I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This - Jacqueline Woodson

How is it possible that a 115-page YA book can make such a huge impact on our psyche? How is it possible that it can reduce Amy to tears, or cause Natasha to wax lovingly about its virtues? Welcome to the world of books, where anything is possible.

Because of both Amy and Natasha's reviews of this book, I impulsively ordered it from the library. I had not read anything by this author before, but I just had this feeling I was missing out on something big. Woodson has written dozens of internationally acclaimed books for young adult, middle grade and picture books. Seriously, she has Caldecott medals, Coretta Scott King awards, Newberry Honor Medals, National Book Awards (just to name a few) on her resume.

Marie is a popular, well-to-do, 12-year-old black girl living in a prosperous black Ohio suburb. When Lena, a white girl, shows up at school, Marie's teacher asks her to show her the ropes. Where normally we see prejudices aimed at blacks, the tables are turned. Lena is considered "white trash" and is avoided like the plague.

But Marie finds a kindred spirit in Lena. Both are motherless. Marie's mother, stifled by her parental responsibilities, abandoned her and her father to discover the world. Lena's mother died of cancer, leaving her and her younger sister Dion in the care of their father. Despite the disapproval of Marie's friends and father, the two become inseparable.

There are other, bigger issues, though, that plague the two girls. Since Marie's mother left, her father is emotionally and physically distant:

I always thought that when you got to be a certain age - say, twelve - your father, because he was afraid, stopped touching you altogether, and that was just the way it was. Maybe your breasts were growing, or you'd grown quieter, or a couple of years before, your mother took off. Whatever the reason, your father decided no more hugs for you. Only, I used to think, what's wrong with hugging someone? Kissing your daughter's cheek? What's the danger of maybe, every once in awhile, patting her on the shoulder and telling her she's okay? Somebody tell me.

Lena's father, on the other hand, touches her too much. Soon, he begins to touch Lena's little sister too much as well, and in her mind, leaves her with few options for survival.

I found Woodson's writing beautiful in its simplicity. The voice of the 12-year-old narrator is very real, clear-headed and youthful. The book, in the short 115 pages, leaves you haunted, but with a ray of hope that the lives of Marie, Lena and Dion will improve. I was terribly excited to learn, when looking at Woodson's website, that because of the thousands of letters she received needing closure on this book, she has written a sequel called "Lena". Want to guess how many seconds it took me to order THAT one from the library?

I am yet undecided on whether I will let my 11 year old read this book, mainly because of the reference to the sexual abuse. While it is not graphic, it is disturbing, so we may need to wait a couple of years before she is ready for such a heavy topic. On the other hand, the friendship between Marie and Lena flourishing against all odds, is a refreshing plot, and to one every child should be exposed.

5 out of 5 stars