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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I just love these three little girls and their family.
This book still had the historical aspect that the previous two had, but it focused more on family.
This book is the last of my favorite series and I'm sad that it's over but not disappointed...entirely. This last installment picks up with the Gaither sisters heading to Alabama to see their grandmother and great grandma. There's seemingly nothing to do in the small town but when the girls discover that their great grandma's estranged sister lives across the creek, they soon get caught up in a game of "she said, she said," with Vonetta adding more fuel to the fire.
Okay first off Vonetta infuriated me in this story. Sure she's ten and kids are annoying but the way she picked on Fern and the way she instigated trouble between the family without any consequence, was unnecessarily cruel. I also couldn't stand how hard all the adults were on Delphine. The girl is barely 12, made to look after her sisters and she's constantly blamed for how unruly they are.
I lost a lot of respect for most of the adults when they appeared to shun Delphine when Vonetta ran away. She was made to feel like her reprimanding her and sticking up for her baby sister Fern, was the reason she took off and the way they all acted and the stress that was put on Delphine, actually made me sad for her.
There are also some questions that didn't get answered in this last installment and I would have liked for the story to have focused more on the Gaither sisters versus their great grandma and aunt.
Despite everything, this was still an amazing book and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. I'm sad that I have to say goodbye to the Gaither Sisters but this series will always be my favorite.
Okay first off Vonetta infuriated me in this story. Sure she's ten and kids are annoying but the way she picked on Fern and the way she instigated trouble between the family without any consequence, was unnecessarily cruel. I also couldn't stand how hard all the adults were on Delphine. The girl is barely 12, made to look after her sisters and she's constantly blamed for how unruly they are.
I lost a lot of respect for most of the adults when they appeared to shun Delphine when Vonetta ran away. She was made to feel like her reprimanding her and sticking up for her baby sister Fern, was the reason she took off and the way they all acted and the stress that was put on Delphine, actually made me sad for her.
There are also some questions that didn't get answered in this last installment and I would have liked for the story to have focused more on the Gaither sisters versus their great grandma and aunt.
Despite everything, this was still an amazing book and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. I'm sad that I have to say goodbye to the Gaither Sisters but this series will always be my favorite.
Not as engaging as the first two books, but the characters' voices were just as rich and interesting. I'll miss the Gaither girls.
Awww, I'm going to miss these Gaither sisters.
I really liked the set up of this one, with the complex family history in the South. However, I felt that the execution was not as sleek as in the other two if I'm honest - a bit too much back & forth with the grandmothers.
But it definitely brings a good dose of history, and it is a nice appropriate read for the kids.
A bit that I liked, that kind of sums up the book. The history is not too in your face, but there are enough truths that it can make the kids think a bit.
'I need to walk,' Cecile said.
'There's Klan out there,' I told her.
'There's Klan everywhere,' Cecile said. 'You just have to see them.'
I really liked the set up of this one, with the complex family history in the South. However, I felt that the execution was not as sleek as in the other two if I'm honest - a bit too much back & forth with the grandmothers.
But it definitely brings a good dose of history, and it is a nice appropriate read for the kids.
A bit that I liked, that kind of sums up the book. The history is not too in your face, but there are enough truths that it can make the kids think a bit.
'I need to walk,' Cecile said.
'There's Klan out there,' I told her.
'There's Klan everywhere,' Cecile said. 'You just have to see them.'
I didn't like this one quite as much as the others, but it was still enjoyable to hear about the Gaither sisters again.
I think the first book in the series was probably the best, the writing style is very simplistic and after a while it gets a bit dull. They're still good books for kids, but this book feels like it could have been a bit shorter.
I've put off writing this review because my first thoughts upon finishing the final Gaither Sisters book were on the harsh side, it seemed. Two weeks later, I've come to the conclusion that One Crazy Summer struck a chord so resonant with me that it cannot be superseded.
That's not to say P.S. Be Eleven or Gone Crazy in Alabama were without merit. They were, each in their own way. The latter is what I'm here to discuss, but it's impossible not to look back on the whole series at its conclusion.
Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern have evolved tremendously from the three young girls who arrived on their absent mother's doopstep in Oakland. They have been introduced to the Blank Panther movement, the Jackson Five craze, and their own complex family history down South. While their worldviews expanded, their personalities were only sharpened. I will forever feel a connection to Delphine, the oldest daughter, a substitute mother to her sisters at times, who often faced backlash for the very job she was expected to perform. That was a part of the third book that bothered me: for all her growth and enlightenment, Delphine reverted to the caretaker to prove devotion to her elders and youngers, which is realistic, yes, but I was hoping for more of a balance. All the while, showy middle-child Vonetta got the bulk of attention for acting a fool.
Personally, Cecile will always be the most intriguing character of the series. Her restraint is intriguing. I would read a prequel on her early life, without a doubt, right up to abandoning her daughters.
Less intriguing to me were the great-grandmothers. The family history aspect was interesting, if unduly complicated for a children's book, but the old coots' antics were grating. And for what? Their resolution was civilized and almost brushed over. What fun is that!?
I also felt there was a lack of teaching in the last book. Most kids in upper elementary and middle school know the causes and effects of slavery, but fewer are aware or properly understand the Klu Klux Klan, for example. Or the intricacies of slave owners having children with their female slaves. Just as kids today are unlikely to know much about the Black Panthers, which is why the effort made to explain it, through the sisters' experience in One Crazy Summer, went a long way. In Alabama, historical aspects were thrown in with little "screen time" given to unpacking their significance. Perhaps, because the great-grandmothers had to argue through Vonetta a bit more.
Overall, I am grateful to Rita Williams-Garcia for writing this series and shining lights on crucial periods of African American history for all to appreciate. Children's literature is better for the Gaither Sisters.
That's not to say P.S. Be Eleven or Gone Crazy in Alabama were without merit. They were, each in their own way. The latter is what I'm here to discuss, but it's impossible not to look back on the whole series at its conclusion.
Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern have evolved tremendously from the three young girls who arrived on their absent mother's doopstep in Oakland. They have been introduced to the Blank Panther movement, the Jackson Five craze, and their own complex family history down South. While their worldviews expanded, their personalities were only sharpened. I will forever feel a connection to Delphine, the oldest daughter, a substitute mother to her sisters at times, who often faced backlash for the very job she was expected to perform. That was a part of the third book that bothered me: for all her growth and enlightenment, Delphine reverted to the caretaker to prove devotion to her elders and youngers, which is realistic, yes, but I was hoping for more of a balance. All the while, showy middle-child Vonetta got the bulk of attention for acting a fool.
Spoiler
Even got her parents in the same place again. Typical.Personally, Cecile will always be the most intriguing character of the series. Her restraint is intriguing. I would read a prequel on her early life, without a doubt, right up to abandoning her daughters.
Less intriguing to me were the great-grandmothers. The family history aspect was interesting, if unduly complicated for a children's book, but the old coots' antics were grating. And for what? Their resolution was civilized and almost brushed over. What fun is that!?
I also felt there was a lack of teaching in the last book. Most kids in upper elementary and middle school know the causes and effects of slavery, but fewer are aware or properly understand the Klu Klux Klan, for example. Or the intricacies of slave owners having children with their female slaves. Just as kids today are unlikely to know much about the Black Panthers, which is why the effort made to explain it, through the sisters' experience in One Crazy Summer, went a long way. In Alabama, historical aspects were thrown in with little "screen time" given to unpacking their significance. Perhaps, because the great-grandmothers had to argue through Vonetta a bit more.
Overall, I am grateful to Rita Williams-Garcia for writing this series and shining lights on crucial periods of African American history for all to appreciate. Children's literature is better for the Gaither Sisters.
OK, it bogged down a little bit in the middle with the endless details of the great-grands fight. I wish I had seen the family tree before I finished the book.
But when Williams-Garcia started wrapping things up, I was experiencing Little Women-levels of crying and being scared to turn the page. Especially since Fern tells us early on that books lie. Aieeeeee!
Farm life details are spot-on. Language and words used by country people are correct. Thanks for throwing in 'onchee', that's a new one to me.
Will miss these girls, they seem absolutely real to me. This series is some classic kids' lit that will endure.
But when Williams-Garcia started wrapping things up, I was experiencing Little Women-levels of crying and being scared to turn the page. Especially since Fern tells us early on that books lie. Aieeeeee!
Farm life details are spot-on. Language and words used by country people are correct. Thanks for throwing in 'onchee', that's a new one to me.
Will miss these girls, they seem absolutely real to me. This series is some classic kids' lit that will endure.