When Winter Robeson Came

* “Heartfelt piece of historical fiction. . . . Cleverly uses music terminology to convey Eden’s and Winter’s shifting emotions during the six days of unrest and to mark the pacing of the plot. The free verse makes some of the more complex themes accessible, and this could easily spark a thoughtful discussion on how a history of Jim Crow laws, police brutality, and housing inequality plays into current social unrest.” —BCCB STAR

“A highly relatable and at times poetic piece of writing and American history with a fresh depiction of lower- to upper-middle-class Black life in midcentury Los Angeles.” —NY Times Book Review

“A layered story, told from the heart and rooted in the Woods’s own experiences in 1965 Watts.” —Horn Book

“Woods has framed this story lyrically, using musical movements and terminology to move the exposition along believably. . . . Readers will find themselves immersed in the time period with naturally included details, including musicians, authors, and places. . . . Middle-graders will be entertained and educated, as well as inspired to action.” —Booklist

"A rhythmic historical novel in verse. . . . Interwoven with plentiful music references and utilizing historically accurate language, Woods’s harmonious play-by-play narrative of growing up during the Watts Riots spotlights some long-lasting effects of racial inequality and discrimination on children.” —PW