One Crazy Summer

 

  •   Williams, Rita Garcia. One Crazy Summer. Amistad, 2010. Grades 4-8


Set in the summer of 1968, protagonist Delphine and her two younger sisters are set to reunite with their mother. The last time they saw her was 7 years ago, when she abandoned them. Immersing readers in the time period and featuring the black power political organization known as the Black Panthers, this historical fiction chapter book places readers back to when race riots and the fight for equality were ongoing. Eleven-year-old Delphine has grown up caring for her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, but when their father sends them to Oakland, California to spend the summer, they are all put to the test. Their mother, Cecile, is not the typical warm and loving mother; a member of the Black Panthers and a writer, Cecile is more interested in keeping her daughters out of the way than getting to know them. Delphine tells, "Every mammal on the planet has a mother, dead or alive. Ran off or stayed put. Cecile Johnson - mammal birth giver, alive, an abandorner- is our mother. A statement of fact" (220. Enrolling them in a daycare run by members of the Black Panthers, the girls learn about the civil rights movement, their rights, and their mother. One of the strengths of the book comes from the dialogue among the characters. Full of mature themes like mother-daughter relationships, the civil rights movement, racism, and discovering your identity, this work exposes readers to growing up in the 60’s. It encourages adult engagement because while the author does a great job teaching readers through the protagonist, it still requires historical context from adults. For example, when discussing a rally, Delphine begins to realize the danger it could bring, stating, "We have to be alive. Wouldn't Little Bobby rather be alive than be remembered? . . .The more I thought about it, the more I had my answer" (145). The readers will be walked through complex emotions and learn alongside our protagonist to stay true to themselves while navigating a politically complex environment. Williams-Garcia takes care to paint Cecile as not just an irredeemable mother, but to justify her choices and showcase her humanity. Additionally, the book dispels misconceptions regarding the Black Panthers and educates young readers about living through the civil rights movement. All the characters are highly relatable and exhibit growth by the end of the book. Young readers will love the honest and heartfelt story that belongs on all young readers' shelves. It is a highly engaging, own voices work that is just as relevant today as it was fifteen years ago.

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