Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the last name of the three girls in One Crazy Summer?
What is the last name of the three girls in One Crazy Summer?
Gaither
Where are the girls originally from?
Where are the girls originally from?
Brooklyn
When Delphine mentions 'Cassius Clay Clouds,' what does she mean?
When Delphine mentions 'Cassius Clay Clouds,' what does she mean?
The flight is bumpy like a boxer who keeps diving.
When the children get to California, where do they dream they will go?
When the children get to California, where do they dream they will go?
Signup and view all the answers
In which city in California does their mother live?
In which city in California does their mother live?
Signup and view all the answers
Why do the girls feel uncomfortable at the airport?
Why do the girls feel uncomfortable at the airport?
Signup and view all the answers
Who does Delphine say is the only one who remembers Cecile fondly?
Who does Delphine say is the only one who remembers Cecile fondly?
Signup and view all the answers
Why does Delphine have a hard time seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from the plane?
Why does Delphine have a hard time seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from the plane?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following descriptions does NOT describe Cecile when she picks the children up from the airport?
Which of the following descriptions does NOT describe Cecile when she picks the children up from the airport?
Signup and view all the answers
Why does the white woman in the airport give the three girls money?
Why does the white woman in the airport give the three girls money?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a description of Cecile's house?
Which of the following is NOT a description of Cecile's house?
Signup and view all the answers
Where does Big Ma claim Cecile lives?
Where does Big Ma claim Cecile lives?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Delphine tell Vonetta about Mexico?
What does Delphine tell Vonetta about Mexico?
Signup and view all the answers
What kind of watch does Delphine wear?
What kind of watch does Delphine wear?
Signup and view all the answers
Where does Cecile get the money to buy food at Mean Lady Ming's?
Where does Cecile get the money to buy food at Mean Lady Ming's?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is Mean Lady Ming so mean?
Why is Mean Lady Ming so mean?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is Big Ma upset about the phone call that Delphine makes?
Why is Big Ma upset about the phone call that Delphine makes?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Vonetta believe that Cecile has gotten her house?
How does Vonetta believe that Cecile has gotten her house?
Signup and view all the answers
Why can't Delphine relax in the bathtub?
Why can't Delphine relax in the bathtub?
Signup and view all the answers
What unusual thing does Delphine see in the kitchen?
What unusual thing does Delphine see in the kitchen?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following does NOT describe the Black Panthers?
Which of the following does NOT describe the Black Panthers?
Signup and view all the answers
What name do the Black Panthers call Cecile?
What name do the Black Panthers call Cecile?
Signup and view all the answers
Delphine compares Fern and her baby doll to Nat King Cole's song 'Unforgettable.' What does she mean?
Delphine compares Fern and her baby doll to Nat King Cole's song 'Unforgettable.' What does she mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of Fern's doll?
What is the name of Fern's doll?
Signup and view all the answers
What reason does Delphine believe for her mother abandoning them?
What reason does Delphine believe for her mother abandoning them?
Signup and view all the answers
Why can't the girls call home again right away?
Why can't the girls call home again right away?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Crazy Kelvin's shirt say?
What does Crazy Kelvin's shirt say?
Signup and view all the answers
Why do the other kids make fun of Fern's baby doll?
Why do the other kids make fun of Fern's baby doll?
Signup and view all the answers
What is Fern's response when Crazy Kelvin asks if she is black or white?
What is Fern's response when Crazy Kelvin asks if she is black or white?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the lady who seems to be in charge of the breakfast program?
What is the name of the lady who seems to be in charge of the breakfast program?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
One Crazy Summer: Chapters 1-10 Study Notes
- The Gaither sisters, Delphine, Fern, and Vonetta, travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California to visit their estranged mother.
- Delphine refers to bumpy airplane conditions as "Cassius Clay Clouds," drawing a parallel to the unpredictable nature of a boxing match.
- Upon arrival in California, the girls fantasize about going to Disneyland, reflecting their childhood desires and excitement.
- Their mother, Cecile, resides in Oakland, which is revealed upon their arrival.
- The sisters feel out of place at the airport, being among the few Black individuals present and experiencing societal alienation.
- Uncle Darnell is the only family member who expresses fond memories of their mother, Cecile.
- Delphine struggles to see the Golden Gate Bridge from the plane due to her sisters sitting beside her, blocking her view.
- Cecile's demeanor is detached, as she does not actively try to engage the children when she picks them up.
- A white woman at the airport mistakenly thinks the sisters are well-behaved dolls and offers them money, showcasing racial stereotypes.
- Cecile's house is not characterized by artistic expression, contradicting expectations, as it lacks her poetry.
- Big Ma, their grandmother, derogatorily claims Cecile lives on the street, shedding light on family tensions.
- Delphine tells Vonetta that mothers send unwanted babies to Mexico, indicating her unresolved feelings about their familial situation.
- Delphine wears an Omega watch, symbolizing a connection to her past or parental expectations.
- Cecile takes money from Delphine's funds to purchase food, emphasizing her neglectful parenting.
- Mean Lady Ming, a local shopkeeper, is hostile towards the girls, believing they are exploiting her kindness.
- Big Ma is upset when Delphine makes a collect call, indicating familial pressures and financial strain.
- Vonetta whimsically imagines Cecile as a secret spy, reflecting her misunderstanding of adult realities.
- Delphine finds it hard to relax in the bathtub due to Fern’s incessant calls for water, highlighting family chaos.
- In the kitchen, Delphine notices unusual decor, specifically white wings hanging, showcasing Cecile's eccentricity.
- The Black Panthers are misrepresented; they do not solely assist Black children, challenging societal perceptions.
- Cecile is referred to as "Inzilla" by the Black Panthers, indicating her status or reputation within the activist community.
- Delphine compares Fern’s bond with her doll, Miss Patty Cake, to the song “Unforgettable,” signifying their inseparability.
- Fern's doll is named Miss Patty Cake, illustrating Fern's attachment to her possessions.
- Delphine interprets their mother's abandonment as stemming from Cecile's desire to name Fern, indicating familial conflicts.
- The sisters lack sufficient dimes to make another phone call, reinforcing their financial limitations.
- Crazy Kelvin's shirt sports the phrase "Off The Pig," possibly a political statement reflecting the socio-political climate.
- Other children tease Fern about her white doll, revealing issues of race and identity in childhood.
- In response to Crazy Kelvin's inquiry about her race, Fern confidently states she is "colored," embracing her identity.
- Sister Mukumbu is in charge of the breakfast program, highlighting community support systems for the children.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the first ten chapters of 'One Crazy Summer'. This quiz features key questions about the characters, settings, and events in the story. Get ready to dive into the world of Delphine and her sisters!