One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel

by Rita Williams-Garcia, Sharee Miller (Illustrator)

“I wish I didn’t know that I was marching my sisters into a boiling pot of trouble cooking in Oakland…”

Eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California.

But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother in Oakland, Cecile is nothing like they imagined. While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers.

Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.

This beloved Newbery Honor Book, National Book Award finalist, and Coretta Scott King Award–winning novel about the three unforgettable Gaither sisters has been adapted into a beautiful full-color graphic novel for a new generation, with vibrant art by Sharee Miller.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Family, Historical, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

"I was born in Queens, N.Y, on April 13, 1957. My mother, Miss Essie, named me 'NoMo' immediately after my birth. Although I was her last child, I took my time making my appearance. I like to believe I was dreaming up a good story and wouldn’t budge until I was finished. Even now, my daughters call me 'Pokey Mom', because I slow poke around when they want to go-go-go.

"I learned to read early, and was aware of events going on as I grew up in the 60s. In the midst of real events, I daydreamed and wrote stories. Writing stories for young people is my passion and my mission. Teens will read. They hunger for stories that engage them and reflect their images and experiences."

Author of four award winning novels, Rita Williams-Garcia continues to break new ground in young people's literature. Known for their realistic portrayal of teens of color, Williams-Garcia's works have been recognized by the Coretta Scott King Award Committee, PEN Norma Klein, American Library Association, and Parents' Choice, among others. She recently served on the National Book Award Committee for Young People's Literature and is on faculty at Vermont College MFA Writing for Children and Young People.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delphine Gaither and her sisters fly across the country to spend a month of the summer of 1968 with the mother who walked away from their family years ago without a backward look and who immediately makes it clear she is not happy with this visit now. While mom creates her art, the sisters are exiled for breakfast and daily activities to an Oakland community center run by the Black Panthers.

Having read the heavy The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History a few years back, I liked getting this lighter, fictional perspective of what it was like to live in the group's midst as a child.

I haven't read the original novel this is based on, but this adaptation makes me want to check it out sometime.


(Best of 2025 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:

• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2025
• Publishers Weekly 2025 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2025: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels

This book made the NPR list.)

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who hasn’t read the original novel, I would say this doesn’t stand on its own very well as an adaptation. I think there’s a lot of missing context, the inclusion of which would probably benefit a middle grade reader.

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1969, three sisters leave Brooklyn to visit their estranged mother in Oakland. She is seemingly indifferent to their presence and existence. The girls are left to fend for themselves with the help of the local chapter the Black Panthers. Very personal narratives set up against a strong historical powder keg.

Does every middle-grade novel need to be recreated into a graphic novel? I would argue no, and I’m not entirely sure this one worked. Most of what I found so powerful in the original is watered down and hard to find, particularly Delphine’s relationship with Cecile. However, the ending is emotional and in a fit of excess emotion, when Kindle asked for a rating the moment I hit the final page, I’d given it an extra star. I think it will certainly find its way to a different set of readers. I’m not sure it will resonate the way it was meant to. Cecile giving birth on the floor, as four-year old Delphine looks on, is perhaps more than they will bargain for.

[Andrea Beatriz Arango]

I'm a big fan of graphic novel adaptations, and I think the format works especially well here in order to make the historical/political context more accessible to kids 💥. Rita wrote the adaptation herself, so I'm sure that's partly why it felt just as special as the original, but Sharee's art (she's the author of the Curlfriends series!) really elevated it as well.

[D.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so surreal seeing this in graphic form.

I’m reminded of how much responsibility was always put upon Delphine, the typical older sister, having to care for everyone.

The series, even in comic form, still carries the same feelings for me. The characters feel so human. A great adaptation, though it's still worth reading the series to see what was left out.

I hope the other two books get a graphic adaptation, too.

