WHEN WINTER ROBESON CAME, by Brenda Woods, Nancy Paulsen Books, Jan. 11, 2022, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 10 and up)
A girl’s world gets turned upside down the summer her cousin comes to visit in Brenda Woods’ When Winter Robeson Came.
When Eden’s cousin Winter comes from Mississippi for a visit, it turns out he’s not just there to sightsee. He wants to figure out what happened to his dad, who disappeared ten years earlier from the Watts area of L.A.
So, the cousins set out to investigate together, and what they discover brings them joy — and heartache. It also opens up a whole new understanding of their world: Just as the area they’ve got their sights on explodes in a clash between the police and the Black residents.
For six days Watts is like a war zone, and Eden and Winter become heroes in their own part of the drama. Eden hopes to be a composer someday, and the only way she can describe that summer is a song with an unexpected ending, full of changes in tempo and mood —totally unforgettable. —Synopsis provided by Nancy Paulsen Books
When Winter Robeson Came takes place in Los Angeles the summer of 1965. In august of that year, a black man was pulled over for drunken driving. He resisted arrest, which led to physical confrontation. Crowds gathered and more police were called in. In less than an hour, chaos had erupted. Over the next six days, 34 people would die, 1,032 would be injured, 200 buildings would be destroyed and at least 600 more damaged from fires or looting.
Though When Winter Robeson Came takes place during turbulent events, the book is also full of hope and joy. The story unfolds over two weeks, bookending the riots. Winter arrives in L.A. full of hope and excitement. And Eden is just as excited. The two are well paired. You can’t help but feel author Brenda Woods had a true sense of their relationship long before the story took hold.
What makes When Winter Robeson Came really stand out, though, is Woods’ prose. This is her first book written in free verse, but you’d never know that. Her smooth cadence draws you in from the beginning and gracefully pushes the narrative forward throughout.
This is a fantastic look at the strength of family and friendship against the backdrop of civil rights.
