Parents' Guide to

One Crazy Summer

By Kristen Breck, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

One Crazy Summer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 12+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 10+

I had my kids read this because we were learning about different time periods in the different places of the US

My kids loved the book and they identified with the thoughts and feeling of the 3 sisters. Before my kids read this book, we went over the main themes they would read about.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
age 11+

Rita Williams-Garcia tells a vibrant story that was lots of fun

I read this one before I read the two that preceded it and it was fine on its own. However, the series has great historical information presented in a interesting story.

This title has:

Educational value

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (17):

ONE CRAZY SUMMER is worth reading more than once. It's a gem of a story, subtly offering details about 1968 Oakland yet staying true to the story of three girls hoping to reclaim their mysterious mother's love. Delphine narrates as a responsible, thoughtful, observant girl, wiser than her 11 years. Her sisters, Vonetta and Fern, add humor and delightful age-appropriate tension. The juxtaposition of 1968 Oakland civil rights movement with the journey of the three sisters is seamless.

The writing is poetic and simple, the characters are unforgettable, the social-historical references delicate, and the overall story a pleasure to read. The book doesn't finish with a perfectly happy ending, but it is a perfect ending.

Book Details

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