This story took everything that was good about One Crazy Summer and then built on it to make it better and near perfection. And, more philosophically, she grew to understand her place and her role in life. She learned to release her hold on her sisters and to grant them some independence. She began to grow, understand, and even appreciate her father’s new relationship with Marva. Throughout the story, readers were able to see her thoughts change drastically, albeit realistically. The final thing I need to talk about is Delphine’s growth. It was an intelligent (and effective) way of including this essential character. In the same breath, I liked that Williams-Garcia managed to still include Cecile as a part of the story and gave her her voice through her letters to Delphine. While I do not fully like either character, I can still appreciate their development in this book. They weren’t really in the first book (considering the girls were all the way on the other side of the country…), so seeing them get more characterization in this story was nice. I also really appreciated the inclusion of more of Pa and Big Ma in this story. I feel like she was really able to capture the essence of the era from young African American women’s points-of-view. The sisters were there for all of this and supporting it all, and it was made better by Williams-Garcia’s juxtaposition of Big Ma’s outdated views.

The Black Panthers were becoming more prominent and visible in society. The Jackson Five was sparking a musical revolution. Marva Hendrix was supporting the first congresswoman, who also happened to the first black congresswoman. There were always something to be engaged in and to pay attention to in the story, and if you didn’t like one storyline, you only had to wait a chapter to be moved to another! I also liked the inklings of the cultural revolution that a lot of these chapters alluded to. Mwila Vonetta and Fern gaining independence and their Uncle Darnell’s post-war difficulties. There was: Delphine’s issues with her classmates the sisters’ desire to go see the Jackson Five Marva Hendrix, their father’s new girlfriend Delphine’s anxiety about the dance Delphine’s new teacher, Mr. Review: This was a phenomenal sequel! There was so much going on that made the story so enjoyable. The sisters work to adapt to their new lives and to use the lessons their mother taught them. Delphine is in sixth grade now, there’s a new band the girls obsess over, their uncle returns from war, and their dad has a new woman in his life. Upon coming home, the sisters discover many new changes.

Summary: Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern have returned to Brooklyn from their trip to California.

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia