1.  Jacqueline Woodson

2. Jeremiah feels good inside his own skin. That is, when he's in his own Brooklyn neighborhood. But now he's going to be attending a fancy prep school in Manhattan, and black teenage boys don't exactly fit in there. So it's a surprise when he meets Ellie the first week of school. In one frozen moment their eyes lock and after that they know they fit together — even though she's Jewish and he's black. Their worlds are so different, but to them that's not what matters. Too bad the rest of the world has to get in their way. Reviewers have called Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson's work "exceptional" (Publishers Weekly) and "wrenchingly honest" (School Library Journal), and have said "it offers a perspective on racism and elitism rarely found in fiction for this age group" (Publishers Weekly). In If You Come Softly, she delivers a powerful story of interracial love that leaves readers wondering "why" and "if only...."

3.  Jacqueline Woodson o Grew up in South Carolina and Brooklyn, NY o Often writes about Gender, sexual identity, sexual abuse Economic status African American history and society o Began writing at an early age (poems, made up stories)

4. “If You Come Softly” By Audre Lorde If you come as softly As the wind within the trees You may hear what I hear See what sorrow sees. If you come as lightly As threading dew I will take you gladly Nor ask more of you. You may sit beside me Silent as a breath Only those who stay dead Shall remember death. And if you come I will be silent Nor speak harsh words to you. I will not ask you why now. Or how, or what you do. We shall sit here, softly Beneath two different years And the rich between us Shall drink our tears.

5.  Young Adults o 15-year-olds o Teens experiencing their first love  Boys and girls o 1 st Person POV: Elisha (Elle) o 3 rd Person POV: Jeremiah (Miah)

6. My mother calls to me from the bottom of the stairs, and I pull myself slowly from a deep sleep. It is June. Outside the sky is bring, blue and clear. In the distance I can see Central Park, the trees brilliant green against the sky. I was dreaming of Miah. “Elisha,” Marion calls again. She sounds worried and I know she is standing at the bottom of the stairs, her hand moving slowly up and down the banister, waiting for me to answer. But I can’t answer yet. Not now. Is there a boy? Marion asked me that fall, when Miah was new. And I lied and told her there wasn’t one. She is standing at the door now, her arms folded in front of her. “Time to get up, sweetie. Are you all right?” I nod and continue to stare out the window, my hair falling down around my eyes, my pajamas hot and sticky against my skin.

7.  What do we know so far? o Cover o Author o Title o Audience o Page 1  Does this give us any information as to what the author’s purpose or message is?

8.  Are there any maps, pictures?  Poem excerpts o Before page 1, page 177 o Why did the author chose these excerpts from the poem? o What does this suggest about the story?

9.  Setting o 1990s? o Manhattan, NY o Percy Academy  Characters o Elisha (Elle) Jewish, wealthy Upper West Side o Jeremiah (Miah) African American Brooklyn