When Winter Robeson Came

By Brenda Woods

In 1965 L.A., two cousins uncover family secrets amidst the chaos of the Watts Riots.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 339 ratings

176 pages

$16.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

In the summer of 1965, Eden's world shifts when her cousin Winter arrives in L.A. with a mission: uncover the truth about his father's mysterious disappearance a decade ago. As the Watts Riots erupt, the cousins' investigation leads them through a landscape of joy and heartache, revealing hidden truths and testing their courage. Amidst the turmoil, Eden dreams of composing music, capturing the summer's unpredictable rhythm. As the city becomes a battleground, Eden and Winter find themselves at the heart of the conflict, their discoveries reshaping their understanding of family and identity.

From the publisher

The whole world seems to transform during the summer of 1965, when Eden’s cousin from Mississippi comes to visit her in L.A. just as the Watts Riots erupt, in this stirring new novel by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Brenda Woods. When Eden’s cousin Winter comes 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.

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