Award: Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Evaluation of the book:
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia addresses a few heavy and important themes in its short 215 pages. The two main themes are those of racial equality and motherly love. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, the three sister-protagonists of the book, are surrounded by evidence of racial inequality - their grandmother is constantly afraid that they might stand out among white people, tourists in California take pictures of them instead of the sights, their mother prints posters and poems for the Black Panthers, etc. Racial issues are everywhere in this book. In addition, the sisters are in California in the first place in order that they might meet their mother. The book explores the bond between daughters and mothers and the importance of motherly love. The girls’ mother already has a love for her “black nation” children, but this book shows her learning to love her very own flesh-and-blood daughters.
The characters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern also share with the readers the beauty of a sisterly bond. This bond between the three of them is never spoken of outright, it is simply shown and taken as fact. “When my sisters and I speak, one after the other, it’s like a song we sing, a game we play. We never pass signals. We just fire off rat-a-tat-tat-tat. Delphine. Vonetta. Fern” (p. 77). Race and mothers might be in question, but sisters are never doubted.
Finally, this book of important themes shares one equally important, though unexpected, insight: it’s OK for Delphine to be a child even in the midst of the grown up themes that make up her daily life. As the oldest sister, and abandoned by her mother, she feels responsible for her sisters and doesn’t let herself have fun or be a child. The unexpected insight comes at the end when Delphine’s mother says, “Be eleven, Delphine. Be eleven while you can” (p. 210). Although racial inequality and an absent mother have made Delphine’s life hard and made her grow up fast, it’s OK for her to be a child and to enjoy the simpler times in life.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I am the oldest of three sisters and Delphine’s struggle with being the responsible, sometimes hated, oldest sister resonated with me. Although I don’t deal with racial inequality and an absent mother, I certainly relate to feeling bossy and knowing what’s best for my younger sisters. I also relate to the closeness between the sisters; my sisters are my best friends.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
The themes that this book address - racial inequality, motherly love, enjoying childhood - are all themes that I consider important in this world. One Crazy Summer does an excellent job expressing these heavy themes in a way that a child can read and relate to. Williams-Garcia does not simplify these issues; she makes them approachable and understandable to her young readers.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
This book does a really good job depicting important themes on a level that children can both understand and relate too. My overall reaction to the text was one of awe that a book so short and for such a young audience could express so well these important issues. This book truly helps you see those who are different than you in a new light.
Conclusion:
I’d recommend this book to just about anyone - child or adult. It expresses important themes and instills empathy for different struggles that we and others go through in life. For children, it’s an important reminder that even though life is filled with struggles, it’s OK to just be a child. For adults, it’s an important reminder that even though children are young, they can handle difficult themes and topics.
APA Style Reference:
Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York, NY: Amistad.
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