with Jim Crow laws in place. Weesie is determined to make the neighborhood a caring community, where everyone is looked after.
The story is told from multiple POVs. At times, it was hard to keep up with who was related to whom. (Dameron was smart to include a list of characters at the beginning of the book.). The book eventually moves on to be primarily from Mika’s PoV in the 1990s.
This isn’t a fast paced story or one in which a lot happens. The strength of the book relies on the beautiful writing. It’s a character rich story of the American Dream. It’s a story where it’s the small intimate events that matter most - taking a dying man out to fish, the breaking of a jewelry box. But what really drew me to the book was the love between the family members. It left me with a real feeling of warmth.
There’s an underlying theme of genealogy - of not being able to trace back generations like white people take for granted. It was this theme that consistently hit home for me.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
The story is told from multiple POVs. At times, it was hard to keep up with who was related to whom. (Dameron was smart to include a list of characters at the beginning of the book.). The book eventually moves on to be primarily from Mika’s PoV in the 1990s.
This isn’t a fast paced story or one in which a lot happens. The strength of the book relies on the beautiful writing. It’s a character rich story of the American Dream. It’s a story where it’s the small intimate events that matter most - taking a dying man out to fish, the breaking of a jewelry box. But what really drew me to the book was the love between the family members. It left me with a real feeling of warmth.
There’s an underlying theme of genealogy - of not being able to trace back generations like white people take for granted. It was this theme that consistently hit home for me.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
February 19, 2024
Read for Reese's Book Club.
Um, I think this book wasn't for me. I wasn't into it at all. It was an all-vibes-no-plot kind of book and I just don't really like that type of novel. I can totally understand if others enjoy this coming-of-age, family saga type story, but I really need a plot for enjoyment, and this one didn't have one. It's not you, it's me. Anyway, two stars for "it was alright".
Um, I think this book wasn't for me. I wasn't into it at all. It was an all-vibes-no-plot kind of book and I just don't really like that type of novel. I can totally understand if others enjoy this coming-of-age, family saga type story, but I really need a plot for enjoyment, and this one didn't have one. It's not you, it's me. Anyway, two stars for "it was alright".
Read
February 13, 2024This is a gorgeously written saga covering three generations of a Black family living in South Carolina. The narrator is Mika, the youngest daughter. Though during the course of the book the narrative voice experiments with POV, and style, in particular when looking through the eyes of the older characters, especially the grandparents, Teeta and Weesie.
Dameron writes powerfully, bringing these characters to life. Threaded with compassion, and anger, and humor, the narrative skillfully imbues everyone with complexity. I'm far too ignorant about the Black experience to presume any judgments; I finished this book, after a two day nearly non-stop read, feeling as if I'd recognize the characters if I met them on the street, or even heard their voices. I was left with a sharp sense that we need more voices like this in mainstream literature.
Dameron writes powerfully, bringing these characters to life. Threaded with compassion, and anger, and humor, the narrative skillfully imbues everyone with complexity. I'm far too ignorant about the Black experience to presume any judgments; I finished this book, after a two day nearly non-stop read, feeling as if I'd recognize the characters if I met them on the street, or even heard their voices. I was left with a sharp sense that we need more voices like this in mainstream literature.
March 31, 2025
This book is proof that some authors can make the who story without plot thing work. Featuring a gorgeous but not overly stylized prose and characters that are so endearing yet real you won't be able not to root for them, Redwood Court is filled with tenderness but also profoundly moving.
January 29, 2024
Redwood Court has my heart. As an 80's born baby and a child of the 90s, I felt like I understood Mika so much. I'm a white woman, so obviously, my life and struggles are different from Mika's but so similar as well. I was very close to my maternal grandparents. We spent every Friday after school there until after dinner. On Saturdays, we went over as soon as we were done with lunch, and most of the time, either my brother or I spent the night on Friday or Saturday nights. On Sundays, we had Sunday lunch with them after church and didn't go home until evening. My granddaddy liked to take us for rides and see people he knew or go sit at the creek in similar ways to Mika's Teeta. My mom's brother was constantly involved with drugs and in trouble with the law and similarly was locked up when my granddaddy passed. The beginning of Redwood Court focuses a lot of Mika and Teeta's relationship, and boy, did that leave me with an ache over the loss of my grandaddy. Currently, my other granddaddy isn't doing well, and I live so far away from my family that I got a huge case of homesickness. Redwood Court highlights the culture of the 90s, and it was a nostalgic walk through that time period, especially with in home computers, internet at home, burning cds, and y2k. Redwood Court made me feel a lot of things. I laughed and cried through much of it, but maybe nostalgia is what shone through the most. It was a trip down memory lane from my own childhood. The good ole days. The ending felt abrupt in that I wasn't ready for it to be over. I wanted more of Mika's story. I want to know if she ever dates Roger and what happens after she graduates high school. I'll miss Weesie and Mika and the rest. They felt like family.
