DeLana R.A. Dameron's debut novel, "Redwood Court," unfolds as a captivating coming-of-age story set in the 1990s, offering a tender exploration of an unforgettable Southern Black family. Through the lens of the youngest daughter, Mika Tabor, the novel paints a vivid portrait of life in the all-Black working-class suburb of Columbia, South Carolina.

The storytelling is a triumph, as Dameron skillfully weaves together the perspectives of various family members, providing a nuanced view of their struggles, dreams, and the multigenerational ties that bind them. Mika's upbringing on Redwood Court unfolds against the backdrop of her parents' hard work, her sister's musical preferences, and her grandparents' vision of success—a house on the Court in the 1960s, a symbol of resilience and determination in the face of Jim Crow.

The novel's strength lies in its celebration of ordinary yet extraordinary people, their resilience, and the pursuit of their American dreams. Dameron's powerful prose brings to life the devastation of invisibility and the transformative power of being seen, making the characters deeply relatable and the narrative emotionally resonant.

As a reader who occasionally finds it challenging to navigate multiple perspectives, I did encounter moments when the switches between characters became a bit overwhelming. However, this aspect doesn't detract from the overall impact of the story. The close-knit family dynamic, rich with multi-generational connections, adds a layer of authenticity and relatability to the narrative.

Personally connecting with the Southern family's experience, reminiscent of my own family's migration for a "better life," enhanced my appreciation for the book. The familiar 90s references, from music choices to shared moments between Mika and her grandfather, added a nostalgic touch that resonated with my own experiences as a 90s kid.

"Redwood Court" is a poignant and beautifully written debut novel. It would make an excellent addition to book club discussions, offering rich material for exploring family dynamics, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams. This book effortlessly captures the essence of a Southern family, making it an enjoyable and relatable read.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about a family and the house that was their home.

"Redwood Court" by DeLana R.A. Dameron is a touching and beautifully character-driven novel that pays homage to the strength and resilience of an all-Black working-class community in Columbia, South Carolina. At the heart of the narrative is Mika Tabor, the youngest member of her family, who grows up on Redwood Court, a close-knit cul-de-sac. Through her eyes and experiences, we are introduced to a cast of memorable characters, each with their own struggles and dreams. The novel explores the dynamics of Mika's family, particularly her parents who work tirelessly to provide for their children, and her older sister who seeks her identity amidst the Motown melodies of their home.

DeLana R.A. Dameron's strength lies in her character development; she brings the residents of Redwood Court to life with vivid and authentic portrayals. The novel's exploration of family dynamics and the intergenerational relationships is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. The strong sense of community and the determination to build and preserve a better life for future generations are central themes that resonate throughout the story. While "Redwood Court" excels in its character-driven plot and poignant themes, the pacing was a bit slow for me. But, overall this book is a gem and I highly recommend!

I absolutely devoured this book! I had been in a reading slump and this pulled me right out! I am a sucker for a good coming of age story and this story centering around Mika in the South in the 90s was right up my alley! I loved the author’s writing style and would definitely read this author again! Overall, this book was atmospheric with beautifully written prose. Loved it!

In "Redwood Court", DeLana Dameron offers a new take on a family saga, leading readers through the Tabor family's beginnings at Redwood Court, a tight-knight black neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina, where Teeta (Louise) and Weesie (James) Mosby manage to buy a home in the 1960s. Across alternating perspectives, the story of the family's beginnings and hardships are told - from Teeta's determination to plant her family's roots and build a strong community around them, to their daughter Rhina's growth as she meets and marries Major (Tommy) Tabor, to the third generation of children: Sasha and Mika.

The bulk of the story is told from Mika's perspective, focusing on her coming-of-age as a young black girl in the late 20th century. She watches the struggles and triumphs of her family as they experience grief and loss; as untold family secrets are revealed; and as the color of her family's skin in their community leads to even more growing pains. Over the course of the novel, the strength of her family's love and dedication to each other is made evident and serves as the pillar for them all.

Thematically, there was much that I appreciated about the story - the historical context in the second half of the 20th century highlighted the repercussions of war that Weesie and Major both experienced, especially as PTSD was not well understood at the time; the coming-of-age of each of these generations, as they had dramatically different experiences given the changes across generations; the strength of family, despite numerous and unforeseen difficulties and tribulations. The prose is well-crafted and lyrical, taking on distinct voices and personas across family members. However, even as someone who enjoys character-driven novels, I found the pacing too slow for much of the story and the unequal weight given to Mika, versus other members of her family, off-balance. There is very little focus given to the second generation of this family (Rhina and Major) with only small glimpses of Weesie and Teeta's earlier life.

While I did enjoy this novel, there were definitely moments that I had difficulty working through the pages and struggled with the overall structure.

A Must-Read Novel!

The author's impressive writing style, combined with a comedic edge, is truly noteworthy. The majority of the story is narrated from the perspective of Mika, the youngest grandchild, while other relatives also share their own accounts.

The story is set in Redwood Court, an all-black, working-class neighborhood in the 1990s. Mika and her family's quest for the "American Dream" is both heartwarming and inspiring. You'll embark on a journey with Mika and her family, witnessing their perseverance as they face obstacles and celebrate their achievements.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to everyone.

As an Advanced Release Copy recipient from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - The Dial Press, I'm excited to see the success of this novel.

What a beautiful story, filled with stories.

Mika, the youngest in her household and her entire family around her, brings us long as she is growing up in the 90s. A child of the 90s myself, I connected with this so much of the pop culture of this book, though as a white girl, I enjoyed seeing this wholly unique perspective of life in a Black working class neighborhood.

I adored Mika and her family, full of so many different experiences, both triumphant and painful. There was so much to love about this beautiful story, from the writing to the imagery that felt almost tangible. This doesn’t follow a typical storyline structure with a big climactic moment, but carries that stunning prose and wholehearted family feel throughout.

Mika is the granddaughter of Weesie and Teeta, residents of Redwood Court, a cul de sac in Columbia, South Carolina. When she attempts to complete a school project on her ancestry, she finds little information and interest in who and what came before. They care about their family now. Through her viewpoint we meet her family members and witness their experiences and contributions to their small African-American community and to their country. We share their family trips and holidays, their successes and losses. Through them Mika learns life lessons, how to survive in 1990’s America. Love of and loyalty to the family are the most important. Delana R. A. Dameron’s tone and pace are slow and gentle; the incidents, a combination of frustration, disappointment and unfairness, touched with humor. The sadness of Uncle Junior contrasts with the hope Mika brings to her hard-working parents and grandparents. This is a poignant slice of life novel where a young girl shares her family’s love and dreams to the very last page.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Mika loves her family and the neighborhood she grew up. Her parents give her and her family everything they could ever want or need. Mika likes listening to her grandparents stories. This book was an emotional read.

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.