Gone Crazy in Alabama audiobook

I’m a conceited enough children’s librarian that I like it when a book wins me over. I don’t want them to make it easy for me. When I sit down to read something I want to know that the author on the other side of the manuscript is scrabbling to get the reader’s attention. Granted that reader is supposed to be a 10-year-old kid and not a 37-year-old woman, but to a certain extent audience is audience. Now I’ll say right off the bat that under normal circumstances I don’t tend to read sequels and I CERTAINLY don’t review them. There are too many books published in a current year to keep circling back to the same authors over and over again. There are, however, always exceptions to the rule. And who amongst us can say that Rita Williams-Garcia is anything but exceptional? The Gaither Sisters chronicles (you could also call them the One Crazy Summer Books and I think you’d be in the clear) have fast become modern day literary classics for kids. Funny, painful, chock full of a veritable cornucopia of historical incidents, and best of all they stick in your brain like honey to biscuits. Read one of these books and you can recall them for years at a time. Now the bitter sweetness of “Gone Crazy in Alabama” gives us more of what we want (Vonetta! Uncle Darnell! Big Ma!) in a final, epic, bow. Going to visit relatives can be a chore. Going to visit warring relatives? Now THAT is fun! Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern have been to Oakland and Brooklyn but now they’ve turned South to Alabama to visit their grandmother Big Ma, their great-grandmother Ma Charles, and Ma Charles’s half sister Miss Trotter. Delphine, as usual, places herself in charge of her younger, rebellious, sisters, not that they ever appreciate it. As she learns more about her family’s history (and the reason the two half sisters loathe one another) she ignores her own immediate family’s needs until the moment when it almost becomes too late. I’m an oldest sister. I have two younger siblings. Unlike Delphine I didn’t have the responsibility of watching over my siblings for any extended amount of time. As a result, I didn’t pay all that much attention to them growing up. But like Delphine, I would occasionally find myself trying, to my mind anyway, to keep them in line. Where Rita Williams-Garcia excels above all her peers, and I do mean all of them, is in the exchanges between these three girls. If I had an infinite revenue stream I would solicit someone to adapt their conversations into a very short play for kids to perform somewhere (actually, I’d just like to see ALL these books as plays for children, but that’s neither here nor there). The dialogue sucks you in and you find yourself getting emotionally involved. Because Delphine is our narrator you’re getting everything from her perspective and in this the author really makes you feel like she’s on the right side of every argument. It would be an excellent writing exercise to charge a class of sixth graders with the task of rewriting one of these sections from Vonetta or Fern’s point of view instead. As I might have mentioned before, I wasn’t actually sold initially on this book. Truth be told, I liked the sequel to One Crazy Summer (called P.S. Be Eleven) but found the ending rushed and a tad unsatisfying. That’s just me, and my hopes with Gone Crazy were not initially helped by this book’s beginning. I liked the set-up of going South and all that, but once they arrived in Alabama I was almost immediately confused. We met Ma Charles and then very soon thereafter we met another woman very much like her who lived on the other side of a creek. No explanation was forthcoming about these two, save some cryptic descriptions of wedding photos, and I felt very much out to sea. My instinct is to say that a child reader would feel the same way, but kids have a way of taking confusing material at face value, so I suspect the confusion was of the adult variety more than anything else. Clearly Ms. Williams-Garcia was setting all this up for the big reveal of the half-sister’s relationship, and I appreciated that, but at the same time I thought it could have been introduced in a different way. Things were tepid for me for a while, but then the story really started picking up. By the time we got to the storm, I was sold. And it was at this point in the book that I realized that I’d been coming at the book all wrong. Williams-Garcia was feeding me red herrings and I’m gulping them down like there’s no tomorrow. This book isn’t laser focusing its attention on great big epic themes of historical consequence. All this book is, all it ever has been, all the entire SERIES is about in its heart of hearts, is family. And that’s it. The central tension can be boiled down to something as simple and effective as whether or not Delphine and Vonetta can be friends. Folks are always talking about bullying and bully books. They tend to involve schoolmates, not siblings, but as Gone Crazy in Alabama shows, sometimes bullying is a lot closer to home than anyone (including the bully) is willing to acknowledge. There’s been a lot of talk lately about needing more diverse books for kids, and it’s absolutely a valid concern. I have always been of the opinion, however, that we also need a lot more funny diverse books. When most reading lists' sole hat tip to the African-American experience is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (no offense to Mildred D. Taylor, but you see what I’m getting at here) while the white kids star in books like Harriet the Spy and Frindle, something’s gotta change. We Need Diverse Books? We Need FUNNNY Diverse Books too. Something someone’s going to enjoy reading and want to pick up again. That’s why Christopher Paul Curtis has been such a genius the last few years (because, seriously, who else would explore the ramifications of vomiting on Frederick Douglass?) and why the name Rita Williams-Garcia will be remembered long after you and I are tasty toasty worm food. Because this book IS funny while also balancing out pain and hurt and hope. An interviewer once asked Ms. Williams-Garcia if she ever had younger sisters like the ones in this book or if she’d ever spent a lot of time in rural Alabama, like they do here. She replied good-naturedly that nope. It reminded me of that story they tell about Dustin Hoffman playing Richard III. He put stones in his shoes to get the limp right. Laurence Olivier caught wind of this and his response was along the lines of, “My dear boy, why don’t you try acting?” That’s Ms. Williams-Garcia for you. She does honest-to-goodness writing. Writing that can conjure up estranged siblings and acts of nature. Writing that will make you laugh and think and think again after that. Beautifully done, every last page. A trilogy winds down on just the right note.For ages 9-12.