February 4, 2024
This debut novel is the story of a black working-class family in South Carolina - their history, their relationships, their neighborhood, and their dreams told through several points of view, but mostly through young Mika's eyes in the 1990s.
Description:
“Mika, you sit at our feet all these hours and days, hearing us tell our tales. You have all these stories inside all the stories everyone in our family knows and all the stories everyone in our family tells. You write ’em in your books and show everyone who we are.”
So begins award-winning poet DéLana R. A. Dameron’s debut novel, Redwood Court . The baby of the family, Mika Tabor spends much of her time in the care of loved ones, listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. On Redwood Court, the cul-de-sac in the all-Black working-class suburb of Columbia, South Carolina, where her grandparents live, Mika learns important lessons from the people who raise her exhausted parents, who work long hours at multiple jobs while still making sure their kids experience the adventure of family vacations; her older sister, who in a house filled with Motown would rather listen to Alanis Morrisette; her retired grandparents, children of Jim Crow, who realized their own vision of success when they bought their house on the Court in the 1960s, imagining it filled with future generations; and the many neighbors who hold tight to the community they’ve built, committed to fostering joy and love in an America so insistent on seeing Black people stumble and fall.
With visceral clarity and powerful prose, Dameron reveals the devastation of being made to feel invisible and the transformative power of being seen. Redwood Court is a celebration of extraordinary, ordinary people striving to achieve their own American dreams.
My thoughts:
I thought Weesie was phenomenal the way she tried to pull the neighborhood community together and make sure everyone was included and felt cared for. The neighborhood was friendly and looked after their families, who were close, and I really liked that. It was sad the family couldn't trace their roots which was a result of slavery where so many were disbursed and didn't know their families. However, this is not a book about slavery, but of the love of a family and their day to day lives. The characters in the story are central and drive the plot. The writing is beautiful and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to Random House, The Dial Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
“Mika, you sit at our feet all these hours and days, hearing us tell our tales. You have all these stories inside all the stories everyone in our family knows and all the stories everyone in our family tells. You write ’em in your books and show everyone who we are.”
So begins award-winning poet DéLana R. A. Dameron’s debut novel, Redwood Court . The baby of the family, Mika Tabor spends much of her time in the care of loved ones, listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. On Redwood Court, the cul-de-sac in the all-Black working-class suburb of Columbia, South Carolina, where her grandparents live, Mika learns important lessons from the people who raise her exhausted parents, who work long hours at multiple jobs while still making sure their kids experience the adventure of family vacations; her older sister, who in a house filled with Motown would rather listen to Alanis Morrisette; her retired grandparents, children of Jim Crow, who realized their own vision of success when they bought their house on the Court in the 1960s, imagining it filled with future generations; and the many neighbors who hold tight to the community they’ve built, committed to fostering joy and love in an America so insistent on seeing Black people stumble and fall.
With visceral clarity and powerful prose, Dameron reveals the devastation of being made to feel invisible and the transformative power of being seen. Redwood Court is a celebration of extraordinary, ordinary people striving to achieve their own American dreams.
My thoughts:
I thought Weesie was phenomenal the way she tried to pull the neighborhood community together and make sure everyone was included and felt cared for. The neighborhood was friendly and looked after their families, who were close, and I really liked that. It was sad the family couldn't trace their roots which was a result of slavery where so many were disbursed and didn't know their families. However, this is not a book about slavery, but of the love of a family and their day to day lives. The characters in the story are central and drive the plot. The writing is beautiful and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to Random House, The Dial Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
February 24, 2024
The novel is about a black family living in Columbia, South Carolina. When the book opens, we are introduced to Weesie (Louise) and Teeta (James). They meet each other at a booth in an open air market where Teeter is selling fruits and vegetables. After a courtship which is complicated by Teeta's serving in the Korean War, the couple marry and start a family. They also build a home on a cul-de-sac street called "Redwood Court."
