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One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

About the author:

Rita Williams-Garcia is a New York Bestselling author and has has written 12 books for middle grades and young adult readers. One Crazy Summer is the first in a 3 book series. Williams-Garcia has always been a writer, since she was a young child. After attending Hofstra, she published her first novel at the age of 30, and hasn’t stopped since! She has won many awards including:

· Coretta Scott King Award

· National Book Award Finalists

· Newbery Honor Book

· Junior Library Guild

· Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction

Plot:

The story is written in the point of view of Delphine, the oldest of 3 sisters. The story tells of the three girls’, Delphine, Vonette, and Fern, and their journey to visit their biological mother, who left when they were very young. The girls fly from their home in Brooklyn, New York to Oakland, California, where the status of black people is very different. They attend a summer camp ran by the Black Panthers, and attempt to build a relationship with a mother who doesn’t seem to want them around. Be ready to have your heart strings tugged as you build a relationship with the characters.

Characters and Setting:

Delphine: An 11-year-old girl who is very tall for her age, and is the oldest sibling. She takes care of her younger sisters, and is responsible for them while they are in Oakland. She has learned to be quiet when needed, but also learns that sometimes it is okay to speak your mind, too.

Vonette: Vonette is 9-years-old, and loves attention! She is full of energy, a little bit sassy, and very good at gaining love from those around her. Throughout the book, Vonette finds times where it is hard for even her to not be scared to stand up and perform for an important cause.

Fern: The youngest sister, at 7-years-old is determined to make her mother love and care for her. She learns that Cecile, their mother, will not say her name, and she believes it is the reason her mother left in the first place. She relies a lot on Delphine, until the end when she finds her independent voice and surprises us all!

Counter Narrative:

This book is a counter narrative lead by young girls! Not only are they young, black girls, but they fight the discrimination against blacks by participating the the events held by a summer camp that is sponsored by the Black Panthers. The girls did not expect to spend their summer fighting for justice, and Delphine resisted it at first, but they quickly realized that they were part of something bigger than themselves when a turn of events leaves them without their mother for a few days and a lot of unanswered questions.

How does it open up a platform?

For students, this book shows that you do not have to be an adult to advocate for what you believe it. Therefore, not only will students learn about the history behind racism and discrimination, and some information about the Black Panther Party, they learn about the ways in which children were a part of the movement and how they initiated change. Like in Separate is Never Equal (Tonatihu), the children took part of a movement that did not involve them using violence to make their point. While there was violence mentioned in One Crazy Summer, it was not instigated OR returned by the members of the Black Panthers or their supporters.