# If You Come Softly

**Author:** Jacqueline Woodson
**Grade range:** Grades 9–12
**Age range:** 14–17
**First published:** 1998
**Page count:** 181
**Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780399231124`
**ISBN-10:** `0399231129`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/if-you-come-softly
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

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.

## Themes

- african americans
- family life
- interracial dating
- schools

## Where this book is assigned

### Virginia Readers' Choice

- **recommended** · 9th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice past winners, 2000-2001 winner (High)](https://vslatoday.org/VRC-past-titles)
- **recommended** · 10th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice past winners, 2000-2001 winner (High)](https://vslatoday.org/VRC-past-titles)
- **recommended** · 11th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice past winners, 2000-2001 winner (High)](https://vslatoday.org/VRC-past-titles)
- **recommended** · 12th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice past winners, 2000-2001 winner (High)](https://vslatoday.org/VRC-past-titles)

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