Readers will come to know all three generations of their family, including Weesie and Teeta, their children and grandchildren. In the first part of the story, different characters narrate from their own points of view. As the story moves on however, the focus is on Mika, their youngest granddaughter.
Through the years, the family will experience both joys and sorrows. Weesie and Teeta's daughter will become pregnant at age 13. And, their son will have challenges with the law. How the family responds to and surmounts these problems becomes part of the story.
I enjoyed the novel over-all, but had some problems with it. Reading it felt like seeing a collage of events - they were mentioned, but not fully explored. Chapters seemed like vignettes or short stories. Some resonated with me and some did not.
Additional Note: One of my favorite chapters involve the family taking an ill Teeta for a day of fishing in the country, a past-time that he loved. I read this on the 2nd anniversary of my father's death. Dad too, was a fisherman. This lovely chapter brought back all kinds of nice memories for me.
3.5 stars
Readers will come to know all three generations of their family, including Weesie and Teeta, their children and grandchildren. In the first part of the story, different characters narrate from their own points of view. As the story moves on however, the focus is on Mika, their youngest granddaughter.
Through the years, the family will experience both joys and sorrows. Weesie and Teeta's daughter will become pregnant at age 13. And, their son will have challenges with the law. How the family responds to and surmounts these problems becomes part of the story.
I enjoyed the novel over-all, but had some problems with it. Reading it felt like seeing a collage of events - they were mentioned, but not fully explored. Chapters seemed like vignettes or short stories. Some resonated with me and some did not.
Additional Note: One of my favorite chapters involve the family taking an ill Teeta for a day of fishing in the country, a past-time that he loved. I read this on the 2nd anniversary of my father's death. Dad too, was a fisherman. This lovely chapter brought back all kinds of nice memories for me.
3.5 stars
January 6, 2024
This is a very gentle book, a sweet coming-of-age of a young girl and her middle class black family in Charleston, South Carolina. Mika is the primary narrator, but others have their say, in explaining their familial history and how they came to be living there, to the best of their knowledge. Beginning with a school assignment in which she is to present an artifact explaining her ancestry, Mika goes back over what is known and what is supposed in order to present as accurate a picture as possible. Unlike so many histories of black families, there are really no secrets, no dramas, but loving affection and support. And this is what sets it apart.
February 11, 2024
I enjoyed parts of this story but felt it didn't push through. A lot of great themes and stories were introduced but not followed through.
Overall well written and interesting but left me asking why certain pieces were not explored further
Overall well written and interesting but left me asking why certain pieces were not explored further
March 6, 2024
4.5 stars
In DéLana R. A. Dameron's novel, Redwood Court, Mika Tabor's tale begins with a family tree assignment — something particularly difficult to both explore and encapsulate in the same way or to the same degree as her white classmates. So the unfurling of Mika's beautifully rich tapestry of matriarchal generations begins with the idea of filling out the tree with stories, rather than simply names, branching the idea of the tree outwards instead of focusing on the typical upwards angle.
Although the overall style moved the entry point a little later, once I found the rhythms of her writing, I settled in comfortably for the remainder of the journey. The account through Mika's youth reads like an engrossing collection of short stories, or family stories...the kind you share and recount endlessly at reunions, weddings, and funerals. And with each new addition, I was reminded of Don Draper’s carousel — a deeply moving nostalgia slideshow.
On a personal point, I absolutely adored the complete exploration of the Columbia I both knew and didn't...the first mention of Two Notch Road sent me squealing. I still have family in that area, and I cannot tell you how many times that was the exit off the interstate that meant I was near my destination. This was one of the best representations of that area and life there during the 90s, that I have read.
