Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 2010
ISBN: 9780060760892
Plot Summary:
It’s the summer of 1968. Eleven-year-old Delphine and her sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are flying on a plane to Oakland to meet their mother. The girls have been sent by their father to meet Cecile, the mother who walked out of their lives when Delphine was only five. The girls have been raised by their father and grandmother. Their father insists that it's time for the girls to get to know Cecile but Grandmother does not agree. Their mother is absorbed in her poetry and other things but not at all interested in her children. She barely shows them any attention and even forgets to feed them while strange visitors come and go. Eventually Delphine and her sisters come to terms with the life that their mother has chosen. Delphine soon realizes that they are on their own, in a completely unfamiliar world for one crazy summer; a summer that will change them in ways they didn't expect.
Critical Analysis:
One Crazy Summer is set in the 1960's during a time of revolutionary movements concerning the civil rights of African Americans which is one of the most volatile periods in recent U.S. history. The author does a wonderful job capturing a unique voice for Delphine, who tells it like it is, while she narrates a story that takes place at an important time and place in our country's history. Each one of the girls have a unique personality and each one is shown in the dialog and writing in this book. The girls mother is also a strong character and her personality comes through with her words and actions. She is involved in the civil rights movement and associated with the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers, a revolutionary civil rights group, were a dominant force in the civil rights movement and often used violence to fight for racial equality. This books gives the reader insight into the civil rights movement as well information about the Black Panthers. Important names and information about this time period are dribbled throughout the book in the thoughts of Delphine. The book focuses on the themes of motherhood and sisterhood as well as social and political ideas of the time. Through the narrator, we examine the historical changes around her and the ever-growing desire to find out the truth about Cecile. One Crazy Summer provides a child’s perspective of social change and the Black Panther movement, making this historical time period accessible to young readers. The children's strong voices in this story are wonderful and very engaging for the reader while learning about history. The reader gets to see how the girls handle this strange visit with a mom that do not really know and also deal with the civil right issues they are thrown into. For example in this scene the girls come home after a day trip and see this,
Critical Analysis:
One Crazy Summer is set in the 1960's during a time of revolutionary movements concerning the civil rights of African Americans which is one of the most volatile periods in recent U.S. history. The author does a wonderful job capturing a unique voice for Delphine, who tells it like it is, while she narrates a story that takes place at an important time and place in our country's history. Each one of the girls have a unique personality and each one is shown in the dialog and writing in this book. The girls mother is also a strong character and her personality comes through with her words and actions. She is involved in the civil rights movement and associated with the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers, a revolutionary civil rights group, were a dominant force in the civil rights movement and often used violence to fight for racial equality. This books gives the reader insight into the civil rights movement as well information about the Black Panthers. Important names and information about this time period are dribbled throughout the book in the thoughts of Delphine. The book focuses on the themes of motherhood and sisterhood as well as social and political ideas of the time. Through the narrator, we examine the historical changes around her and the ever-growing desire to find out the truth about Cecile. One Crazy Summer provides a child’s perspective of social change and the Black Panther movement, making this historical time period accessible to young readers. The children's strong voices in this story are wonderful and very engaging for the reader while learning about history. The reader gets to see how the girls handle this strange visit with a mom that do not really know and also deal with the civil right issues they are thrown into. For example in this scene the girls come home after a day trip and see this,
"Red, white and blue lights everywhere. We inch up, the happiness knocked out of us. Cecile and two Black Panthers. Hands behind their backs. Handcuffed. Being led out of the house and down the walkway. I could hardly breathe."
At the end of the book, the climax happens at the rally, when the girls' recite their mother's poem and Fern shocks the crowd by reciting her own poem. The mom gets out of jail and ends up being at the rally. She actually seems proud of the girls. The is the one of the bonding moments the girls and mom have which helps them understand each other. The author style of easy flowing dialect help the reader feel this without much confusion. This book is a great book to introduce 9-12 year olds to Civil right issues. The historical information in this story is a huge part of this story but the family drama theme is strongly represented with the absent mom and kids being raised by a single parent and grandma. The accuracy of the information is easy to confirm since so much is written about this time period. In the acknowledgments at the back of the book, the author writes about researching the material and where she got her information which helps validate the historical facts. Rita Williams-Garcia is also a well known, award winning author and has written many books.
Connections:
Like Sisters on the Homefront by Rita Williams- Garcia
Blue Tights by Rita Williams-Garcia
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Discuss civil rights and equality.
Write about a crazy summer.
Connections:
Like Sisters on the Homefront by Rita Williams- Garcia
Blue Tights by Rita Williams-Garcia
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Discuss civil rights and equality.
Write about a crazy summer.
Awards and Reviews:
- Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner
- Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award Winner
- School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
- Newbery Medal Honor Book
- Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children’s Literature Honor Book
- National Book Award Finalist
- Parents’ Choice Award Gold Fiction
- Audie Award Finalist
School Library Journal
“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.”
Publishers Weekly
“Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent's love.”
Book List
“The historical details sprinkled throughout the book do not seem forced; rather, they lend authenticity to the setting, and the portrayal of the Black Panthers breaks with the harsher stereotypes.”
Voice of Youth Advocates
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