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| Cover art by Sally Wern Comport, image from goodreads.com |
One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia,
narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson, 2010
Williams-Garcia, R.,
& Johnson, S. A., narrator (2010). One Crazy Summer [Unabridged audiobook
from Audible.com]. New York, NY: Amistad. ASIN: B004DI7WWE
Ages 8 and up
Eleven-year-old
(going on 12) Delphine is use to looking out for her younger sisters Vonetta
and Fern, ever since their mother abandoned them when they were young. Years
later, when the three sisters fly from their home in Brooklyn to reunite with
their mother, Cecile, who lives in Oakland, their 28-day summer visit winds up
being what can only be described (as Delphine describes her mother) as “crazy.”
Cecile, a poet, is detached from her daughters, writes and prints poetry in her
kitchen, and has become mixed up with the Black Panther movement of the late
1960s. Disappointed to not have the loving reunion they wanted, the girls, led
by Delphine, become involved with the Black Panthers also, as part of a
Panthers-run summer camp. The girls learn about civil rights and Black oppression,
gain a new sense of pride in their Black heritage, and have a few adventures on
their own, including a memorable day-trip to San Francisco. And when Cecile is
arrested, Delphine must take care of her sisters before it is time to go back home
to their father and grandmother. The sisters are reunited with Cecile the day
before they are due to leave, and they leave with a hug from their mother and
an understanding that she will never truly be
a mother to them.
Told from Delphine’s
first-person point-of-view, professional narrator and actress Sisi Aisha
Johnson gives readers a wonderful performance, consistently maintaining
multiple characters in their various voices in a lively and engaging listening
experience. Johnson, herself an African-American, captures the spirit of these
Black characters in her narrative voices, without them sounding too
stereotypical, and the pronunciation, sound, and volume quality of the
recording are excellent.
I enjoyed listening
to this story, and author Williams-Garcia did a wonderful job building the
character of Delphine as a believable heroine that the reader can sympathize
with. The experience of listening to the audiobook is like having an “adult
read-aloud,” although I did realize that I need to be in a quiet place with few
or no distractions to be fully attentive. Girls from upper elementary through
high school will truly enjoy listening to the Audible MP3 or reading the print
book, and will be able to relate to Delphine’s thoughts and actions as she
tries to navigate a new city, make new friends, and has her first crush on a
boy.
Reading/writing/history
connections:
- For social studies and history classes, students can research the Black Panther movement in the 1960s, exploring how the Panthers came to be, how they organized, and their status today (and historically) in the African-American community.
- For social studies and history classes, students could explore other civil rights organizations and movements from the African-American, Latino, or other minority groups’ experiences.
- One Crazy Summer takes the reader from one experience or adventure to another. As a writing extension after reading or listening to the book, students could write about their own “crazy” experiences – something unusual or out of the ordinary that happened to them, especially if it happened in an unfamiliar place. Teachers could encourage their students’ imaginations by making this a fiction assignment instead, where students develop their own character, who has a crazy experience.
Awards:
Coretta Scott King
Award Winner (2011)
Newbery Honor Book
(2011)
Scott O’Dell Prize
for Historical Fiction (2011)
National Book Award
Finalist (2011)
Junior Library Guild
Selection (2011)
New York Times
Editor’s Choice (2011)
Texas Library Association
Best Book for 2010
Reviews:
“The story is
tightly centered around the three sisters. In spare, poetic prose
Williams-Garcia layers nuanced descriptions and brief, evocative scenes to
create three utterly distinctive characters.” –New York Times
“Author Rita
Williams-Garcia has a fine ear for the squabbles and fierce loyalties of
siblings and a keen eye for kid-centered period details, including collect
phone calls, go-go boots and the TV dolphin Flipper. With authenticity and
humor, she portrays the ever-shifting dynamics among ultra-responsible
Delphine, show-off Vonetta and stubborn Fern.” –Washington Post
“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.” –Booklist starred review
“This writer doesn’t
just conjure up people. She has a way with a turn of a phrase. Three Black
Panthers talking with Cecile are, 'Telling it like it is, like talking was
their weapon.' Later Cecile tells her eldest daughter, 'It wouldn’t kill you to
be selfish, Delphine.' This book is a pleasure to cast your eyes over.” –School Library Journal
“Each girl has a
distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details
that make each characterization crystal clear. 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
If you want to learn
more about author Rita Williams-Garcia, here is a link to her website:
For teachers and
students who want to learn more about the Black Panther Party and their
history, here is their website:
Watch an excellent
book trailer for this book created by my TWU classmate, Eva Price:
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