The title comes from the all-Black working-class suburb where Mika's grandparents settled in the 1960s and established a strong connective extended family whose ties held each other together and built each other up. Though not totally absent from any story about a Black family (particularly in the South and covering the 50s through the early 00s), instead of focusing on Black pain and Black trauma, Redwood Court presents a beautifully perfect account of youth surrounded by love and full of joy. Having found this superb new Southern voice, I will absolutely read what Dameron writes next.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
In DéLana R. A. Dameron's novel, Redwood Court, Mika Tabor's tale begins with a family tree assignment — something particularly difficult to both explore and encapsulate in the same way or to the same degree as her white classmates. So the unfurling of Mika's beautifully rich tapestry of matriarchal generations begins with the idea of filling out the tree with stories, rather than simply names, branching the idea of the tree outwards instead of focusing on the typical upwards angle.
Although the overall style moved the entry point a little later, once I found the rhythms of her writing, I settled in comfortably for the remainder of the journey. The account through Mika's youth reads like an engrossing collection of short stories, or family stories...the kind you share and recount endlessly at reunions, weddings, and funerals. And with each new addition, I was reminded of Don Draper’s carousel — a deeply moving nostalgia slideshow.
On a personal point, I absolutely adored the complete exploration of the Columbia I both knew and didn't...the first mention of Two Notch Road sent me squealing. I still have family in that area, and I cannot tell you how many times that was the exit off the interstate that meant I was near my destination. This was one of the best representations of that area and life there during the 90s, that I have read.
The title comes from the all-Black working-class suburb where Mika's grandparents settled in the 1960s and established a strong connective extended family whose ties held each other together and built each other up. Though not totally absent from any story about a Black family (particularly in the South and covering the 50s through the early 00s), instead of focusing on Black pain and Black trauma, Redwood Court presents a beautifully perfect account of youth surrounded by love and full of joy. Having found this superb new Southern voice, I will absolutely read what Dameron writes next.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
March 12, 2025
https://youtu.be/Qc4-tO3j6GM?si=W0pvz...
🏡 Home isn’t just a place—it’s a story waiting to be told.
In Redwood Court, DéLana R.A. Dameron paints a moving portrait of family, identity, and the ties that bind us. Set in Columbia, South Carolina, the novel follows Mika Tabor, a young girl coming of age in the close-knit neighborhood of Redwood Court. As Mika navigates the complexities of family dynamics, community history, and personal growth, she uncovers the powerful connections that shape her understanding of love, loss, and belonging.
Join our AI hosts, j(AI)n and d(AI)n, as we dive into themes of family legacy, cultural identity, and the resilience of Black Southern communities. How do our roots define our future? What role does memory play in preserving family stories? Let’s explore together.
📖 Purchase Redwood Court on Amazon: https://amzn.to/41sTbeY🎧 Listen to the audiobook on Audible: https://amzn.to/4iCuSlJ
🎙 Listen to WHTTR on
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3RlW2qm...
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🏡 Home isn’t just a place—it’s a story waiting to be told.
In Redwood Court, DéLana R.A. Dameron paints a moving portrait of family, identity, and the ties that bind us. Set in Columbia, South Carolina, the novel follows Mika Tabor, a young girl coming of age in the close-knit neighborhood of Redwood Court. As Mika navigates the complexities of family dynamics, community history, and personal growth, she uncovers the powerful connections that shape her understanding of love, loss, and belonging.
Join our AI hosts, j(AI)n and d(AI)n, as we dive into themes of family legacy, cultural identity, and the resilience of Black Southern communities. How do our roots define our future? What role does memory play in preserving family stories? Let’s explore together.
📖 Purchase Redwood Court on Amazon: https://amzn.to/41sTbeY🎧 Listen to the audiobook on Audible: https://amzn.to/4iCuSlJ
🎙 Listen to WHTTR on
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3RlW2qm...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-wh...
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/806...
✨ Subscribe to our newsletter
https://whttr.beehiiv.com/subscribe
🌐 Visit our website
https://whttr.wordpress.com
March 6, 2024
2.5
Beautiful writing style, but the lack of a true plot or any conflict made it difficult to really get into. There were several moments where I thought ok maybe we are going to go deeper but then there was an abrupt shift and on to a new narrative. Definitely felt more like a memoir or collection of short stories than a fiction novel.