Review for the original novel version: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

More than a decade ago, I tried to read as many Newbery books as possible, whether they won the award or were Honor books. One book I did not get around to reading was One Crazy Summer, which is why I was so happy to receive this ARC.

Set in the late 1960s, One Crazy Summer explores the themes of civil rights, racial prejudice, Black pride, women’s liberation and family ties. The three young girls are pretty much estranged from their mother, but that doesn’t stop their dad from sending them to Oakland for the summer. Their mother is fiercely anti-children and does not adjust her life too much to accommodate the children.

The girls are sent to the community center run by the Black Panthers. I really appreciated this in the story because of what I had previously known about the Panthers, as seen through the eyes of white historians. Some called them vigilantes, or worse, terrorists, but this book humanizes them and shows the many ways the group lifted up their communities.

The graphic novel is a bright and colorful work that conveys the myriad of problems facing society in the late 1960s, as well as the meaning behind and the power of names. Delphine is a great character to get behind as she mothers her younger sisters, all while trying to establish a more meaningful relationship with her mother. I’m looking forward to diving into the two sequels some day to visit more with these richly drawn characters.

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is a fantastic graphic novel version of a tremendous middle grade read, and I will be recommending this to my students as well as any prospective readers.

Three sisters hop on a plane from their home in Brooklyn to their estranged mother in Oakland. It's the '60s and the height of Black Panther living, and the girls' mother, who has acted and continues to act more like a disinterested and put upon rando versus a caring guardian (she has her reasons!), is a mysterious and bizarre figure that remains distant even when she is in close physical proximity. Through this read and modality, the girls' burgeoning realizations about race, culture, their mother, and themselves come to light. This is a memorable and enriching experience made even more powerful through the updated graphic novel version.

I expected to enjoy this based on my original feelings about the novel, but it exceeded those already high expectations.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[McKenna Deem · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

This was such a wonderful adaptation of what I am sure is a great novel (which will now be in my TBR)! My only wish is that there were some more nuance and exploration of the girls’ adventures with an absent, but badass mom, which I’m sure is in the novel!

[Faith Wallin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations and the storyline of this book are good, but personally I found it hard to understand certain things because of the way they were worded. This is the graphic novel adaptation of the book so maybe the book is better.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)
This graphic novel is a beautiful, fantastic adaptation of the phenomenal novel by Rita Williams-Garcia. Sharee Miller's amazing artwork brilliantly compliments and enhances the narrative. I highly recommend both versions.

[Cathy Boris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book-
Great description of characters
Quick read-

[Stormstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different story, but it was a good one.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

review forthcoming

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly the graphic novel elevated this up from 4 to 5 stars. These characters are unforgettable and the illustrations really add emotional weight to each scene.

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some promise but I was under the mistaken impression it was a true story. I was also disappointed in the ending. Set in the 1970s, it tells the story of three sisters (abandoned by their mother and being raised by their father and grandmother in New York) and their summer trip to visit their long lost mother in Oakland, California. I enjoyed the setting and the girls' tragic story but the ending was your typical happy ending, which I suppose I can see for children. The graphics are beautiful and the girls likeable while their story is sad, yet hopeful.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

As fantastic as the original was, I found the graphic adaptation even more impactful. I’m excited that more kids will be introduced to Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, and get to experience their crazy summer of 1968.

[Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dude, FUCK Cecile. Testing my sympathy. Quit raising your daughters for what? Derivative print-press poetry?

In saying that, I don't think we're supposed to like her, and she is complex. This is a pretty good period piece that stresses the climate at the time. The art is simple but it works for this. In some ways it felt more grounded than if it were rendered with more detail.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was so much better than the book. I enjoy graphic novels but I think the presence of the illustrations helped make this book more meaningful to me.

Three young sisters, yet only two of them get to be children while the oldest, eleven-year-old Delphine, must take the place of their mother Cecile. Vonetta, Fern, and Delphine were left behind with their Pa, when Cecile decided she needed a new life. Pa and Big Ma cared for the girls, but it was Cecile who took over being the mother to her younger sisters. It’s now been seven years, and the girls are about to be reunited with their mother. Mom has been living in California, being a voice with the Black Panther movement since her departure.

