The Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author tells the moving story of the friendship between a young white boy and a Black WWII veteran who has recently returned to the unwelcoming Jim Crow South.
Brenda Woods is an artist and a photographer, and she has a bachelor of science degree from California State University, Northridge. Her award-winning books for young readers include Zoe in Wonderland, The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond, Coretta Scott King Honor winner The Red Rose Box, Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, and Emako Blue. Her numerous awards and honors include the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, FOCAL award, Pen Center USA's Literary Award finalist, IRA Children's Choice Young Adult Fiction Award, and ALA Quick Pick. She lives in Nevada.
“Woods casts a much needed spotlight on the history of
African-American troops in World War II.”—The New York Times Book
Review
“The story encourages trying to consider situations from other
people’s perspectives.”—The Washington Post
* “If Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show wrote a book about
Mayberry’s racism, the voice would be that of Gabriel Haberlin, the
12-year-old white boy who is saved from near tragedy by Meriwether
Hunter, a ‘colored’ man. . . . The author’s use of the word
‘colored’ isn’t gratuitous—the book’s setting is Birdsong, South
Carolina, in 1946. The word also sets the tone of the town’s
postwar racial references and bigotry. . . . An affecting—and
realistic—story. Another stellar outing from the always-solid
Woods.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "True friendships defy age, gender, race, and other obstacles. .
. . Woods writes an important story of racism in small town, USA in
the aftermath of WWII. Told through the eyes of a child, the
reader witnesses the confusion and turmoil present within the
country and its citizens when black soldiers, who fought for their
country’s freedom, returned home and found that they weren’t
celebrated as heroes and that their rights were still unequal.
Brenda Woods’ characters are complex, yet relatable. Her plot
beautifully told, yet heartbreaking. Her message long-standing, yet
relevant even today. This is a must-have for all classroom and
school libraries and would be an excellent companion book to US
history studies of this time period."—School Library Connection,
starred review
“Even readers who have been taught about segregation in the South
are likely to deepen their knowledge of the nuanced history through
the novel’s handling of how white and African-American veterans
were treated differently after WWII. The characters of
impressionable Gabriel and Meriwether, whose patience is tried by
society’s unfair rules, ring true as the story shows that ‘the
world, including Birdsong USA, isn’t always pretty.’”—Publishers
Weekly
“There are many books that show segregation and its corrosive
effects through the eyes of both white and black children, and in
Gabriel's engaging first-person narrative, one can almost see the
wheels turning as he realizes what life is like for Hunter and his
family, especially after he learns the vet can't speak of his
distinguished service due to white attitudes. . . . Gabriel's
strong and questioning voice will have appeal for middle-graders,
and the story will give them a history lesson as
well.”—Booklist
“Gabriel witnesses the fear, pain, anger, and sense of
powerlessness faced by African Americans living under Jim Crow.
This title presents the reality of racism in the mid-20th century,
as seen through the perspective of a young white boy. Hand to
readers looking for historical fiction or those who enjoy the works
of Christopher Paul Curtis and Rita Williams Garcia.”—School
Library Journal
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