One Crazy Summer

By: Rita Williams-Garcia

Narrated by: Sisi Aisha Johnson

Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Eleven-year-old Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, travel to Oakland to meet their mother, Cecil, who abandoned their family years earlier. But even when Cecil gets them to her house, she shows no interest and seems to view them as nothing but a nuisance.

Cecil’s cold, unloving attitude leaves the girls wishing for the mother-daughter connection they’ve never had. But Cecil acts remarkably different after she sees her daughters at the Black Panther rally, where they recite a poem Cecil herself had written. At that point, Cecil’s attitude toward her daughters begins a remarkable change.

©2010 Rita Williams-Garcia (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“With memorable characters … and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading." ( School Library Journal)

Great Historical Facts for Kids!

My 9 year old son LOVED this book and loved the narrator even more! It gave us an excellent opportunity to discuss historical information about tbe civil rights movement and the Black Panthers that he has not learned (and probably won't learn) in school. I highly recommend that you read/listen to this book along with your child to provide context.

Zatsoccer

Good!
I thought the author did a great job explaining the life of a young black girls without a mother. Some of the reasons why she didn’t get a full 5 stars was because I thought that her wording was a little bit off. I like that she involved other people’s life, like Janice and Eunice, Crazy Kelvin included. Overall, she makes it clear that people can change and that being black girls without a mother nearby is hard. She did a wonderful job, and I highly recommend reading this extraordinary, hopeful book.😁

Recommend!!

I loved this book! I would definitely recommend to everyone who reads this. It's gives great description and at the end, I was sad I finished it. I wish this story could keep going, it's an amazing book.

Fantastic family read

The kids were enthralled and the story opened doors to important conversations. We absolutely love it!

Awesome read

This was truly amazing! It took me back to my childhood. The author kept you in suspense until the end.

Good and provocative

This is a Newbery book with a little more edge than most others, which is narrated with excellence and provoked a lot of good discussions about race, justice, and socioeconomic factors in my family. A good look at how varied cultures can be within a city.

Excellent!!

My 10 yr old son and I loved this book. the story was rich and the narrator was incredible.

Great book

Four awards for a reason

This book is a good and great book even for learning about rights and maybe somehow your life and questions you could have enjoy!

Love puppies

Awesome book it's gold.1😮🌅 make more books to make more money. Buy paper and write.

Very inspiring

I think this book is great to read at my age (12). In some ways I can really relate to the narrator, Delphine. I am the oldest and also feel like kicking my two younger siblings to put them in line. The overall book is great and very relatable for many kids my age.