Kind of feel like you're familiar with the whole kids-abandoned-by-their-mom story line? To be fair, it comes up pretty often in TV, movies, and books. But One Crazy Summer takes this old familiar plot thread and turns it on its head. Instead of a tale about how hard growing up without a mother is, we see Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern visit their long-lost mom for the first time in years. Is it awkward? You betcha. Does their mom, Cecile, leave a bit to be desired? Oh, definitely. Still, as we watch the girls and their mom try to make sense of each other, we see abandonment from a whole new angle. And that's a cool literary trick.
Questions About Abandonment
- What are Cecile's reasons for leaving her family behind? Is Big Ma right that she left because she couldn't name Fern? Why won't Cecile explain her reasons to Delphine?
- Who do you think is angrier, Delphine at her mom for leaving, or Cecile that she is straddled with her kids for the summer? What is Cecile's attitude toward the girls? Does she regret leaving them?
- Why does Pa insist on the girls spending time with Cecile? What is Delphine's attitude toward her mother? Why won't she call her "mom"?
Chew on This
Cecile doesn't regret abandoning her daughters because they are less important to her than her life in California.
Cecile can't be true to herself and stay with her daughters.