One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

 

One Crazy Summer 

Written by: Rita Williams-Garcia 

Originally Published in: 2010 

Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are sent to visit their mother for the summer in Oakland, California in 1968. Delphine in particular has her own struggles with her mother, as she resents her for leaving them when Fern was very young. The girls attend a day camp ran by the Black Panther Party, where Oakland is the epicenter. The girls' mother, Cecile, is part of the Black Panther Party and is jailed in the book. When she is jailed, the girls say they are not Cecile's daughters, as they are scared they will get taken away. Cecile is released from jail and she is able to build relationships with the girls. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern participate in a protest against racial discrimination, and Fern specifically, becomes very outspoken. The book highlights Bobby Hutton and Huey P. Newton, both were real political activists in their time. 

This chapter book is suited best for upper elementary students, as that is the level of language which is used. The combination of fiction and actual events in this book was very interesting and educational, as I myself was not very educated on the year of 1968. This book highlights a shameful part of history in America, a history that is still very much occurring today, as racial discrimination is still very prominent. This book could very easily be used to educate students on racial discrimination in America and could definitely be a teachable lesson and a way to begin conversation with students. Students in class may be able to relate to this book and other students may be looking at something for the first time. Some students' grandparents may have even been involved in the Black Panther Party and were most likely living at the time. This could allow for conversation at home as well. 

Other information: 

One Crazy Summer is a Historical Fiction & Children's literature book.

**citation based on reprint version**

Williams-Garcia, R. (2011). One Crazy Summer. Quill Tree Books.

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/one-crazy-summer-rita-williams-garcia?variant=32117146877986