One Crazy Summer!

Here at the Matteson Public Library, we are putting our finishing touches on plans for our summer reading program, "Be a Star at your Library!" The whole program will be revealed online and in the library in two weeks. I would like to recomend a book that I just read as a great way to get the summer started for kids in grades 4-7.

In "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, 11-year-old Delphine is sent to Oakland California with her two younger sisters to spend time with her mother who abandoned them years ago. The year is 1968, and Oakland is a turbulent place with riots and rallys as the community responds to the civil rights issues of the day. Delphine's mom still has no interest in taking care of her children, so they rely on the local Black Panther's sponsored summer camp for breakfast and something to do during the day.

This book teaches children an important history lesson about what the Black Panther's Party was and the positive things it did for African American children growing up during this troubled time. It is also one very funny story with characters drawn so realiatically that I felt I knew them. This is one terrific book. I would not be surprised if we see it mentioned next year in conjunction with a children's book award like the Newbery Award or the Coretta Scott King Award. Remember Matteson, you heard about it here first!