Delphine has high hopes for California. Sure, she will meet her mother again, but Delphine has never forgiven her, even after all these years. Having read about California, Delphine’s excited about all the different sights and sounds that await her in this new environment, experiences that she can’t wait to try.

So much emotion is wrapped up inside this book. Arriving, the girls have high expectations and see an endless list of possibilities before them. They start to see their true mother immediately and their expressions, thoughts and comments tell us their true feelings. Whether Cecile is trying to teach the girl’s independence or she’s a strict, unconcerned parent is a decision that needs to be made as you read the pages and capture the spirit in the illustrations. There are a lot of eye-opening moments for the girls as they experience their mother’s world and the girls start to see the life of young children like themselves, in California, when they go to a Black Panther’s Community Center.
It was a womp, womp, womp moment as the girl’s get a dose of reality. Their mother has no plans to take them to any of the wonderful, fun-seeking places that Delphine has read about. No, the children must entertain themselves while mom works and later, when they’re sent to the community center, they’re introduced to the Black Panthers.

Character development and growth occur almost overnight as the girls are thrown into the mix. They soon find their strength and voice which caused me to laugh and smile as they finally got over their culture shock. They didn’t slink away or cower in a corner, their bond remained strong.
I thought this was a great book about the Black Panthers and it gave a great story which young readers could connect with. The illustrations were bright and colorful and added a great deal to the storyline. I highly recommend this graphic novel.

[Sheila Bracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the summer of 1968, the Gaither sisters–Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern–travel from Brooklyn, NY, where they live with their father and their strict grandma to Oakland, CA to visit their mother. Eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life writing poetry.
The trip offers the girls profound, funny, and sometimes difficult lessons in the nature of family and the complexities of racial identity beginning with meeting their mother in the airport. Cecile is nothing like they imagined. She refers to herself as Nzilla; she is distant and harsh—she doesn’t cook, and she doesn’t hug. They’d hoped to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, but Cecile sends them off most days to the Black Panther’s free breakfast and summer camp program where they are taught about the movement–the importance of feeding and helping poor African Americans, and also in protecting African American communities by participating in protests against injustices.
Each sister reacts differently: Delphine upholds Grandma’s old-fashioned values; Vonetta longs to fit in with kids with radically minded parents; and Fern, who was an infant when their mother left, wonders why her mom won’t call her by her name.
This graphic adaptation of Williams-Garcia’s novel of the same name (published in 2010) captures the intricacies of an essential cultural moment in Black history and its impact. Miller’s bright, energetic illustrations help readers experience the story through a child’s eyes. I don’t usually like adaptations but found this one well done. 4.5

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A graphic novel adaptation of this Newbery Honor Book & National Book Award Finalist, adapted by the author.

This faithful adaptation of Williams-Garcia's classic story of 3 sisters who fly across the U.S. (from New York to California) to spend a summer in the late 1960's with their estranged mother. As in the book, this is told largely from Delphine's point of view as the three girls get to know their mother, an activist with the Black Panthers (BP). Their summer turns out to be nothing like they imagined - such as instead of visiting Disneyland, they attend day camp run by the BP and the time their mother is arrested for her participation, they do the unthinkable and deny knowing her.

Williams-Garcia does a wonderful job of retaining much of the dialogue in the book that makes it a great readaloud. She leaves it to Sharee Miller to create the digital artwork that shows the action and descriptions (which are at times hilarious, others poignant, and still others very emotional) rather than telling them.

This is bound to pique the interest of readers who will seek the three books in the trilogy. A wonderful peek into life on the West Coast in the late 1960's.

