When Winter Robeson Came
Family quest meets Watts riots in heartfelt novel in verse.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that When Winter Robeson Came is another stellar work of middle-grade fiction by Brenda Woods (Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA) featuring historic events, especially racially tinged ones, as seen through the eyes of smart, loved kids coming to new awareness -- and unexpected problem-solving skills -- in times of crisis. In this case, it's August 1965 in Los Angeles, where 12-year-old Eden lives with her parents, who fled racism in Mississippi, in a middle-class neighborhood that's almost entirely Black. She misses her extended family back home, and also her piano teacher, but she's looking forward to her 13-year-old cousin Winter's visit. When Winter arrives, he's less interested in summer fun stuff than in finding his long-lost father, who left Mississippi 10 years ago in search of work, wrote home from Los Angeles -- and was never seen again. In this novel in verse, their quest takes them all over town, leading to new friendships and unexpected discoveries that take on urgency as the Watts riots unfold, threatening their loved ones with bad acts from rioters and reactive cops. Like all Woods' books, the story is full of the joy of discovery, from classical music to maps to the Watts towers. It takes a powerful, nuanced view of how prejudice adversely affects us all. Kindness, empathy, courage, and doing right in a world where these things are sorely lacking is a strong, and rewarding, message.
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What's the Story?
WHEN WINTER ROBESON CAME, set in 1965 Los Angeles, finds 12-year-old Black Southern transplant Eden Louise Coal eagerly awaiting the arrival of her 13-year-old cousin and pal Winter from Mississippi. She's looking forward to summer fun like the beach, Disneyland, and also a visit to the Watts Towers, but it turns out Winter's a man on a mission: His father left Mississippi 10 years ago for Los Angeles, planning to find work and bring the family. He wrote home -- and vanished. So Winter's making the most of his L.A. visit, and a 10-year-old return address, to find his long-lost dad. In the course of their quest, they visit new neighborhoods, make new friends, learn some history, compare a lot of notes, make some great discoveries -- as racial violence is about to explode a few blocks away.
Is It Any Good?
Author Brenda Woods sends two young Black cousins on a quest to find one's long-lost father in 1965 Los Angeles on the eve of the Watts riots in a heartfelt, appealing historical tale. Packed with local color and cultural detail, When Winter Robeson Came is a satisfying, uplifting tale that makes the world's injustices all the more stark seen through the eyes of young Eden and Winter, who thanks to their loving parents' struggles have the confidence and courage to make things better for themselves and their loved ones. It's not just racism that blights lives, as Eden, an aspiring songwriter who writes the story in verse and hears music everywhere, discovers in a soul-crushing moment with her new, Black piano teacher when she's missing her musical mentor from back home.
"Fact is, California was slowly wilting the musical dreams
"Miss Elvira Porter had begun to nourish.
"My teacher here came highly recommended.
"Mr. Marcus Antonius Duvall, brimming with musical expertise,
"But with a love of it missing from his soul.
"When I professed my desire to compose music,
"an opera even, like Porgy and Bess, he shook his head.
"But you're a girl, Miss Coal.
"And to that I replied, I know.
"The seed of doubt sown, I hadn't practiced since."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how he characters in When Winter Robeson Came are going about their everyday lives and find themselves caught up in historic events -- here, the civil rights movement of the 20th century. Do you think it's valuable to see overwhelming events through the perspective of people who experienced them? How is their viewpoint different from the one we might have many years later?
Do you know anyone who's reunited with a friend or family member they thought was lost forever? How did they find each other, and how have things worked out with them?
Eden and Winter didn't have the internet in 1965. If Winter were looking for his dad today, do you think his search would be easier? Where do you think he might find helpful information?
Book Details
- Author: Brenda Woods
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date: January 11, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 12
- Number of pages: 176
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: July 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA
Sweet, deft, thought-provoking tale of the Jim Crow South.
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Stella by Starlight
Compelling, nuanced tale of loving family under segregation.
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Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement
Frank, poetic picture book bio has dazzling art.
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I Am Harriet Tubman: Ordinary People Change the World
Courage, doing the right thing are themes in thrilling bio.
For kids who love civil rights history, and stories about musicians
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