If you are looking for young adult books for your preteen or teen children, I suggest the Gaither Sisters trilogy by Rita Williams-Garcia. I was introduced to this historical fiction series, set in the late 1960s, when Maira Liriano, Associate Chief Librarian, gave the second book in the series to my son as a gift. After reading P.S. Be Eleven he was hooked and then borrowed from the library the other two books in the series: One Crazy Summer and Gone Crazy in Alabama. So if you’re looking for some books to get your young adults thinking about the importance of family, growing up during pivotal moments in history and social justice, I highly suggest this series.

One Crazy Summer 

The first in the series is multi-award winning One Crazy Summer, a story of discovery for three sisters Delphine, Fern and Vanetta Gaither as they spend a crazy summer visiting their mother in Oakland, California.

“Delphine’s growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers.”  —Publishers Weekly

“In One Crazy Summer Williams-Garcia presents a child’s-eye view of the Black Panther movement within a powerful and affecting story of sisterhood and motherhood.” —Monica Edinger, The New York Times

 

P.S Be Eleven 

The series continues with the Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel, P.S. Be Eleven. In this sequel Delphine, Fern and Vanetta return home to Brooklyn after their summer in Oakland.

 “..the Gaither sisters are an irresistible trio. Williams-Garcia excels at conveying defining moments of American society from their point of view—this is historical fiction that’s as full of heart as it is of heartbreak.” —Publishers Weekly 

“P.S. Be Eleven is a must-read for fans of the first book, but it can also stand alone as an engrossing novel that will leave readers pondering important issues of race, gender, and identity.” — School Library Journal

Gone Crazy In Alabama

Coretta Scott King Award-winning Gone Crazy In Alabama is the final book in this series where we follow the Gaither sisters for another unpredictable summer traveling from Brooklyn to rural Alabama to visit their grandmother and great-grandmother.

“It's reward enough just to spend more time with this feisty, close-knit family, whose loyalty to and love for each other trump everything else.”  —Publishers Weekly

 

“This well-crafted depiction of a close-knit community in rural Alabama works beautifully, with language that captures its humor, sorrow and resilience. Rich in all areas, Delphine and her sisters’ third outing will fully satisfy the many fans of their first two.”  —Kirkus Reviews 

 

Cultural Passport is a blog series about books covering the Black Diaspora exploring culture, cooking, dance, sports and spirituality. This series is written and curated by Troy Belle and Diana Tan.