For grades 5-9. Highly Recommended.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This book was originally published in 2010, and won many awards, so it's not a surprise that it was adapted into a graphic novel. Since it is historical fiction, the story holds up well. Delphine and her sisters Vonetta and Fern are sent by their father and grandmother from New York to Oakland, California to live with their mother, Nzila, who abandoned them when Fern was a baby. Nzila is very involved with the Black Panthers, so the girls attend the group's summer program while the mother concentrates on her art. The highlights of the original are preserved, but as with any graphic novel adaptation, a lot of the details and back story are neglected. The illustrations are bright and engaging, but not as reflective of the 1960s as they could have been. The girls' skirts are much too long, and there is Chinese take out shown in a very modern day plastic bag. Plastic bags were not much used until the late 1980s. They are so ubiquitous that people forget that. Even into the 1990s, it was more common to get paper bags where I lived. I have several copies of the original, so may not buy this.

[Elaine Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delphine, age eleven, Vonetta, nine, and Fern, seven, live in Brooklyn, New York and travel to Oakland California to see their very indifferent mother who has not seen them since Fern was born.  Set in 1968, racial tensions were high and the nervous girls meet their mother's fellow Black Panther followers at the local office in Oakland.  The graphic novel refers to many of the historical events of the time and if readers do have the background on the events they may be a little lost in reading the graphic novel.
I suggest reading this graphic novel adaptation in conjunction with the novel.  As an elementary librarian the GN and the novel may be for older readers, junior high and above. The illustrations are saturated with a beautiful tone and the drawings are very detailed showing the emotions within the story. In the beginning the sisters experience turbulation during their plane ride to Oakland and the author and illustrator depicted it as being punched around by Muhamad Ali. The symbolism in the illustration just enhances that portion of the story.
This book is very much worth reading and a great one for discussion.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel adaptation of Williams-Garcia's original from a while ago brings back the historical story placed in the 80s and featuring the Black Panther Party as the three little girls, who were left by their mother are sent to stay with her for the summer in California only to realize that their mother left to pursue her beliefs and doesn't have a mind for parenting as evidenced by her leaving the girls to fend for themselves for meals, not allowing them in the kitchen (until a deal is finally struck), and largely avoiding maternal shows of any kind. The oldest Delphine tries to keep it together including being alone for several days when their mother is taken into custody though a peaceable understanding occurs as Delphine learns about their mother's poetry and politics.

It's a glimpse into a different time period and who the Black Panther's were and it is a "crazy summer" as the title suggests. As a graphic novel it allows for a different emotional connection to the girls' story and while it showcases some time period elements, it still feels fresh enough for a reader to understand (but maybe not pick up on enough nuances to think it was in the past).

[Julesy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 stars.

It’s the summer of 1968, a time of much social unrest. Sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern travel by plane from Brooklyn to Oakland to stay with their mother Cecile. Why? Who knows. Cecile abandoned her daughters when the youngest Fern was merely days old. Instantly, we see why Cecile abandoned her daughters – she is cold, angry, toxic and an unfit, neglectful mother. She sends her daughters off in Oakland, which never had the reputation of being a very safe city, to fend for food on their own because she could not be bothered to tend to their needs. Cecile is brusque, mean and in Delphine’s words “crazy”. Cecile also has some connections to the Black Panthers group who are intimidating to anyone who comes in close proximity. Cecile is quite secretive about her life and forbids the girls from entering the kitchen. It certainly is going to be a one crazy summer with one crazy woman (I won’t even honor Cecile with the tag of “mother”).

I know I’m in the minority but I didn’t warm up to this story. Even though I grew up in a major city during this era (I was slightly younger than Delphine) and witnessed social unrest firsthand, I should have been nostalgic, but I wasn’t. I just felt total annoyance at Cecile and questioned the girls’ father and grandmother motive for sending the girls to Oakland. The story is told from Delphine’s viewpoint, the oldest daughter at eleven years old.

