ONE CRAZY SUMMER

Bibliographic Information:   Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. 2010. New York, NY : Amistad. ISBN 978-0-06076088-5.

Summary:  In the summer of 1968, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters Vonetta and Fern are sent by their father from Brooklyn, NY to Oakland, CA to spend a month with their mother, Cecile, for the summer.  Cecile – also known as Sister Inzilla – is a poet and revolutionary who left the family after the birth of her third daughter and is resentful of the intrusion of their visit.  They spend time at the neighborhood People’s Center, run by Black Panthers, and Delphine begins to understand, if not totally agree with, her mother’s choices.

Critical Analysis:

One Crazy Summer is a moving book that does an excellent job of combining historical truth with a powerful story of one individual family’s experience.  The story of Delphine, Vonetta, Fern and their estranged mother, Cecile, is a touching one.  The girls have been raised by their father while their mother, a poet, has headed out to Oakland, CA for fulfill her own dreams that do not involve her children.  She is part of a local Black Panther group that is a foreign idea to her girls.

The story is set in 1968, a very important era of African-American history, especially in California.  The Black Panther Party is depicted very accurately in the narrative and the concept of one’s political views and affiliations affecting his/her entire life and perhaps altering it completely is at the forefront.  The story is presented in all its rawness without glossing over the ethical implications of Cecile’s actions.  Readers will probably empathize with Cecile to a point in that she wants to express herself artistically and be part of a powerful movement for justice that’s bigger than just her own little sphere.  The fact that she is leaving her children behind to do so will, however, reflect negatively on her with many readers. 

Even though the setting (1968 Oakland) is integral to the novel, the theme transcends the time period.  We get to know Cecile as well as her children intimately and can feel the pain of all those involved.  Wanting to have the love of one’s family – especially a parent who has abdicated his/her role – is a universal need and one all readers can understand. 

Book Review Excerpts:  “Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love.” - Engberg, Gillian (Reviewed 02-01-2010 in Booklist, vol. 106, number 11, p 61).

“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.” —Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library --Teri Markson (Reviewed March 1, 2010 in School Library Journal, vol. 56, issue 3, p 170).

“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.” Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2010.

Awards: 

ALA Notable Children's Books - Middle Readers Category: 2011
Amelia Bloomer Lists - Middle Graders Fiction: 2011
Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Middle Readers Category: 2010
Coretta Scott King Award (Authors)
Oprah's Kids' Reading Lists - New Releases: 10-to-12 Years
Parents' Choice Awards - Fiction: 2010
School Library Journal Best Books: 2010
Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award

Connections/Further Activities:
Pairing excerpts from age-appropriate documentaries about the Black Panther Party with the reading of the book will serve to help young readers visualize and better understand who members really were and what they stood for. 

Introducing other books/film clips about the racial tensions of the era (late 1960's) may serve to help students better comprehend why the Black Power movement began and flourished.

Title Read-A-Likes/Further Reading:
The rock and the river - Kekla Magoon
Keeping the night watch – Hope Anita Smith
Weedflower – Cynthia Kadohata
Power to the people: the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party - Jim Haskins
Women of the civil rights movement - Stuart A. Kallen