A Conversation with Rita Williams-Garcia

It’s rare to find historical fiction that weaves rich period detail into the lives of memorable and endearing characters, but Rita Williams-Garcia’s middle-grade novels One Crazy Summer and P.S. Be Eleven do just that. Amidst the political and cultural shifts of the late 1960s, main character Delphine and her two younger sisters are getting to know their mother, a poet and activist who left them when they were small to join the Black Panthers. At the same time, they’re trying to make sense of changes in their family and the larger society brought on by the feminist movement and the Vietnam War.

Tune in to hear Rita explain how she drew on personal and historical contexts to develop her characters and tell their story. You’ll also hear about her great love for her work and her commitment to spending as long as it takes to get the story right.

After listening to this episode, be sure to print out this list of recommended titles to take to the library or book seller.

Books featured in this episode: