"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Bibliography

William-Garcia, Rita. (2010). One Crazy Summer. New York, New York: HarperCollins Children’s Book. ISBN: 978-0-06-076088-5

Summary

In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

Analysis

                This book has the potential to check so many “topic of interest” boxes, that it could appeal almost anyone. It revolves around 3 young “colored,” as they prefer to be called, girls who were abandoned by their mother at a very young age. This leads their family, father and grandmother, to resent her and, therefore, the girls resent her too.  They don’t fully understand why their mother left but Delphine suspects that it is because her father wouldn’t allow the youngest child, Fern to be named a “made up” name. I think this is something a surprising amount of readers can associate with, myself included. It allowed me to make a connection to these girls that made me feel like I was part of the novel. It is very well written in that it is so inclusive to the reader. It also allows us to grow up a little with the girls, primarily Delphine.

                This book also gave me quite a bit of insight into what it may have been like to live around the Black Panther movement in the 60s. I never really knew much about the inner workings of the group and to “see” what the summer camp was like was a very interesting experience. I think it shows a side to the movement that a considerable amount of people were not privy to.

                Aside from the historical and familial value of this book, it has a strong female lead character who is not afraid to stand up to another strong female or male. The reader gets to follow Delphine as she moves from being a very mature eleven-year-old, to a much more confident, knowledgeable and assertive young woman over the course of the summer. She develops a much stronger sense of self as she gets to know her mother and also is exposed to some of the issues faced by black people during the time period.

                This book could be utilized in a myriad of ways. It makes a great leisurely read but would also be a good accompaniment to a Civil Rights Movement unit or a Black History Month reading circle.

Awards

The Coretta Scott King Award

Newbery Honor Book

National Book Award Finalist