1,400 characters The Billie B. Brown series novels feature basic narratives and unfold over a short span due to their small word length (approximately 1,400 words). However, they are large-scale works that often comment on social issues such as segregation and racism. The first book in the series, Weep Not Child, was published in 1951. It tells the story of 12-year-old Willie Brown, who lives with his parents in South Carolina during the early years of racial segregation. One day when he goes to the local store with his father, they are attacked by a group of white men who beat up both of them before fleeing into the forest. When his father dies, Willie is forced to go to live with an aunt who already has three children of her own. Even though she loves him, she cannot take care of him anymore so he is placed in a foster home. This experience motivates Willie to work hard in school and try to get out of poverty. He eventually succeeds and becomes one of the most successful writers in the country.