One Crazy Summer Summary

4. One Crazy Summer written by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010) 218 p.

The summer of 1968 was a summer of social and political change. Children participated in this change. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are visiting Oakland, California to visit their mother (Cecile) for the first time since she left them. On their first meeting, Cecile is not happy to meet her daughters. Moreover, Cecile does not act as a traditional mother towards the girls. She has the girls eat take-out for dinner and sends the girls to a Black Panther summer camp. Subsequently, eleven-year old Delphine has to serve as a surrogate mother for her sisters during their stay in Oakland. The girls’ experience at the Black Panther summer camp highlights a child’s perspective on the Black

The diary chronicles the live of Grace and her family and friends and their experiences in the Dust Bowl in Dalhart, Texas in 1935. The Dust Bowl is changing Grace’s life. Her father’s farm was ravaged by the dust storms. Moreover, many of Grace’s friends are moving to California to escape the storms and hopefully improve their lives. Meanwhile, Grace goes to school, copes with a mean girl, volunteers at a hospital, and has a crush on a young man visiting Dalhart. The effects of the Dust Bowl are highlighted through Grace’s discussion of dust pneumonia and families living in abject poverty. The story ends on an abrupt positive note without delving into specifics of how the Great Plains bgan the recovery process from The Dust Bowl. The epilogue and the fictional account of Grace and her friends and family’s life stories might be confusing for children who are learning how to distinguish fact from fiction. The historical note and accompanying photograph from the Dust Bowl era provide primary source material for students. I would recommend this book to teachers who are introducing the Dust Bowl to their students or to students interested in historical fiction. Finally, the story could complement Karen Hesse’s Out of the Dust along with a nonfiction

All of the Fletcher boys are adopted and unique from one another. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different brother to highlight their experiences throughout the year. The problems of the family span from acting in a play, disliking a new school, friendship struggles, and your family not believing you have made a real friend. Dad and Papa are supportive fathers who encourage their children, attend their children’s events, and nurture their children through fun family traditions and thoughtful advice. All of the characters experience growth throughout the novel and the family continues to evolve as a unit. The writing captures the family’s love for one another and their light-hearted adventures. I would recommend this book to students interested in reading a family-themed story. Finally, I think this book would make a great read-aloud for an upper-elementary age class due to its relatability and