History, self-awareness, negotiated boundaries and family secrets are at the heart of Gone Crazy in Alabama, the third – and final – book in Rita Williams Garcia’s excellent Gaither Sisters series.Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel from Brooklyn to Alabama to spend their summer visiting their grandmother, Big Ma, and her mother, Ma Charles. In Alabama, the cultural shock they face is only the beginning of their problems: there is also the matter of meeting Uncle Darnell for the first time since he betrayed their trust, the discovery that their family has feuds and long kept secrets and dealing with the evolving dynamics within their own group.Ma Charles lives across the way from her half-sister Miss Trotter but they don’t talk to each other apart from hurling insults back and forth through a third party. Middle sister Vonetta takes over that role with aplomb not only because of her propensity for theatrics but also because this allows her to have a degree of power within their family. This is the core of the ever-present conflict between the three sisters since Delphine is always in charge – it’s a role she has taken for herself but one that seems expected of her by the older members of their family. It’s a lot of pressure for a girl of thirteen and this is deftly explored in this novel in a way that nearly broke me.This is also a book that delves deep into storytelling and history. The youngest sister Fern is developing her poetry skills, following in her mother’s footsteps. In here, Fern is more Afua than Fern (and God, that moment when we learn where the name Fern comes from. MY HEART). Vonetta is all Vonetta though and as she carries back and forth the stories that Ma Charles and Miss Trotter tell, she becomes increasingly confident – those stories when they leave the older ladies’ mouths are rooted in southern tradition. When Vonetta retells them, she is all modern and theatrical. More than that, those stories concern their past, the half-truths about their bigamist father and the terrible consequences of his actions. But they are also entrenched in America’s racial history and the kids come to learn their African-American family is entwined with Native Americans and whites in truly hurtful ways.This leads to the most impacting scene for me in Gone Crazy in Alabama with Delphine’s realisation of what being oppressed truly means. One of the greatest things about this series is the balance between the deeply personal and the wider historical context of American society in the late 60s. The series takes place against the backdrop of the Civil Rights and Feminist movements and they are there at the forefront in books one and two. In here, the younger kids become the voice of modernity having spent some time with the Black Panthers and living in Brooklyn. But their modernity and awareness is often in contrast with their more traditional grandmother, Big Ma. Big Ma’s internalised racism is quite probably one of the saddest things about this series. Delphine and Big Ma are constantly butting heads throughout the novel: Delphine calling out the ways that Big Ma “oppresses” her by telling her to iron sheets or take care of house duties. Delphine is finding her voice and is insistent on experimenting with the boundaries of her freedom, which his awesome and even funny.But then one day, the family – subserviently and convivially – welcome into their homes a White cousin, the town’s sheriff and a known member of the Klu Klux Klan. They do so because they have no choice, they do so at the expense of their pride, they do so because it would be dangerous otherwise and Delphine is completely horrified and finally understands.There is a lot to digest here and once again, Rita Williams Garcia awes me with the complexity of her writing. There is layer upon layer to discover in this series. It’s hard to say goodbye to these beloved characters but it’s even harder to say goodbye to the way Rita Williams Garcia infuses their story with depth and heart.

I have fallen in love with Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, the Gaither Sisters. I was late discovering this series for "Middle Grades" with great historical lessons.It started with "One Crazy Summer," with the sisters visiting their wayward mother in Oakland, CA. Then the aftermath and return home to Brooklyn in "P.S. Be Eleven."The latest installment is "Gone Crazy in Alabama" when Pa sends the girls "Down South" to meet the relatives on the farm. I so much enjoyed the voices of the girls as they complete each others' explanations in an almost poetic harmony. They remind me so much of my middle sister, my niece, and me.I was so charmed that everytime I opened the book at the next chapter, I couldn't hold back the smile on my face. Their adventures, learning the family history, helping gather the fresh eggs, and help milk the cow reminded me of days in Forsythe, Georgia, so long ago.I was happy just reminiscing until something went terribly wrong, when I found myself in the middle of the night, with an unexpected page-turner. No spoilers here. You have to read it for yourself.Rita Williams-Garcia is a winner.

