Review by Christi De Leon
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. New York:
HarperCollins, 2010. ISBN 9780060760892
PLOT SUMMARY
After being abandoned by her
mother seven years ago, Delphine began to help take care of her two little
sisters, Vonetta and Fern. During the summer of 1968, their father and Big Ma
sent the three sisters to Oakland, California to visit their mother, Cecile.
Instead of spending time with them, Cecile sends them to a day camp sponsored
by the Black Panthers. Surprisingly, the girls end up learning quite a bit during their trip.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The brave eleven-year-old
female protagonist, Delphine, leads the way with Vonetta and Fern as they
travel from Brooklyn to see their “crazy” mother in Oakland. Each character is
unique and well-rounded, especially Delphine. The girls’ attitudes and
reactions to their experiences are authentically portrayed as they learn about the
revolutionary group called the Black Panthers, giving readers accurate insight,
also. The author captures the flavor of the 1960’s in Oakland as the girls set out for food, summer camp, and nearby explorations. Each place is distinctly
described through Delphine’s youthful point of view. Mentions of Mean Lady
Ming, for example, add a hint of humor throughout the story as they get Chinese
takeout dinners so frequently. Speech patterns are also reflective, like when
Fern often chimes in with her sassy words, “Surely don’t.”
One Crazy Summer is abundant with themes that reflect the time, such as an emphasis on
names, civil rights, family loyalty, and responsibility. Delphine’s loyalty to
her family, including her mother, and her strong sense of responsibility
exemplify timeless parallels for the reader. The oldest sibling, even in
today’s families, often demonstrates strength as they set an example for the
others. Readers can relate to any of the sisters, as they all have a role of
their own. Rita Williams-Garcia gives "Acknowledgements" at the end of the book,
stating that many of the girls and women in the novel were part of her own
childhood in some kind of way. She also mentions the resources and interviews
that allowed her to capture this time in history. The author combines a
seamless mixture of fact and fiction to create a humorous, yet powerful
historical fiction novel.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2011 Newbery Medal
2011 Coretta Scott King
Award
2011 Scott O’Dell Award for
Historical Fiction
2010 National Book Award
finalist
From Booklist: “Regimented, responsible, strong-willed Delphine narrates
in an unforgettable voice, but each of the sisters emerges as a distinct,
memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their mother
build to an aching, triumphant conclusion.”
From 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...”
From School Library Journal: “Emotionally challenging and beautifully
written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult
questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With
memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a
powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.”
CONNECTIONS
Gather other Rita Williams-Garcia historical fiction books
to read such as:
P.S. Be Eleven. ISBN 0061938645
Gone Crazy in Alabama. ISBN 0062215876
Gather other Newbery Honor Books to read such as:
Vawter, Vince. Paperboy. ISBN 030793151X
Possible activities:
Research the Black Panthers
and connect the findings to Delphine’s viewpoint in the story.
Find current information
regarding civil rights issues. Discuss similarities and differences from 1968
to now.
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