Review: Coming to England by Floella Benjamin, illustrated by Joelle Avelino (25th Anniversary Edition)

Marking a quarter-century since its first publication, Macmillan has released a special anniversary edition of Floella Benjamin's childhood memoir, which starts seven years before her migration from Trinidad to Britain in 1960. 

It's a short, easy-to-read chapter book including a thoughtful author's foreword and editor's afterword with helpful historical background. Michael Frith's watercolours have been replaced by Joelle Avelino's digitally finished greyscale images which are more incidental and, overall, work well to give the book an updated look.

Benjamin's warm, first-person narrative is clear, concise, and accessible for children in upper KS2. She has an economy of style which, coupled with her impressive recollections, manages to conjure up a satisfyingly detailed picture of a Black child making sense of her dual identity in both countries. 

A chronological story in three parts, the first five chapters focus on Floella's blissful early years living in Pointe-a-Pierre on the colonial island of Trinidad, which didn't gain full independence from Britain until 1962. One of six siblings, we learn about her wholesome family life, strict schooling and church upbringing, the glorious tropical ecosystem, and the abundance of delicious homegrown Caribbean foods lovingly prepared by Marmie. 

As well as improving cultural understanding and building empathy, this non-fiction text helps children to understand how British rule affected Trinidadian children, most notably through the education system. Benjamin describes routinely learning about British historical heroes, singing British anthems, and reciting the works of white poets, such as Tennyson — even the school textbooks were imported from Britain — all instead of lessons about the indigenous Amerindians who predated European settlers.

Floella's idyllic Caribbean childhood is shaken up dramatically in the moving second section when her parents, starting with Dardie, suddenly migrate to England without her and three of her siblings. Benjamin's abhorrent treatment by her godparents is recalled in a suitably controlled and delicate way for the age of her audience. Thankfully, ten-year-old Floella and her siblings are eventually reunited with their parents in England. Their adventurous two-week voyage by ship provides a welcome contrast both to the awful life she left behind and the one she faced as a newcomer to the legendary motherland.

In the final part, Floella describes adjusting to life in chilly post-war Britain. As a British citizen, we see her initial puzzlement at the racial abuse migrant families like hers endured and the homogenisation of people from different Caribbean islands by white Brits. 

Her gradual coming to terms with feeling unwelcome in a country she believed was her second home is so poignantly drawn. But despite the dark days, much hope and light pervade Floella’s story — her family's loving bond, her Trinidadian pride, and her inextinguishable determination to succeed. 

At the close, I reflected on whether Floella's performance as an American Southerner, which inadvertently wins over her prejudiced peers, did her story justice. (Also, see note below.) With that in mind, the author's foreword which mentions some of her adult achievements is an important addition to share with children, and knowledge of her successes could be extended by visiting her official website.

Coming to England is an extremely honest, balanced account of a Windrush child's journey of survival, strength, and success. It's an unforgettable classic that's still as pertinent today as it was 25 years ago. 

Coming to England by Floella Benjamin, illustrated by Joelle Avelino is available to purchase via Bookshop.

Coming to England is also available from Bookshop as a picture book for younger children (illustrated by Diane Ewen). See my review here.

Check out my Black Children's Books directory for suggested suitability of all the books I review.  All the books that I read are also checked against my Jericho Benchmark.

Notes for teachers and parents

You might want to consider substituting 'hillbilly' with a suitable alternative when reading this text aloud to children as a class novel or at home.