A gripping novel viewing the experiences of a black family in the 1990s. Being a child in the 90s myself I found this story both interesting and accurate. I also learned so much about this time that I never knew/experienced myself. The story is mostly told from the perspective of Mika, the youngest grandchild. However other families perspectives are also shared which I appreciated. Mika’s childhood was very different than the one I had. It was eye opening in a profound way how to children of the same era can live. I found her story powerful and it was a great learning experience.
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This is one of the most powerful stories I have read in a while. The beginning I found a little confusing with the change in timelines and perspectives. Once I got going though I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend. Thank you so much Netgalley and dial press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Redwood Court by DéLana R. A. Dameron is a entertaining and captivating read.
The author’s writing style is top-notch. I couldn't help to be sucked into this story.
I love when a story does that… I enjoyed this a lot!
This will be a perfect book club pick, or read on your own, but expect to lose sleep because you’ll be up all night devouring it!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Random House & The Dial Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A stunning debut that’s sure to be a hit! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Big families with lots of complicated relationships are always the ones that make the best stories! I liked that the perspective is from the youngest member of the family’s point of view. There are many characters and I liked that the author described who was who at the beginning. I found it helpful! Five stars.

“Redwood Court” is a debut novel by DeLana R. A. Dameron. This was an engaging book, written about a girl (Mika) coming of age. This book starts with an assignment many of us had (or have) in school - where do you come from? Mika, the main character, decides to ask her parents and grandparents - and finds out a bit more than she expected (and how the heck do you summarize that and bring in something that shows that to classmates?). This is a story not of “where do I come from,” but “what am I made of.” I did find some of the POV switching to be a bit confusing at times, but this book did hold my attention. I think for a debut this was an engaging book that tells a powerful story.

Taking place in Redwood Court in an all-black working-class neighborhood, we follow Mika, the youngest daughter of two hardworking parents. She witnesses the struggles and triumphs of each family member and listens raptly to the stories her grandparents have of purchasing their first home in the ’60s and the struggles that came with it.

With the importance of family connections and a younger generation learning about the struggles of their elders growing up, each transition in the narrator throughout the book felt seamless as the story built upon each character’s life.

I especially enjoyed the references to the 90s as I grew up in that era. But overall, I can’t seem to write a review that even comes close to how I feel about this novel, so I’ll keep it short and sweet.

Beautifully written, with wonderful characters.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for a copy of this e-arc. Some parts of this book were difficult to follow, particularly with frequently changing POV’s. While there were some slower parts, I found myself engrossed in many of the stories Mika shared. It is eye opening to read the stories of someone growing up during the same era I did who had such different experiences than I had.

A lovely story of a young black girl’s growth to maturity. Mika’s world is, in the author’s words, “held up by Black women who love each other.” No matter what problems come (and there are many) these women find a way to surmount the situation.

Not that men are thought of any less—Mika’s grandfather is everyone’s hero. It’s just that the women are the ones who have the care and the insight into how things need to be.

Written in first person and a breezy style, we are glad to have a list of characters at the beginning of the book. Mika tries so hard to find her way, and in the beginning she compares herself to others, which turns out to be very frustrating for her. Her grandfather Teeta tells her, it’s the stories she hears and the ones she has yet to hear that tell everyone who she is. It was great to hear her story.

Thank you to Netgalley/Publisher for the opportunity to read this E-arc for my honest review.
Incredible story that broke my heart to realize that people continue to be treated poorly during my and my children’s generations and I wasn’t even aware. Humans need to do better, embrace one another’s cultures/values and love all no matter what.
Beautifully written by the author from the view point of a young girl as she becomes a young woman with strong family values, unconditional love and an entire community that helped raise her. Highly recommend this incredible book.

A powerful novel about a black family living in the 1990s. I was also a child in the 90s so this novel captured my attention. The novel is primarily told from the point of view of Mika, who is the youngest grandchild, but other members of the family also share their stories. The beginning was a little confusing for me because the point of view shifted and so did the timelines but once I got going I was hooked. Mika's story was so different from the childhood that I experienced and it really opened my eyes to her struggles and her victories. It also really brought home for me just how difficult life still is for black families. This novel was not set during the Civil Rights era but during the same time I was growing up. White privilege is a real thing and I think it is so important to read books like this because it really brings home how much harder life is for others. I recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys reading about strong characters, and coming of age novels!

Thank you to Dial Press/Random House and to NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4/5 stars

Dameron perfectly encapsulates the Black American dream for Black American's during the late 20th century. Although I am not usually a fan of country living fiction books, I found Dameron's writing style to be rather engaging and by the end I couldn't put the book down.

Thank you Dameron and NetGalley for the read.

Mika receives a "simple" History Project assignment in her Middle School Social Studies class: "Where do you come from?" While classmates get right to work, Mika decides after some thought that she will want to discuss this project with her parents and grandparents. Because, you see, Mika's ancestors didn't come over on the Mayflower. Her relatives didn't view the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis island. Her answer isn't simply 'Italy, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Japan…' Mika's antecedents didn't come to America by choice. They were trapped and lied to. They came in slave ships, and then were separated, sold, brutalized, falsely emancipated, segregated, lynched, discriminated against, bullied, red-lined, incarcerated and ghettoized. And through it all, they survived to be able to try to complete that "simple" origin story assignment.

DeLana R. A. Dameron's debut novel, "Redwood Court" is often enough to make you cry. But it is also a story of resilience where the question is rather "What am I made of?" and the answer is the blood, sweat, tears, and, not least of which, stories of all those who came before me. And also those who continue to stand before me and impart lessons of survival skills for success in a racist, unjust society.

In many ways, "Redwood Court" is an ode to Black women, the stronger, the better. It is a rondel, told seamlessly in intertwined snippets by the main characters, about the struggle to break the cycle of generational poverty. The main message is to keep moving, never give up, have faith, believe in God, family, and community.

Thank you for sharing, Ms. Dameron. Your novel is one of rising above, succeeding against all odds. It is an optimistic story. I am grateful to be witness to the journey. The Bolton family and Redwood Court will stay with me forever. All the best as your career unfolds.

Thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read Redwood Court by DeLana R. A. Dameron. I loved this book, loved the family I was beginning to feel a part of. "Redwood Court is a celebration of extraordinary, ordinary people striving to achieve their own American dreams." Yes, a celebration. This is a book I want to share with everyone I know.