I Hadn’t Mean to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson
This is what I love about this whole blogging about books thing. I was introduced to Jacqueline Woodson when I decided that I wanted to read all the Newbery winners. The first Woodson book that I read was Feathers, and while I admit that it’s my least favorite of Woodson’s books I knew that I wanted to read more. Reading through her backlist of title has resulted in me becoming such a fan girl that it’s not even funny.
Observing my continual gushing and geeking out when I met Woodson at the LA Times Festival of Books, Amy at My Friend Amy decided to try her out and fell in love with Woodson’s writing and story (how could anybody not?). When Amy reviewed I Hadn’t Mean to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson, a title that I hadn’t read yet, and sobbed her way through it, I put a hold on it at the library immediately. Yes, something about people sobbing through books attracts me a great deal.
And thus we come circle. I love turning readers onto new authors who then turn me onto titles from said author that I haven’t read yet. I love that blogging about books makes reading books a social activity. So it’s my hope that for all those who have yet to pick up a Woodson title (despite the fact that I keep reviewing them here!) will do so.
Jacqueline Woodson’s writing is incredibly beautiful and I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This is no exception. But while the writing is beautiful, the subject matter certainly is not. It is unbelievably sad and gut-wrenching. Marie is twelve-years-old and lives well off in a black suburb. She never wants for money, nice clothes, or friends. Her father is a college professor and she’s got a full ride scholarship in her future. But what is missing in her life is her mother. A mother who was so depressed with her life that she leaves both Marie and her father behind in favor of living her life by seeing the world.
Lena, a new white girl moves to Marie’s school and it’s fairly clear that she’s what everybody, including her father, calls white trash. She doesn’t take care of herself, she’s dirty, and her clothes are old, baggy and clearly hand-outs. Despite their differences the two girls are drawn to each other and Lena desperately wants to be her friend.
Marie soon comes to know that Lena has also lost a mother. Through this common bond, Lena shares a secret so deep that Marie doesn’t know what to do. Does her silence help Lena or will reaching out be able to save her from a nightmarish home?
I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This is a short 114 pages. It can easily be read in under an hour and a half. But it’s that short hour and a half that will stay with you forever. As a fair warning to both teens and their parents, the subject matter of this book is about sexual abuse of a child. It’s a subject that’s never easy to read but it’s books like this that bring it out into the open to be discussed. And on top of that, Woodson effectivally explores the themes of child abandonment from a parent and also the death of a parent.
It’s a heavy handed book for sure but yet Woodson leaves you with a glimmer of hope and the knowledge that you have just experienced a beautiful book that seems almost effortless to achieve. I’ll leave you with the same quote that Amy chose in her recent review:
Yes, of course I wanted to fly. I wanted to cast off, feel the ground droop slowly out from beneath me. “What is air, Mama?” I asked when I was five. Caressing the back of my neck with her hand, my mother waited a moment before she answered. “Air,” she said, “is something there isn’t enough of here.”
Links of interest: Jacqueline Woodson website, more book blogger reviews, Maw Book reviews of other Woodson title’s including Show Way, Feathers, If You Come Softly, Behind You, Peace Locomotion, Locomotion, and Miracle’s Boys. My experience meeting Woodson at LA Times Festival of Books.
Genre: Young Adult fiction.
Publisher: Speak. June 8, 2006. First edition 1994.
Paperback 128 pages. ISBN 0142405558
I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Young Adult
Tags: child abuse, I-L Title, U-Z Author
Enjoy this post? Then subscribe to receive updates in your favorite reader or by email.
I remember that review and quote from Amy. I’ve not read anything from this author, but I guess it is high time I did! I’m off to the library website right now…
on September 7th, 2009 at 4:32 amThis is a subject I find hard to read about, but she does sound like an excellent author. I’m considering adding it to my TBR purely on your recommendation.
on September 7th, 2009 at 7:18 amAfter reading “If You Come Softly” I too want to read all the rest of Woodson’s books. She packs so much background and growth and emotion into such small books! I can’t wait to make my way through the rest of her list. Thanks for a beautiful review!
on September 7th, 2009 at 7:26 amI loved that quote when I read the review too. I was going to comment and say that I don’t feel up to reading depressing topics right now, but then I remembered that I’m reading a book set in Nazi Germany! I’ll keep an eye out for this author. Thanks for the recommendation.
on September 7th, 2009 at 7:58 amI’ve only read “Feathers,” so I’ll be sure to try out some more of her books.
on September 7th, 2009 at 8:09 amI’ll second this: “And thus we come circle. I love turning readers onto new authors who then turn me onto titles from said author that I haven’t read yet. I love that blogging about books makes reading books a social activity.”
on September 7th, 2009 at 8:18 amI think I just added another book to my wish list and another author to check out!
on September 7th, 2009 at 9:11 amI’ve got a Woodson book on its way to me. Just checked my new library’s catalog, and they have a few titles as well. Not sure I’m up for a book that someone cried all the way through, though.
on September 7th, 2009 at 10:50 amI’ve just discovered Woodson, so I’m reading her back list, too. I love her more with each book I read. I just finished FEATHERS and have I HADN’T MEANT TO TELL YOU out from the library. Can’t wait to read it.
I’ve gotten a couple of emails from Woodson – she seems wonderful!
on September 7th, 2009 at 11:21 amLovely review – really makes me want to read this. I loved After Tupac & D Foster, and just put this on my “teen” shelf to highlight it in my school’s library (K-8). Thank you for including the advisory about the sensitive topic.
on September 7th, 2009 at 11:31 amI’ve never actually hear of her. Thanks for the lovely review. And congratulations on making so many of the finals in BBAW! That is thrilling.
on September 7th, 2009 at 11:52 amI’m intrigued after reading your review. I’m traveling to Hawaii this week and was hoping to download this onto my Kindle but unfortunately it’s not available. I will be adding this to my ever growing TBR pile though.
on September 7th, 2009 at 12:21 pmAfter that review, I’ve added this book to my newly organized wish list.
on September 7th, 2009 at 12:42 pmJust added to my list! Sounds fabulous and I can’t wait to read it.
on September 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pmYay! I have a few more of her books in my TBR as well.
I’m glad you liked this one…she writes in a way that really connects with me emotionally.
on September 7th, 2009 at 11:24 pmNatasha Thanks for this review. This looks really good. I will put on my TBR pile and it will go to the top, because I am in love with Woodson. I a think I have an author crush on her.
on September 11th, 2009 at 3:33 pmI believe I’ve only read one book by Jacqueline and that was a picture book. Loved it, though. Thanks for the reminder to read more.
on September 13th, 2009 at 12:01 pmWonderful review. This sounds like a really great book written by a really great author. Books that make people uncontrollably sob make me want to read them too – I like books that explore important topics, the topics that make people cry.
on September 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am