BIBLIOGRAPHY
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: HarperCollins/Amistad. ISBN 9780329859367
PLOT SUMMARY
Three sisters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, travel to Oakland, California to visit their mother who left them after Fern was born. Set in the summer of 1968, the girls struggle to understand the mother they have never known as well as encounter new experiences.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The historical aspects of this story are well-established and accurately portrayed. Though intended for young readers, the plot’s heavy civil rights theme is honest and bold. Cecile, the girls’ mother depicts the typical characters at the Black Panther meeting center, as “nothing but black folks in black clothes rapping revolution and a line of hungry black kids.” The story also references a shoot-out and Little Bobby being in his underwear, surrendering and shot anyhow by the police. Language in the story supports the time and the ethnicity. “I don’t like him. Surely don’t.” and “We made it down sure ’nuf” are a couple of examples. The girls call their Grandma, “Big Ma” and many well-known names are used such as Cassius Clay, Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Tina Turner, and the Supremes.
The story is told through the eyes of Delphine who is eleven. She keeps a constant, watchful eye on her two younger sisters and must deal with trying to understand her mother and sorting her feelings about the Black Panther party. Delphine is the same age as the intended reader and she is relatable. Readers can imagine adjusting to a difficult situation and the innate desire to be loved and held by a mother. Many African-American readers will be able to relate to her ethnicity and role with the Black Panthers.
Author Rita Williams-Garcia has won many awards for her work in children’s literature. She also researched many books, articles, and interviews in order to get the time period correct. In addition, she cites using David Hilliard’s The Black Panther Intercommunal News Service.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
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 Kirkus Review - “The depiction of the time is well done, and 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.”
Newbery Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Award
National Book Award Finalist
CONNECTIONS
*Also available in audiobook form, students might enjoy listening to the story.
*After learning about civil rights, students could read the story as well as research the role of the Black Panthers party during the 60s and 70s.
*In small groups where trust has been established, students could identify and share a difficult relationship that they have been a part of or have witnessed. This would be a good pre-reading activity.
*Students could watch a movie about kids in the same time period and compare and contrast the movie’s character with Delphine or any other character from the book.
*Listen to music from the time period.
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