91 pages 3 hours read

One Crazy Summer

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2010

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Book Club Questions

General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.


1. The novel uses Oakland, California, in 1968 as a backdrop for the Gaither sisters’ journey. How did the historical context affect your reading experience?


2. In what ways did Williams-Garcia balance serious themes like parental abandonment and civil rights with moments of childhood joy and discovery? Which resonated more strongly with you—the more dramatic elements, or the more playful ones?


3. If you’ve read other works by Rita Williams-Garcia like P.S. Be Eleven or Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, how does this book compare? If you haven’t, how does it compare to other middle-grade historical fiction that addresses social justice issues, such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis?

Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.


1. Think about a time when you had to step up and take responsibility beyond your years, similar to how Delphine cares for her sisters.


2. What memories do you have of first becoming aware of political or social issues in your own life? How does your experience compare to what the Gaither sisters learn at the People’s Center? Do you think children today become aware of such issues earlier or later than in 1968? What factors account for this difference?


3. The relationship between mothers and daughters is central to this story. What aspects of the evolving relationship between Cecile and her daughters felt familiar or unfamiliar to your own experiences with parental figures?


4. Names and naming hold special significance in the novel. In what ways does your own name hold meaning for you? Have you ever wished to change it or discovered new meaning in it?


5. The girls count how many Black people appear in TV shows and how much dialogue they have. How aware were you of representation in media when you were growing up? Has your awareness changed over time? Do you think things have improved since the 1960s?

Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.


1. Williams-Garcia shows often overlooked aspects of the Black Panthers, such as community programs like the free breakfast initiative. How did this portrayal compare with what you previously knew about the Black Panthers, and what surprised you most?


2. The novel explores how children participated in and were affected by the civil rights movement. In what ways do you see parallels between youth activism in 1968 and youth-led movements today?


3. What does the novel suggest about how geography and community shape our understanding of race and identity in America?

Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.


1. Cecile’s printing press serves as both a physical barrier between her and her daughters and a symbol of her artistic identity. What does the printing press represent in the larger context of the story? How does its destruction during Cecile’s arrest affect the narrative?


2. Fern’s white doll, Miss Patty Cake, becomes a point of contention throughout the story. Why do you think Williams-Garcia chose this particular symbol to explore complex issues of identity and cultural standards of beauty?


3. How might the story have been different if told from Cecile’s perspective rather than Delphine’s?


4. Food plays an important role throughout the novel, from Chinese takeout to home-cooked meals. In what ways does Williams-Garcia use these meal-related interactions to develop character relationships and signal shifts in the family dynamic?


5. The Golden Gate Bridge appears at key moments in the narrative. What significance does this landmark hold for Delphine, and how does it function metaphorically in her journey?

Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.


1. If the story continued beyond the girls’ return to Brooklyn, what do you imagine would happen next for Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern?


2. Create a short poem that one of the sisters might write about their summer in Oakland, reflecting their unique perspective and voice.


3. If this story were set in the present day rather than 1968, what elements would need to change? How would modern technology affect the sisters’ experience? Which themes would remain just as relevant today?


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