I am familiar with the illustrator’s work and enjoyed it for the most part. The only complaint I have is sometimes the strange and awkward way the mouths are drawn. It almost seems like a Picasso rendering.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, three stars is "I liked it - didn't love it, didn't feel enthralled by it, but it was okay." While I really wanted to love and adore this, I feel like as an adaptation (I have not read the original), it was so apparent that it was an adaptation because there were parts where I felt like something major was missing. We see these three girls (not the main characters) and then suddenly one of them has a name we haven't heard before.

There were times that I'd have to go back and make sure I hadn't missed a page because it sure seemed like I had; and there was even a part where I am not uncertain that this printing doesn't have some pages out of order. If they are in the order they're intended, then there are some serious issues with flow of story that could be resolved, but it was not clear.

The content of the story - great! Great concept, good engaging characters. The art - great! Worked very well for this story and was engaging, colorful and rich.

The poor handling of an adaptation was where I am docking stars and landing my rating.

[Ashra Vahora · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grade level is 4-7. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia follows eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, as they travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, in the summer of 1968 to spend time with their estranged mother, Cecile. Instead of a warm welcome, they find Cecile distant and focused on her poetry, prioritizing her involvement with the Black Panther Party over her daughters. The girls are sent to a community center where they learn about the Black Panther movement and experience political activism firsthand. Throughout the summer, Delphine grapples with her role as the "responsible sister" while navigating her complicated relationship with Cecile. As the sisters attend rallies and engage with other children in the community, they gain a deeper understanding of social justice, family, and the power of self-expression.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"One Crazy Summer" does an effective job exploring both the nuances of motherhood and the power of necessary political drive. Really loved how the complexities of familial dynamics were presented, properly recognizing how the depth of personal purpose and drive function in turn with dire outcomes like unintentional abandonment. How putting your cause, in this case the Black Panthers, above all else can harden you. At the same time, you wouldn't have changed anything about your decisions showcasing how necessary choices, for the wellbeing of everyone, are neither objectively good or bad in the end. The Black Panther representation here is so multifaceted, portraying how skewed media perception can be drastically different than reality. The art was very colorful and cozy, which is perfect for the middle grade audience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for the arc!

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not forgotten how much I loved One Crazy Summer, but I sure enjoyed revisiting the first story of Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern Gaither, in the summer of 1968 when they go visit their long-estranged mother in Oakland, California. This graphic novel adaptation is fantastic, and hopefully brings even more readers to this amazing series. Sharee Miller is the perfect artist to bring the Gaither sisters to life. What I love about this story is how it blends humor with emotion and historical significance. My favorite moment in this book is still Delphine standing up to her mom, Cecile.
Being a graphic adaptation, of course there are details left out, but readers who want more will enjoy turning to the original novel edition. I would love to see adaptations of P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama!

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter is obsessed with realistic fiction graphic novels. When I saw this one I knew I needed to pick it up. I love the idea of taking classic novels and revamping them for kids. I have read One Crazy Summer in its original glory and I enjoyed it. The characters are complex, the history rich, and the drama is poignant. The new graphic novel takes the beauty of a classic Newberry Honor book and makes it accessible to more people. It covers an important part of United States History that not everyone may know. The Civil Rights Movement and The Black Panther Party are complex and yet still important to understand. I highly recommend people pick this book up and see into another person's history and life view. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for a digital ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the graphic novel shined at bringing humor and levity as it introduces and old tale to a new audience. Though the setting is the late 60s how the girls are portrayed here will resonate more with the young readers of today. The art style makes the story feel more modern which surprisingly worked well here.

I have to go read the original prose but the development of the relationship between the girls and their mother didn't fully translate here. With prose you have a lot more words to tell the table while with graphic novels the key is to not put paragraphs of text. We see hints of a break through in their relationship but most of that comes towards the end of the book. And the ending feels a little abrupt like there's still so much more to tell. Which had me wondering if the sequels will be adapted as well.