One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

One Crazy Summer has been named:

2011 Coretta Scott King Award Winner
2011 Newbery Honor Book
2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction
2010 National Book Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild Selection
Texas Library Association Best Book for 2010

From the Jacket Knack blog:
We LOVE the cover. You should see it in real life because the image here doesn't capture the colors right -- the reds are so saturated in real life; heat practically radiates off of the jacket. I recently asked the cover artist, the talented Sally Wern Comport, to tell us about what went into creating the cover art. What follows is her thoughtful reply, which pulls back the curtain on what-all goes on when an artist approaches a cover project.





Summary from B&N.com:
Set during one of the most tumultuous years in recent American history, one crazy summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of three girls in search of the mother who abandoned them-an unforgettable story told by a distinguished author of books for children and teens, Rita Williams-Garcia.



My Review:
Just as Jacket Knack says, not only does the cover radiate heat, but the entire novel radiates a warmth missing from a lot of books lately.  Thankfully, I picked up this book just as we are experiencing some extended winter weather in Chicago.  Williams-Garcia's descriptions of the girls' summer in Oakland/San Francisco bring me back to a warmer time.

The characters are dynamic, realistic, and funny.  Anyone with sisters (particularly if you are an older sister) can relate to the nuances of inter-sibling politics.  And anyone who has ever had to be the caretaker for younger siblings can share in Delphine's struggles.

This is a great read for a chilly weekend if you're looking for a clean, simple, and warm story.