Beautiful writing style, but the lack of a true plot or any conflict made it difficult to really get into. There were several moments where I thought ok maybe we are going to go deeper but then there was an abrupt shift and on to a new narrative. Definitely felt more like a memoir or collection of short stories than a fiction novel.
November 28, 2023
I received this book from Penguin Random House to give a fair & honest review.
I like family sagas & I also like coming of age books & this was both. The era of the story, mainly from the 60's -90's was a time filled with many changes & especially in the black community. Most of the story takes place in Columbia, SC & mostly in the neighborhood of Redwood Court. There are many characters, mostly family members near & far & also friends, neighbors etc. At times it was very hard to keep up with everyone even with a list of characters in the front of the book.
What I had the hardest part with was which person & POV the story was being told by. This dramatically slowed my reading down & is the reason I gave it a 3 star VS a 4 star. Overall there were parts I really liked.
I like family sagas & I also like coming of age books & this was both. The era of the story, mainly from the 60's -90's was a time filled with many changes & especially in the black community. Most of the story takes place in Columbia, SC & mostly in the neighborhood of Redwood Court. There are many characters, mostly family members near & far & also friends, neighbors etc. At times it was very hard to keep up with everyone even with a list of characters in the front of the book.
What I had the hardest part with was which person & POV the story was being told by. This dramatically slowed my reading down & is the reason I gave it a 3 star VS a 4 star. Overall there were parts I really liked.
April 14, 2025
BRILLIANT. I’m calling it now, this book will be the blueprint for so much of the work that is to come in Black Southern literature.
Redwood Court is a master class in covering the social bonds that our grandparents formed in postwar subdivisions. It’s laser focused on an understudied place, Columbia, but if you’re born in the 80s or 90s, there’s a good chance this neighborhood and the way people commune within it will remind you of wherever your grandma stayed. I don’t think I’ve been this moved by an author’s examination of Black placemaking since The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (which, for comparison, is my favorite memoir OF ALL TIME.)
There is so much I appreciate Dameron for, and I can’t wait to do a full review soon.
Redwood Court is a master class in covering the social bonds that our grandparents formed in postwar subdivisions. It’s laser focused on an understudied place, Columbia, but if you’re born in the 80s or 90s, there’s a good chance this neighborhood and the way people commune within it will remind you of wherever your grandma stayed. I don’t think I’ve been this moved by an author’s examination of Black placemaking since The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (which, for comparison, is my favorite memoir OF ALL TIME.)
There is so much I appreciate Dameron for, and I can’t wait to do a full review soon.
January 27, 2024
There were some truly lovely moments in this debut novel, scenes of fierce family love that moved me deeply. Through slice of life chapters that read like self-contained short stories, DéLana R.A. Dameron explored multiple generations of a Southern Black family coming of age, finding their places in the world, and celebrating the thriving community they made on Redwood Court. While there were some very powerful chapters, overall I found the novel a little too disjointed for me to feel familiar with the characters, especially as the narration often switched partway through a chapter. I also felt a bit aimless while reading; though plot was not the main goal of the story, I did wonder where exactly the stories were leading, and I’m not sure the ending was entirely satisfying for me.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 31, 2023
Redwood Court reminded me of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: the story of a girl growing up, set in a particular time and place and culture, but universal in its appeal and wisdom.
The time is the 1990s. The place is Columbia, Georgia. Redwood Court is home to Mika’s grandparents, who proudly purchased the suburban home in the 1960s. It was an achievement of having ‘made it.’ Mika adores her grandfather Teeta, the heart of the family. Her grandmother Weesie shaped the street into a community of mutual support. As Mika’s parents both work, she spends summers with her grandparents.
The novel begins with a homework project Mika is struggling over. She is tasked to trace her family history, but as African Americans, discovering their roots is unlikely. Teeta tells Mika that it’s her job to preserve their stories for the future. And the entire book tells their story, past and present, from the grandparent’s remarkable love story to her uncle’s incarceration. Mika spends time with the women, listening, learning.
This unforgettable family has its joys and losses, holds on to hope and faces the cruel reality of racism. It’s a wonderful debut novel and I look forward to hearing more from this writer.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
The time is the 1990s. The place is Columbia, Georgia. Redwood Court is home to Mika’s grandparents, who proudly purchased the suburban home in the 1960s. It was an achievement of having ‘made it.’ Mika adores her grandfather Teeta, the heart of the family. Her grandmother Weesie shaped the street into a community of mutual support. As Mika’s parents both work, she spends summers with her grandparents.