Thanks to my Goodreads friend Orinoco Womble for recommending this.* * * * *This is No. 3 in the Gaither Sisters series, but the first I've read. I started with this one because it was on sale for $1.99 in Kindle version. This is a great story about three close young (8, 10, & 12) sisters who travel alone from Brooklyn to Alabama to visit relatives for the summer. Adventures ensue and the Alabama characters are hilarious. This is a great, easy read with an underlying thread of familial love. Some favorite lines:". . .our voices either followed or lay on top of one another's for as long as I could remember.""Our grandmother used to fuss with us so much that all we heard was the fussing and not the words.""It wasn't fair to have waited for so long to read a book that was less than what I'd imagined.""I wanted us to all be together. As many of us under one roof as could fit. I needed to know we weren't all falling apart."". . . his dog song, which was neither a true howl nor a bark.""I took it all in: the firm but biscuit-doughy feel of Big Ma's arms; her gardenia talcum powder and Dixie Peach hair grease dabbed under her wig around her temples. It was good to be circled by hands that smelled of pine cleaner and to be blotted by her coffee-breath kisses.""'Big Ma! Come quick!' Big Ma didn't post herself up in the door frame immediately. . .""All them starving children in Africa going to bed hungry. You get in your bed and have a taste of hungry along with them." [What child hasn't heard the first part, but the second sentence was new to me and tickled me so.]"Big Ma used to tell me: 'Scrub like a gal in a one-cow town.'" [Huh? Doesn't make sense, but still is funny, like my friend's granny's saying, 'Makes my butt want to dip snuff.']"'That's right, dear one,' Miss Trotter said. And Vonetta rolled around in that 'dear one' name like it was a pink rabbit-fur jacket." [Ah ha ha!]I highly recommend this book! The rest of the series is on my to-read list as well.

Absolutely excellent. The Gaither sisters head down south to spend some time with their relatives in Alabama (Big Ma and her mother Ma Charles). While there the girls learn a lot about their ancestry and the feud going on between Ma Charles and her half-sister Miss Trotter. The elderly sisters are storytellers, which really appeals to Vonetta who ends up carrying bickering messages between the two front porches for nearly the entirety of her time down south. When an act of nature sets the whole clan to worrying, family ties from all across the nation end up at Big Ma's.Though there are bound to be questions as to whether this book can truly stand on its own considering the 2 previous books featuring this unforgettable trio of sisters, this book takes a sharp right turn by focusing on the family history. The author gives readers adequate information about characters appearing in previous novels and previous altercations (i.e. Uncle Darnell's theft of the girls' hard-earned money). This is handled so expertly that I would argue the entire effect for a reader just meeting the Gaither sisters for the first time would come away with the feeling that if they wanted to know more about the backstory in depth, they could consult the previous books as opposed to it being necessary to have read these books to understand this book.The author excels at her craft here. Every opportunity to invoke the senses is taken. The characterization is so fully realized that readers know who is talking without the aid of an identifier at the end of a line of dialogue just based on the way something is phrased or the details chosen to present. The setting is so well described and richly imagined that I feel as though I could draw a fairly accurate map of the woods, possibly even the state of Alabama!Highly recommended historical fiction read for grades 5-8.

This was, admittedly, my least favorite of the three Gaither sisters books. I felt it got off to a slow start, and I quickly tired of the back and forth between Ma Charles and Miss Trotter. However, the book did start picking up, and the central theme of family being there for each other no matter what was strong. After having read the entire series, I can honestly say that I feel these books are very important for children. Williams-Garcia brings to light many otherwise heavy topics and historical events, and makes them understandable to children. Issues such as the emergence of the Black Panthers, Vietnam, and the Ku Klux Klan, segregation, and discrimination are all explored in a way that shows how these groups and events affected the lives of everyone during that time, whether directly or indirectly. Williams-Garcia explored three very distinct settings in each book, and each time I felt like I was there, experiencing everything along with the sisters. Her easy inclusion of small details to set up the time period was extremely effective and served to root the reader completely in the time and place. She is a wonderful storyteller and these books need to be shared.

Enjoyable book that not only is fun to read, great characters, but it brings with it a taste of history. I didn't realize it was part of a series. It was good as a stand alone book too.

Oh, Gaither sisters, I love you so.

Wow!

Great series! Definitely worthy of rereading someday.

To say that I love this (audible) culmination of the Gaither Sisters trilogy would be an understatement. Delphine is set in her role as the momma/sister to her younger siblings Vonetta, and Fern. She continues to carry the weight of her sisters choices, her parents expectations. and her grandmother's pressure of perfection. She still shoulders it all and is figuring out how to be a pre-teen, until...Miss Vonetta decides, in typical middle child fashion that she has to have her way, a decision that coincides with powers that are way out of her control. Fern is coming into her own person, her own choices, and finding her own poetic voice to express it all, and she is not backing down. Family far away, and family close are drawn together in crisis, and prove again that we are bigger than our differences especially when our loved are in peril.This book is a great read for middle schoolers who can relate to all of the outside pressure from "everybody". A great exploration of the ability of young people to bounce back. The voices of the readers enhance the journey of this story.