One Crazy Summer

 


Bibliography
Williams-Garcia, Rita, 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780060760908.

Plot Summary
In 1968, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern Gaither travel from Brooklyn, New York to Oakland, California to stay with their mother for the summer, as they hadn't seen her in years. Their mother abandoned them and has not looked back since, leaving the girls to wonder what she's like and if she'll like them. The girls quickly realize their summer vacation will not be an ordinary one as they spend most of their days at a summer camp ran by Black Panthers, learning about their past and the current state of the country. 

Critical Analysis 
Williams-Garcia writes about the Gaither sisters summer journey to Oakland, California to meet a mother they had not seen since they were toddlers/newborns. Told from the older sister, Delphine's, point of view, readers are given a unique point of view during the Black Panther Movement in America. In the year 1968, the girls were able to travel independently and manage money. However, they were kept under constant close watch by society, being as they were girls of color. At this time, their actions, manners, and words were judged harshly, even when the girls are just being kids. As the older sister, the responsibility was placed upon Delphine, to ensure her sisters' hair and outfits stay pristine, to make sure their voices never got loud enough to draw unwanted attention, and their language always proper when speaking to adults, especially adults with lighter skin tones. These situations described were unfortunately the reality America was facing in real time. As the story progresses, Williams-Garcia writes of the girls mother being absent most of their lives. When the girls are reunited with their mother, they soon come to terms with the fact that her neglect all these years were due to the fact that Cecile was part of the Black Panthers, hoping to set the truth free about the treatment of African Americans. Even though they got off to a rocky start, the girls learn an important lesson from their mother, do the right thing, even if it means sharing the hard truth. A unique story with a powerful message, one that children will be able to enjoy and connect to. 
 
Review Excerpt(s)
- Newbery Honor Book
- Coretta Scott King Award 
- National Book Award Finalist
- Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
-Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings. While the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page."
-Starred review in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Delphine's growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers." 
-Starred review in THE HORN BOOK: "The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn." 

Connections
- Young readers will get to understand a young colored girl's point of view of the 1960's in America.
- Fans of the lively Gaither sisters will enjoy reading the two other works in the trilogy.    
- Similar book recommendations:
Williams-Garcia, Rita, 2016. GONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA. ISBN 9780062215895.
Williams-Garcia, Rita, 2015. P.S. BE ELEVEN. ISBN 9780061938641.

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