The novel begins with a homework project Mika is struggling over. She is tasked to trace her family history, but as African Americans, discovering their roots is unlikely. Teeta tells Mika that it’s her job to preserve their stories for the future. And the entire book tells their story, past and present, from the grandparent’s remarkable love story to her uncle’s incarceration. Mika spends time with the women, listening, learning.
This unforgettable family has its joys and losses, holds on to hope and faces the cruel reality of racism. It’s a wonderful debut novel and I look forward to hearing more from this writer.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
January 11, 2024
I'm a really big fan of family saga-type books with timelines spanning several generations. I really loved that aspect of this book. It was definitely more character driven than plot but with a great "slice of life" type story. I also liked that it was told in the POV of multiple characters but mostly by Mika, who starts out a young girl and is 16 by the end. Her innocent observations about life and her relatives on Redwood Court were so sweet and poignant and her relationship with her grandpa (Teeta) brought tears to my eyes at certain moments! The only thing that would have made the read more enjoyable to me is if there was more dialogue and less being told what happened as if in a diary. That said, I would definitely read more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 8, 2024
A moving debut that follows three generations of the Tabors - a working class African American family proudly inhabiting a house in Redwood Court, a South Carolina suburban cul-de-sac firmly rooted in community.
Told mainly from the youngest daughter, Mika's eyes, but also including other family member's perspectives and written with beautiful prose, this story shines in the ordinary insights into everyday African American life spanning the 1960s to early 1990s.
Amazing on audio performed by a full cast of narrators, this is a new favorite Reese Book Club pick for me - perfect for Black History Month and fans of authors like Jacqueline Woodson or Kai Harris. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Told mainly from the youngest daughter, Mika's eyes, but also including other family member's perspectives and written with beautiful prose, this story shines in the ordinary insights into everyday African American life spanning the 1960s to early 1990s.
Amazing on audio performed by a full cast of narrators, this is a new favorite Reese Book Club pick for me - perfect for Black History Month and fans of authors like Jacqueline Woodson or Kai Harris. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
March 1, 2024
This book starts with a character list which kind of shocked me because it’s not a massive book but then the first conversation is about family trees so I found that to be clever and made me ready to jump in and read. The storylines were good - part 1 jumps between family members but sometimes it was hard to follow who was narrating and when. Part 1 was a good way to tie everyone together, but part 2 is where I felt it breakdown. This is supposed to be a coming of age story for Mika (and it was!) but it was just so plotless and aimless at times. It was a very detailed day to day of Mika’s experiences which could sometimes be very mundane, but I think when the experiences were important - whether family related or to Mika’s specific experiences as a young black girl - they were told very well! Mika’s narration also switches randomly from singular to third person through part 2 which was jarring.
May 30, 2024
This book was painfully difficult to read. I forced myself through it, hoping it would pick up, but it unfortunately never did. For starters, too many characters were crammed into such a short story, and I found it difficult to keep up with them. I spent about 90% of my time trying to figure out who was narrating. The story felt like a random telling of unrelated events, meaning the book lacked a plot. Overall, it was very difficult to follow, and I was highly disappointed.
May 24, 2024
The novel follows Mika Tabor the baby in the family as she spends time with her loved ones listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. Throughout the book Mika will learn some important lessons from her family. Like her parents who often work long hours and multiple jobs to ensure their kids get to experience all that life has to offer. Or her amazing grandparents who were born during the Jim Crow era and envisioned early on the success they wanted for their family and generations to come. Together they help Mika understand her family history, the meaning of community, and how ordinary people strive to achieve their own American dream.
Whew this book and the full cast of characters were a lot to take in. I love a good multigenerational family story but when to many characters are involved it leaves room for confusion. I had to reference back to the beginning a few times to remember who is who. But after a while most of the book is told from Mika’s POV which helps keep things in perspective.
The timeline jumped around quite a bit which I didn’t like because I felt the author could’ve gone in more depth on certain things before changing the topic. I did love the characters and getting to know their backstories especially the grandparents. Grandma was the glue that held the family and community together which many people can relate to.
