Follow eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters as they travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California to meet the mother who abandoned them. With dreams of Disneyland and Tinker Bell, the summer's reality changes when their mother enrolls the girls in a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Focus on how the author uses perspective to tell the story of a pivotal time in America's history. The mini lessons included in this Book Club resource set make it easy to engage readers as they learn about perspective through the eyes of a character who could be one of their classmates. This Newberry Honor book won the Coretta Scott King Award and was a National Book Award Finalist.

Title: One Crazy Summer

Author: Rita Williams-Garcia

Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: History, Summer, Back to School, Black History Month, Relationship Skills

ISBN: 9780061966675

Publisher's Summary:

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia is a vibrant and moving novel set in 1968, centered on three African American sisters from Brooklyn—Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern. When their father decides it's time for the girls to reconnect with the mother who left them years ago, he sends them to Oakland, California, for a month-long visit. Eleven-year-old Delphine, ever the responsible eldest, hopes for a magical California adventure, but the sisters are met with a mother, Cecile, who is distant, unconventional, and wholly uninterested in parenting. Instead of beach trips and sightseeing, their days are spent at a summer camp run by the Black Panthers, where they receive lessons in activism, community, and identity. Through their unexpected experiences, the girls learn about the complexities of family, the power of sisterhood, and the importance of standing up for what is right. One Crazy Summer offers educators a rich backdrop to discuss civil rights, family dynamics, and historical change, making it both a compelling read and a valuable teaching resource.

Resources

Customer Service

About Us

Fine Print