One Crazy Summer

Memorable, Strong, Powerful, Family, Self-Sacrifice

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Published by HarperCollins
Copyright 2010
Newbery Honor Book 2011
Coretta Scott King Award Winner 2011

This story is about 11-year-old Delphine. Her mother, Cecile, abandoned her and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, 7 years ago. Delphine's father and grandmother send her and her sisters from their home in Brooklyn, New York to stay with their mother in Oakland, California for the summer. When the 3 girls arrive in California in 1968, their mother wants nothing to do with them. She tells the girls to stay away from home for as long as they can so that she can write her poetry. Cecile barely feeds the girls and prohibits them from going into her kitchen. She goes so far as to refuse to call her daughter, Fern, by her name. The girls are sent away to a summer camp that is run by the Black Panthers, a revolutionary group. The Black Panther party's main goal was to  promote Black Power in Oakland. This summer brings the three girls an opportunity to learn about revolution and family.

Suggested Delivery: Small Group Read, Independent Read
Grade Level (Lexile): 750L, Ages 9-12

Key Vocabulary: mammal, abandoned, Black Panthers, revolution, old-fashioned,

Teaching Suggestions:

• Before Reading: On an entrance slip, ask students to write about their initial reactions to the title One Crazy Summer. What might make the summer "crazy"? What is one prediction you have for the story based on the title and the front cover of the book?
• During Reading: Discuss with students the idea of racism and how predominant it was during the 1960s. Ask studenst why they think the Black Panther party might want to promote Black Power.
• After Reading: Discuss the theme of family and how it is represented in the book. Ask students to describe how family is defined in the book. How would you define family? Are the two definitions different? If so, how?

Writing Activity: Students will write a response about the theme of self-identiy by telling how they think Delphine grew as a person. What did she find out about herself during the summer? Students will use examples from the book to support their response.

Electronic Resources:

• Unit Plan: This website is a teacher's guide to a unit plan on One Crazy Summer. It includes discussion questions, links to information about the Black Panther party, and written response questions. It also includes information about the themes presented in the book and what questions a student might respond to.
• Black Panther Party: This website provides students with information about the Black Panther party. Teachers will have to assist students while reading because some of the vocabulary is content specific and might cause some students trouble. This site also provides links to their Ten Point Program description and to the list of rules for the party. Students will use this information to make connections with what Delphine might have been learning and experiencing during the summer of 1968.

Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York: Amistad.