One Crazy Summer
Author: Rita Williams Garcia
Awards: Newbery Honor, Correta Scott King Award, Scott O'dell Award, National Book Award Finalist
Grade Level: 3rd-5th
Summary: Delphine, Vonetta and Fern live with their father and grandmother in Brooklyn but are sent to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile, who left them when Fern was born in California. Their relationship with Cecile is a bit rocky when she takes the money their dad gave them away from them, refuses to call Fern anything but little girl, doesn't allow them to go into her kitchen and sends them to The People's Center where they learn about the Black Panthers. They soon realize that Ceclie is friends with members of the black panthers and they are always asking to use her printer for the cause. The girls begin to learn that the blank panthers aren't as bad as what the news made them out to be back in Brooklyn and people like Sister Mukumbu are actually nice. Upon seeing people they know arrested for being apart of the black panthers, including Cecile, the girls agree to take part in a protest, which they know their dad wouldn't approve of, because they have learned that it is their duty to support the cause. The recite one of Cecile's poems and Fern continues on with one she wrote herself about Crazy Kelvin which everyone recognizes that she must be Cecile's daughter since she has her poetic talent as well. Cecile finally calls Fern by her name and the girls realize they will actually miss her even though they have had their differences.
Evaluation: This book was inspiring because it shows how some children have to grow up quicker than others and it also teaches the importance of knowing your identity and standing up for what you believe in. I really enjoyed reading this for the oldest sisters point of view because at times you forget that she is only 11 and knowing her thoughts and how quickly she's learning about injustice and the way media twists the news all the time is important to recognize. Depending on the grade level, I would either read this as a read aloud to my class, or have it in my classroom library for my students to read.
Awards: Newbery Honor, Correta Scott King Award, Scott O'dell Award, National Book Award Finalist
Grade Level: 3rd-5th
Summary: Delphine, Vonetta and Fern live with their father and grandmother in Brooklyn but are sent to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile, who left them when Fern was born in California. Their relationship with Cecile is a bit rocky when she takes the money their dad gave them away from them, refuses to call Fern anything but little girl, doesn't allow them to go into her kitchen and sends them to The People's Center where they learn about the Black Panthers. They soon realize that Ceclie is friends with members of the black panthers and they are always asking to use her printer for the cause. The girls begin to learn that the blank panthers aren't as bad as what the news made them out to be back in Brooklyn and people like Sister Mukumbu are actually nice. Upon seeing people they know arrested for being apart of the black panthers, including Cecile, the girls agree to take part in a protest, which they know their dad wouldn't approve of, because they have learned that it is their duty to support the cause. The recite one of Cecile's poems and Fern continues on with one she wrote herself about Crazy Kelvin which everyone recognizes that she must be Cecile's daughter since she has her poetic talent as well. Cecile finally calls Fern by her name and the girls realize they will actually miss her even though they have had their differences.
Evaluation: This book was inspiring because it shows how some children have to grow up quicker than others and it also teaches the importance of knowing your identity and standing up for what you believe in. I really enjoyed reading this for the oldest sisters point of view because at times you forget that she is only 11 and knowing her thoughts and how quickly she's learning about injustice and the way media twists the news all the time is important to recognize. Depending on the grade level, I would either read this as a read aloud to my class, or have it in my classroom library for my students to read.
Comments
Post a Comment