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Plot
One Crazy Summer is about three girls who live with their father and grandmother. The older girl named Delphine flies with her little sisters’ Vonetta and Fern to go visit their mother for the whole summer, They are traveling from Brooklyn NY to California. Their mother had abandoned them years earlier. While on the plane, she makes sure her sisters’ behave well, she doesn't want them to embarrass her. When they arrive in Oakland, their mother treats them like they are strangers in the street, She tells the girls she didn't send for them, she should've gone to Mexico to get rid of them when she had the chance. She barely says a word to them. She tells them where to sleep, When they get hungry, She tells Delphine to give her the money the father gave her so she can get them something to eat, Delphine thought the money was for them to go to Disney world. When delphine gives her mother Cecile the money, she gives her $10 and sends her to the Chinese store to get food. When they arrive back home with the food, she puts a tablecloth on the floor and they sit on the floor and eat, they are not allowed to go to the kitchen. Later on, three men come to the house asking their mother questions about making flyers, she lies and tell them there is no ink then she tells them she'll make it, just take the kids. The next day Cecile sends them to a place for breakfast called People’s Center. She always send them out alone. Delphine notices her mother never call Fern by her name, always refer to her as little girl, she now believes what her grandmother said, her grandmother told her Cecile left them because she couldn't give Fern the name she wanted to give her. After breakfast they go to the camp run by a lady wearing an African dress named sister Mukumbu, While at the camp, Delphine noticed this is a camp ran by the Black Panthers.

Character List

 * Delphine Gaither- Age 11, A responsible girl who takes care of her two younger sisters, mature and caring, narrates the story.
 * Vonetta Gaither- Age 9, An attention seeking girl, outgoing and loves to perform.
 * Fern (Afua) Gaither- Age 7, The youngest Gaither sister who is courageous and outspoken, she's attached to her doll Miss Patty Cake.
 * Louis Gaither (Pa)- Delphine, Vonetta and Fern's father.
 * Big Ma- Louis's Mother who has been taking care of her grandchildren since their mother left.
 * Darnell Gaither- Louis's younger brother who is fighting in the Vietnam war.
 * Cecile (Nzila)- Delphine, Vonetta and Fern's mother; a poet who moved to California, abandoned her daughters and supports the Black Panthers.
 * Mean Lady Ming- Owner of a Chinese restaurant the Gaither sisters order take out from.
 * Crazy Kevin- Member of the Black Panther and police informant.
 * Sister Mukumba- Teacher at the people's center who involves the Gaither sisters in Black Panther Activities.
 * Sister Pat- Works at the people center.
 * Eunice, Janice and Beatrice Ankton- Three sisters who goes to the people's center become close friends with the Gaither sisters.
 * Hirohito Woods- A Japanese and African American boy who goes to the people's center: his father was arrested for being a freedom fighter.
 * Mrs. Woods- Hirohito's mother: takes cares of the Gaither sisters after their mother Cecile is arrested.

Critical Reception
According to Teri Markson, the book is "Emotionally challenging and beautifully written", this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading. Tricia Melgaard stated Seeing the historic summer of '68 through the eyes of sensitive, intuitive Delphine is a treat. Featuring flawless writing and narration, this is storytelling at its finest. Sure to garner numerous awards Library Media Connection believed "At first glance, one would assume this book to be humorous, but the plot is anything but comical". C.J Morales said the author "Williams-Garcia manages to teach young readers about a meaningful part of Black history in a light-hearted and humorous way. Delphine's voice is strong, original and will keep you laughing out loud". "One Crazy Summer" is a must-have. I highly recommend it. Publishers Weekly stated Delphine's growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers.

Awards

 * Newbery Medal Honor Book in 2011
 * John Newbery Medal
 * Coretta Scott King Award for Authors
 * National Book Award