The pacing was rather up and down for me and I felt the last quarter of the book didn’t hold up like the rest. I think what may throw many off is how the book is written. Rather than it solely focusing on a single topic we get a lot of stories told about or from specific family members that make up their family history. Which was probably done purposely since many Black families can’t trace far back in their lineage.
Overall, I enjoyed the book I increased my rating from a 3.5 to a 4 by the end of it. If you’re a fan of family sagas or books about multigenerational families you’ll enjoy this one. Special thanks to the author & @thedialpress for my gifted copy‼️
Whew this book and the full cast of characters were a lot to take in. I love a good multigenerational family story but when to many characters are involved it leaves room for confusion. I had to reference back to the beginning a few times to remember who is who. But after a while most of the book is told from Mika’s POV which helps keep things in perspective.
The timeline jumped around quite a bit which I didn’t like because I felt the author could’ve gone in more depth on certain things before changing the topic. I did love the characters and getting to know their backstories especially the grandparents. Grandma was the glue that held the family and community together which many people can relate to.
The pacing was rather up and down for me and I felt the last quarter of the book didn’t hold up like the rest. I think what may throw many off is how the book is written. Rather than it solely focusing on a single topic we get a lot of stories told about or from specific family members that make up their family history. Which was probably done purposely since many Black families can’t trace far back in their lineage.
Overall, I enjoyed the book I increased my rating from a 3.5 to a 4 by the end of it. If you’re a fan of family sagas or books about multigenerational families you’ll enjoy this one. Special thanks to the author & @thedialpress for my gifted copy‼️
March 16, 2024
Took me a bit to get into, but beautiful story covering 3 generations of a southern black family in the 1990s. A story of the love and ties of family. You really fall in love with the character and I love how she wove the story all together. Wasn’t my favorite book ever, but I finished the book wanting more.
June 11, 2024
3.5-4 stars. Cute story. Enjoyed the reference of locations in SC
March 17, 2024
This book was difficult to follow. It was also kind of bland.
February 19, 2024
Really struggled with this one.
I didn’t like it at all because I didn’t feel connected, I think personally it was written in a way that didn’t flow so therefore I didn’t connect.
I did enjoy the last 50-80 pages because I did find a connection with Mika and felt like that connected with me because of the way it flowed. The first Reese’s book club pick of the year that I didn’t enjoy!
OOPS!
I didn’t like it at all because I didn’t feel connected, I think personally it was written in a way that didn’t flow so therefore I didn’t connect.
I did enjoy the last 50-80 pages because I did find a connection with Mika and felt like that connected with me because of the way it flowed. The first Reese’s book club pick of the year that I didn’t enjoy!
OOPS!
February 19, 2025
Did I love this book because it's a story of a two generations of family- and framily- a perfect storytelling version of how it truly "takes a village"?
Absolutely
Could it be I am "nostalgic" like Mika because I have more days behind me than in front of me and understand how important having strong role models building a supportive world of traditions, boundaries, and possibilities for the next generation are to carry them forward?
Possibly
Did I especially love this book because DeLana Dameron is from my home state and lives in the capital city and I recognized places she described but also tapped in to what it meant (and the emotions) to be a black teenager coming of age at the end of the twentieth century in the south?
Yes
With rich descriptions that will make you feel like you are sitting at the spades table with Weesie about to win, riding in Teeta's truck after he picked you up from school, or feeling the strain of too many bills and not enough money to cover them, Redwood Court is a primary source for generations to come.
Impactful quote: “maybe because of the intergenerational nature of the family that's bringing her up (a cousin says to Weesie, "We get to be children of Jim Crow raising the children of Brown vs.
Board"),she wishes for clearer directions on how to navigate the ever-changing world as an opinionated but curious young Black girl.”
Absolutely
Could it be I am "nostalgic" like Mika because I have more days behind me than in front of me and understand how important having strong role models building a supportive world of traditions, boundaries, and possibilities for the next generation are to carry them forward?
Possibly
Did I especially love this book because DeLana Dameron is from my home state and lives in the capital city and I recognized places she described but also tapped in to what it meant (and the emotions) to be a black teenager coming of age at the end of the twentieth century in the south?
