Last updated on October 6, 2020
Red at the Bone is a story of three generations by Jacqueline Woodson. If you are looking for a post with spoilers including the ending of the book, read this post instead.
Sabe, the grandmother in the story, comes from a family of proud black people, one of cotillons and education. When Iris has a child in high school, this is a deviation from the path. Iris is terrified by the mix of emotions that her tiny daughter creates in her and so she runs far away from it all.
Melody grows up with her grandparents and her father. Her relationship with her mother has never been close, not like the relationship she has with her grandmother.
The main event in the book is Melody’s coming-out ceremony. All three generations meet for the event, a meeting a history, hope, expectation and memory. There are the grandparents Po’Boy and Sabe, the parents Aubrey and Iris and the youngest generation, Melody and her friend Malcolm. This is a story about love. It’s also about identity and family, the choices we make, the words we speak or don’t speak, the hearts we break and the pain we feel as we navigate relationships in life.
Final Verdict
I enjoyed the different voices in Red at the Bone. Each character has a distinct voice but we mostly hear Iris’. She is the most developed character Iris and everyone else exists in her orbit.
This is a quick read, a relatively short book considering all the characters. As a result, we don’t get to know any of the characters besides Iris. Even with Iris, we don’t get a full picture. What drives her and what is her relationship with the other characters? A book has to give all the answers but I feel that the story is incomplete. Despite my criticisms, I enjoyed reading this book.
Perhaps all were supposed to get is that love is complicated. It can bring joy but it also strips your power and leaves you vulnerable to pain and hurt. I give this book 4 stars because it engaged my emotions despite its flaws. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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