One Crazy Summer

Williams-Garcia, R. (2010).  One Crazy Summer. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

One Crazy Summer won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2010.

Expositon:  Delphine, Vonetta and Fern are sent from Brooklyn, NY to Oakland, California to visit the mother who deserted them when Fern was only a few days old.  That was 6 years ago.

Conflict:  Their mother is less than happy to see them.  She won't allow them in her kitchen and wants them out of the house for as long as possible during the day.  She sends them to a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

Rising Action:  The girls are pulled into the everyday actions of the Black Panther group, making posters, learning about those who were jailed for their actions in the group and handing out the posters to local merchants.

Climax:  Their time is almost up when their mother is arrested for being with known panther leaders. The neighbors take the girls to their home.

Falling Action:  The girls decide to participate in the panther rally that will take place on the weekend before they go home.  Their mother is released from prison just before they perform one of her poems on stage and the youngest girl, Fern, exposed a snitch in the panther organization.

Resolution:  After a month of living with their mother, Cecile, the three girls found that they really were going to miss her.  She would hold a special place in their hearts.