Black Storm Comin’
Black Storm Comin’.Wilson, Diane Lee;Margaret K. McElderry books, 2005
Grade Level: 6-8
ISBN & Cost: 0-689-87137-6; $16.95
Synopsis: Colton Wescott, a 12 year old boy with a white father and black mother and two younger sisters, has his inner strength put to the extreme test, when, while traveling West with a wagon train, the family is separated from his father, and his mother becomes very ill after the birth and death of a new baby. Colton feels a need to figure out a way to ensure the survival of his family, and begins a treacherous job as a Pony Express rider traveling through the mountains to California.
General Review: Readers who like action-packed adventure stories will be fascinated with this tale of a boy following a rugged trail leading toward becoming a young man. He and his younger sister have to help actually pull the wagon after two of their oxen disappear while the family is traveling as a part of a wagon train, but this isn’t as much of a struggle for him to accept as are the attitudes of others toward his black mother, and his attempts to understand his father’s desertion of the family.
Themes: Family life, Growing up, Multiculturalism, Pony Express; Slavery; Identity; Racially mixed people; Self-acceptance; Frontier and frontier life; West ( U. S.) – History – 19th Century; United States – History – 1815-1861; Pre-Civil War
Author information: Diane Lee Wilson has always ridden horses and has an extensive collection of horse books in her home in Escondido, California (Simon & Schuster website http://www.simonsays.com) .
Discussion Questions: (Standard 3; Benchmark 3)
- How does Colton’s experience as a member of family made up mixed races affect his life? How does his repeated use of his ability to “pass” for white affect his self-image?
- While the Pony Express isn’t in operation today, there are many other challenges we face while growing up. What do you see as parallels to the challenges Colton faced that you confront in today’s world?
- Colton was not the only character in the story to face hardships. How did other family members (Dad, Ma, Althea, Jewel) react to pressures of the outside world? Standard 3, Benchmark 1
Activities: (Standard 3; Benchmark 3)
- Working in groups of two or three, look up Pony Express trails in books or on websites. Have each group work on drawing a map of the route the Pony Express followed.
- Make a “Pony Express” board game with Pony Express riders as the game pieces, including various hazards encountered on the ride. Be creative, and use other board games as models and for ideas for your game Standard 3, Benchmark 3
Similar Books for Further Reading: They’re Off , by Harness, Cheryl; Life on the Pony Express, by Yancey, Diane; Clem's chances by Levitin, Sonia