Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Quill Tree Books (2016), Edition: Reprint, 320 pages
Description
"Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are off to Alabama to visit their grandmother, Big Ma, and her mother, Ma Charles. Across the way lives Ma Charles's half sister, Miss Trotter. The two half sisters haven't spoken in years. As Delphine hears about her family history, she uncovers the surprising truth that's been keeping the sisters apart. But when tragedy strikes, Delphine discovers that the bonds of family run deeper than she ever knew possible" --
User reviews
LibraryThing member Perednia
Sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern continue their journey through African-American experiences of the 1960s in Gone Crazy in Alabama, in a satisfying and entertaining novel that continues their individual journeys as well as that of the nation.
In the first book, One Crazy Summer, the girls left
In this third novel, the girls go to Alabama to visit their grandmother while their father and his new wife await the birth of a new child. There are old connections to rekindle with cousins. Their grandmother and her half-sister speak of each other every day and live within a stone’s throw, but don’t speak to each other. The moon landing is nearing (and fears the older generation has of this event recall what my own elders maintained about the effect on the planet). Delphine and Vonetta try to find ways to assert their own independence in kinship with their mother while still loving the rest of their family, while Delphine is especially struck by the Jim Crow hierarchy of the rural South.
When a possible tragedy looms, the girls and the rest of the family find ways to support each other they may not have tried earlier.
All three books are wonderfully fun and smart books about sisters. The differences in the three parts of the United States is woven into the stories in marvelous fashion, especially the contrast to being in Alabama compared to Brooklyn. The historical settings of the books bring back those days to readers who were there and will introduce them to those who need to know what happened before they came along in an entertaining fashion.
In the first book, One Crazy Summer, the girls left
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their Brooklyn home to spend time with their mother, a poet and free spirit living in Berkley. Back home for P.S. Stay Eleven, they tried to reconnect with family, even as that family grew, while seeing that the protest movement did not find fruitful ground in their grandmother’s heart.In this third novel, the girls go to Alabama to visit their grandmother while their father and his new wife await the birth of a new child. There are old connections to rekindle with cousins. Their grandmother and her half-sister speak of each other every day and live within a stone’s throw, but don’t speak to each other. The moon landing is nearing (and fears the older generation has of this event recall what my own elders maintained about the effect on the planet). Delphine and Vonetta try to find ways to assert their own independence in kinship with their mother while still loving the rest of their family, while Delphine is especially struck by the Jim Crow hierarchy of the rural South.
When a possible tragedy looms, the girls and the rest of the family find ways to support each other they may not have tried earlier.
All three books are wonderfully fun and smart books about sisters. The differences in the three parts of the United States is woven into the stories in marvelous fashion, especially the contrast to being in Alabama compared to Brooklyn. The historical settings of the books bring back those days to readers who were there and will introduce them to those who need to know what happened before they came along in an entertaining fashion.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Ever since their One Crazy Summer in Oakland, the Gaither sisters have been growing up. They've gone through a lot of changes, but now it's time to go back to their roots and visit Big Ma at the family home in Alabama. There, they will see not only their grandmother Big Ma, but their
I found this book just as enjoyable as the previous two. Williams-Garcia has a keen ear for dialogue and family dynamics, and her characters spring to life right off the page. If you enjoyed the previous two books about the Gaither sisters, you don't want to miss this one.
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great-grandmother Ma Charles, and her half-sister Ma Trotter. Those two siblings haven't spoken to each other in years, though as Delphine and her sisters will learn, they have plenty to say about each other. As Delphine discovers the surprising truth about her family history, she wonders if the two elderly sisters will ever reconcile. In the meantime, Delphine is having sister problems of her own -- but when tragedy strikes, she learns something else about the bond between family, and particularly, between sisters.I found this book just as enjoyable as the previous two. Williams-Garcia has a keen ear for dialogue and family dynamics, and her characters spring to life right off the page. If you enjoyed the previous two books about the Gaither sisters, you don't want to miss this one.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
The third book in the trilogy makes me sad that I will no longer be able to share the experiences of the Gaither sisters. If you have not read any of them I would recommend that you start with the first, One Crazy Summer where the girls spend the summer with their Black Panther mother in Oakland.
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Understanding relationships is important in this series. In the final book the girls are sent to live with their Grandma and Great Grandma in rural Alabama quite a change from their home in Brooklyn. It’s challenging for these young girls to accept the racism found in the south. Their white cousin is the sheriff and a KKK member. But what comes out strongest in the telling is the history of the girls’ family and the strength and love of family. Show Less
LibraryThing member libheroine
Such authentic characters, and voices! This is the final of three books following the sisters, and though I have read them out of order, this third chapter arguably stands on its own.
The family dynamics and rich southern setting are easy to get lost in and the straightforward interactions are
The family dynamics and rich southern setting are easy to get lost in and the straightforward interactions are
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entertaining. Family dynamics are well-explored, capturing the mysteries of the past and complex natures of how generations relate to one another. This is a fun weekend/beach read for grades 5-8 and grown-up fans alike. I hope they keep coming! Show Less
LibraryThing member matesewiggns
Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita William- Garcia is the last novel in the series about sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern. In this installment, the sisters are staying in Alabama with their grandmother for the summer and learned a lot about their family dynamics and history. Delphine, Vonetta and Fern
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learns forgive their drug addicted uncle after not speaking to him for a year. The girls learn the truth about their grandmother and her estranged half sister, who she did not talk to in years. They learn that their mother really love them and care about them by showing up when Vonetta goes missing. This novel offers a lot of closure and answers to Delphine, Vonetta and Fern story. The theme of this novel is the importance of family and family history. Show Less
LibraryThing member ksmole1
This book talks about a family that goes to visit their relatives in Alabama. There is some unresolved drama between some of the family members due to their history but in a time of tragedy they work together to fix their bond. This book is a good chapter book for teaching theme about family to
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upper-elementary or middle school children. I would allow them to pick it for an independent read. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
Aw man...this series can't be over! What a sweet, sweet trilogy.
LibraryThing member fingerpost
This was a wonderful conclusion of the "One Crazy Summer" series. Each of the three books tells a very different story, but all tales of the three Gaither girls, Delphine (our narrator), Vonetta and little Fern. All three books deal with complex family issues and with racism, but in different
The first half of the story grew a little tedious to me, as Vonetta went back and forth telling her great-grandmother and her great-aunt (sisters and neighbors who had been feuding with each other for decades) stories that one told about the other. But when the tornado comes through, the story became much more intense, and much more interesting.
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settings. "One Crazy Summer" takes place in Oakland, Calif.; "P.S. Be Eleven" is set in Brooklyn; and obviously, this one is set in Alabama.The first half of the story grew a little tedious to me, as Vonetta went back and forth telling her great-grandmother and her great-aunt (sisters and neighbors who had been feuding with each other for decades) stories that one told about the other. But when the tornado comes through, the story became much more intense, and much more interesting.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Glad to hear the continuing story of the Gaither sisters. In parts of the story I kept thinking, why do they have to be so horrible to each other? And then I remember being a kid with a sibling, and how we fought and couldn't get along and always the most hurtful things come from family and I came
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back to yeah, she's nailed it. Show Less
Awards
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Fiction — 2015)
Coretta Scott King Award (Winner — 2016)
CCBC Choices (2016)
Notable Children's Book (Middle Readers — 2016)
Nerdy Book Award (Middle Grade Fiction — 2015)
Great Texas Mosquito List (2017)
El día de los niños / El día de los libros (3-5 — 2016)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
320 p.; 7.62 inches
ISBN
9781338121735