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One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Supplemental readings:

• Rita Williams-Garcia’s profile in July/August 2007 Horn Book Magazine
• No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Historical fiction is a balancing act of storytelling and character development with real-world events. How do these different aspects interact in each of these works? How do the authors engage readers in both the lives of the characters and their time and place in history?

The post Two historical fiction books | Class #3, 2016 appeared first on The Horn Book.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
In the “crazy summer” of 1968, three black sisters set out from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to reconnect with their estranged mother, an active member of the Black Panther political movement. How does Williams-Garcia balance historical events with the girls’ personal journeys? How do both these aspects of the historical novel interact?

The post One Crazy Summer appeared first on The Horn Book.

I’m so excited! I was asked to moderate SLJ’s Day of Dialog, which they host prior to  the opening of Book Expo America, on May 23; details to follow. Interestingly enough and later that day, I am hosting another panel at The Hewitt School: A Conversation About Books Pt2.

One of the SLJ panelists (hopefuls) is Rita Williams-Garcia.  (Coming events must cast a shadow because a month ago, I wrote a short post about my reaction to ONE CRAZY SUMMER.)

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Don’t judge a book OR a mother by her cover.  Lessons I Learned after reading One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Amistad/Harper Collins,  NY 2010).  And NO, I did not read the reviews or the award announcements until AFTER I read the book.

The book jacket says it all: a pensive looking black girl, wearing cornrows (like I used to wear), and a loving – or what appears to be – a mother, in the background – holding her baby tightly.  WOW! I thought.  I’m in for an adventure with some black folks I can relate to.  Little did I know that I would be catapulted back in time to the summer of 1968.  My birth year. Back to when technology, as we know it, was non existent.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Amistad/Harper Collins,  NY 2010) was one book where I avoided reading the reviews. I wanted my pure reaction. 

Words, opinions, and thoughts from others have a tremendous  impact on me.  I might, however, have to change that because I can’t afford crying over a book, on a NYC subway train with no Kleenex available. People look at you strangely.

Such was the case, when I neared the ending of One Crazy Summer. I refused to give away the ’story’ per se but I will reveal just why this book is the perfect book for ALL grade school students.  In some schools, books by authors of color are not always checked out because of the demographics. Come on! Let’s teach our students HOW to relate to the characters!

1) Having four older sisters, I can relate to the love AND possessiveness Delphine felt for her two younger sisters. My sisters STILL think they mothered me.

2) Mothers! Wow!  Rita Williams-Garcia forces her readers to analyze the role of mothers. What does it mean and to whom? The children have a viewpoint. What is the extended family’s perception. And then there’s the mother. Why does she, or why do WE do what we do?  To what end? And from what experiences are the ingredients for motherhood?

3) I started out JUDGING Cecile. I actually hated her at times. I also hated myself because I saw some of me in her. As mothers, we are not always ‘on’ and we’re judged for that. Cecile gave herself permission to disappear leaving Delphine (in her mind) as the caretaker.  

One Crazy Summer is a book  that would indeed enhance a history curriculum in the middle grade years.  Are there any school teachers or librarians out there who are reading this with their classes?

Let me know.

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Congratulations to all the winners of the 2011 Newbery Awards! We at StorySleuths were so pleased that two of our 2010 focus books received Newbery Honors:  Jennifer Holm's Turtle in Paradise and Rita Williams Garcia's One Crazy Summer.

Both books feature fabulous characters, historical settings, and exciting plots. To celebrate the Newbery Honor awards, we have consolidated all of our postings, including author interviews, on both books here. We invite you to read our files for evidence of what makes Turtle in Paradise and One Crazy Summer such distinguished books.


Turtle in Paradise

1. Creating Memorable Character Names
2. Narrative Voice
3. The Narrative Hook
4. Chapter Beginnings
5. A Word from Jennifer Holm
6. Rooting for a Prickly Character

1. Writing from Your Own Experience
2. Dialogue
3. Bringing History to Story
4. The Ticking Clock
5. Antagonist
6. Interview with Rita Williams-Garcia
7. Guest Post: Attending to Your Audience (Monica Edinger)

(c) 2009-2010 StorySleuths

My good buddy at Twitter, Carol Hampton Rasco, President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.,  sent me the following e-mail tonight:

“It is 9 p.m., has been a long day at the office and I suddenly realized there was no one left here at the Reading Is Fundamental Office with me to take the photo tonight;  I am out tomorrow through Monday on travel, and I didn’t want to forget to take a photo.  SO, I did a self portrait with the Blackberry camera (a first for me), and here it is, worn out look and all! 

I have just finished ONE CRAZY SUMMER by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of Harper Collins; recommended for ages 9-12, a great book!”

Thanks so much, Carol! 96 left to go!!!