Yes
With rich descriptions that will make you feel like you are sitting at the spades table with Weesie about to win, riding in Teeta's truck after he picked you up from school, or feeling the strain of too many bills and not enough money to cover them, Redwood Court is a primary source for generations to come.
Impactful quote: “maybe because of the intergenerational nature of the family that's bringing her up (a cousin says to Weesie, "We get to be children of Jim Crow raising the children of Brown vs.
Board"),she wishes for clearer directions on how to navigate the ever-changing world as an opinionated but curious young Black girl.”
September 17, 2023
A powerful novel about a black family living in the 1990s. I was also a child in the 90s so this novel captured my attention. The novel is primarily told from the point of view of Mika, who is the youngest grandchild, but other members of the family also share their stories. The beginning was a little confusing for me because the point of view shifted and so did the timelines but once I got going I was hooked. Mika's story was so different from the childhood that I experienced and it really opened my eyes to her struggles and her victories. It also really brought home for me just how difficult life still is for black families. This novel was not set during the Civil Rights era but during the same time I was growing up. White privilege is a real thing and I think it is so important to read books like this because it really brings home how much harder life is for others. I recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys reading about strong characters, and coming of age novels!
Thank you to Dial Press/Random House and to NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Dial Press/Random House and to NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 5, 2024
Picked this up as part of Reese’s book club and I will preface by saying this is not a type of book that would normally catch my eye. However, this story provided me with so much nostalgia for my own grandparents, I truly didn’t want it to end.
The first part was a little jumpy and I had a hard time following which character was narrating at times. Once we settled into Mika’s story I found it more enjoyable. There really is no plot to this story since it’s a telling of Mika’s memories so it was hard to stay invested at times since there was nothing to kind of look forward to.
However, there was something about this book that kept me reading. The relationship that Mika had with her grandparents made me so wistful for a time in my life that is now passed. The simple act of spending an afternoon fishing with grandpa or playing a game of cards with my grandma are memories I will always cherish and I almost felt like I was back in time reading Mika’s memories. The part of Christmas and setting up the tree could have been written by me.
I can see how others will relate to parts of this story and I hope it brings them the small amount of bittersweet joy that it brought me.
The first part was a little jumpy and I had a hard time following which character was narrating at times. Once we settled into Mika’s story I found it more enjoyable. There really is no plot to this story since it’s a telling of Mika’s memories so it was hard to stay invested at times since there was nothing to kind of look forward to.
However, there was something about this book that kept me reading. The relationship that Mika had with her grandparents made me so wistful for a time in my life that is now passed. The simple act of spending an afternoon fishing with grandpa or playing a game of cards with my grandma are memories I will always cherish and I almost felt like I was back in time reading Mika’s memories. The part of Christmas and setting up the tree could have been written by me.
I can see how others will relate to parts of this story and I hope it brings them the small amount of bittersweet joy that it brought me.
December 5, 2023
"Redwood Court" is a charming but powerful novel about a black family living in 1990s South Carolina. Told mostly from the view of the youngest daughter Mika, this novel is both a coming-of-age story and a family drama. Its characters grapple with real-world trials and the characters are vibrantly alive and realistic. At times achingly intimate, this portrait of a family completely captivated me and its characters will stick with me for some time. The author's writing style is perfect for the tone of the book; this book is very well-written, especially for a debut. I think this book will be popular with book clubs.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this lovely book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this lovely book.
February 20, 2024
This book captured the cultural imprint of the black family in America, past and present.
There were deep truths, regarding our culture and life experiences, as a black person in America, that resonated with me. But, it was difficult to stay connected to the various story lines throughout the book. Many of the story lines felt unresolved to a point. I found myself left “hanging on”, wondering what happened at “the end”.
Overall, the author did a great job of relaying the importance of community and togetherness in a world of systemic racism, inequity, adversity!
There were deep truths, regarding our culture and life experiences, as a black person in America, that resonated with me. But, it was difficult to stay connected to the various story lines throughout the book. Many of the story lines felt unresolved to a point. I found myself left “hanging on”, wondering what happened at “the end”.
Overall, the author did a great job of relaying the importance of community and togetherness in a world of systemic racism, inequity, adversity!
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