‘Red at the Bone’ examines love and obligation over two generations
Jacqueline Woodson is an African American author of numerous award-winning books for children and young adults. Among the nearly 30 books she’s written, her most celebrated include “Another Brooklyn,” “Miracle Boys,” “Brown Girl Dreaming” and “Red at the Bone,” her latest National Book Award nominated novel. Ms. Woodson dedicated “Red at the Bone” to “the ancestors from which we came,” but it will appeal to readers of all ages from all backgrounds.
“Red at the Bone” begins in 2001 during a coming-ofage celebration for Melody, the daughter of Iris and Aubrey. Melody is celebrating her 16th birthday with family and friends at her grandparents’ brownstone home where she grew up. The circumstances of her birth were a test of character for both families: “The two families are joined together from different social groups as a result of Iris’ unplanned pregnancy.” Both families sacrificed to make a better life for the young couple.
The opening scene features Melody and her boyfriend Malcolm sauntering down the steps of the brownstone to the music of Prince. Melody is wearing a beautiful custom-made white dress that previously belonged to her mother. It had been made for Iris 16 years earlier. Sabe, Melody’s grandmother, also wore a white dress for her ceremony when she turned 17. The tradition skipped a generation. Malcolm takes Melody’s hand for the first dance. Melody begins saying to herself, “I want love and acceptance from mom,” “The girlhood of my life is over,” “Ashe and the ancestors are in this house.” Say, what?
The second chapter describes Aubrey’s love for Iris a decade-and-a-half earlier. Aubrey loves everything about Iris, especially the way she dances to music by the Chi-Lites. Before Iris, Aubrey’s first love was his mother, Cathy Marie Simmons. Aubrey’s family is poor, but his mother is determined that Aubrey and Iris will not be a part of the system. Cathy presses to make sure that Iris has a good education. Aubrey’s mom tutors Iris during her 10th grade year after she is asked to leave school. The families unite to support Iris and Aubrey during her pregnancy.
“Red at the Bone” is a story about traditions, hopes and dreams that have stalled due to Iris’ unexpected pregnancy at 15. The twist is now Iris and Aubrey’s child, Melody, is 15 turning 16 and they are having a ceremony to celebrate her birthday. Ms. Woodson takes you into the thoughts of each character, making the pages come alive with her descriptive text.
Iris is my favorite character because I connect with her feelings and struggles. During her pregnancy she experiences denial. When the baby comes, Iris asks for the child immediately but thinks, “What the [expletive] have I done?” However, Iris pushes on with the help of boyfriend Aubrey. “As Aubrey slept with the baby on his chest, she read Shakespeare, the Brontes, Auden . ... Even as a child, she’d never doubted that she’d one day go to college . ... She knew it was her mother, her mother’s mother on back to something that couldn’t be broken that was driving her.”
Ms. Woodson uses boldface text in the novel to draw attention to the words being said by the characters. The story alternates between past and present to help you connect with the characters’ feelings, though at times it is difficult to follow.
One of the strengths of the book is how Ms. Woodson includes the music of the time to transport the reader to that era. The characters dance to songs by De La Soul, Culture Club featuring Boy George, and Tupac. Seeing the songs in the text causes readers to hear the songs in their heads.
“Red at the Bone” addresses culture, music, fashion, politics, racism, gentrification and the LGBT community. One topic that hit home was 9/11 and how tragedy affected everyone from every background. Ms. Woodson shows how this tragedy touched us all.
The title “Red at the Bone” resonates throughout the text beginning with a scene when several characters are at a lunch table eating chicken in school. It gets picked up again when Iris becomes jealous after seeing and imagining her lover being with someone else. The novel ends with the theme of acknowledging ancestors past and those living who will become future ancestors. “Let the Circle be unbroken.” This book is highly recommended. It will have you laughing and crying at the same time.
“RED AT THE BONE” By Jacqueline Woodson Riverhead Books ($27)