One Crazy Summer: A Graphic Novel

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the realization that parents are flawed human beings or when they are starting to ask questions about social justice and their place in history. Set in 1968, the story follows three sisters who travel to Oakland to meet the mother who abandoned them, only to find her deeply involved with the Black Panther Party. While the backdrop is a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement, the heart of the story is about the complex bond between siblings and the painful, necessary process of understanding a parent's choices. It is a brilliant tool for discussing identity, forgiveness, and the idea that family doesn't always look like a postcard. This graphic novel adaptation makes these heavy themes accessible for middle-grade readers without losing the emotional depth of the original prose.