One Crazy Summer

1. Bibliography

Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: Amistad. ISBN 9780060760885

2. Summary

In the summer of 1968, after travelling 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.

3. Critical Analysis

Even though One Crazy Summer is set during the late 1960s, this is a story that today’s teen girls are likely to relate to on several different levels. The confusion of beginning to like boys, the complicated relationships with parents and siblings, and the innate responsibility that girls easily take for their younger brothers and sisters are all obstacles that the main character Delphine faces and overcomes. On a broader level, it gives a unique perspective of a part of history not often seen in youth literature. The Black Panther aspect is thought-provoking, adding depth to the theme of Delphine’s family situation. The natural writing makes this a smooth read from start to finish, and the characters and situations are realistic. The historical details throughout the book do not seem forced; rather, they lend authenticity to the setting, and the portrayal of the Black Panthers breaks with the harsher stereotypes. Rita Williams-Garcia’s fresh, funny novel resonates with depth and meaning that comes through the brilliant characterizations, sparkling dialogue, and a stunningly realistic recreation of a time and place in a story that concludes with a surprising, yet wholly satisfying resolution. Modern young readers will find it interesting to read about the conflicting views of the African-American community at that time. They certainly will be intrigued by the plight of these three children who are caught up in the major issues of that time, made all the more poignant by the insightful first-person narrative of this precocious young girl.

4. Awards and Review Excerpts

- AWARDS -

Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2011 Winner Author United States
John Newbery Medal, 2011 Honor Book United States
National Book Award, 2010 Finalist Young People's Literature United States
Parents' Choice Award, 2010 Gold Fiction United States
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2011 Winner United States - REVIEW EXCERPTS -

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE review: “The author has probably drawn a realistic picture of life in a disjointed family; she surely has shown us that things are not always easy. The characters are so real that one can see them.”

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.”

5. Connections

Discuss the book from one of the character’s point of view (preferably not Delphine, the main character)

Complete a character analysis on Delphine, comparing her initial feelings of moving in with her mother for the summer and how she feels at the end of the summer.

Read other books about the Black Panther movement in the 1960’s