Gone Crazy In Alabama

Gone Crazy In Alabama

Rita Williams-Garcia

2016 Coretta Scott King Award

Published by: Amistad an Imprint of HarperCollins

Copyright 2015

304 Pages

Family, Heartfelt, Tragedy, Racial Divide, Sibling Rivalry

Gone Crazy in Alabama is the amusing tale of the Gaithers’ sisters summer trip from New York to visit relatives in Alabama. When the sisters get down south they begin to realize that time slows down and society becomes divided by racial lines. Watching the KKK ride by during the night on their horses is an event that one does not experience in New York, making this trip extremely educational. The antics between the sisters is raw and will prove extremely relatable for students. Family divides will be sewn together when a natural disaster strikes creating a tragedy for the family. It is only during this time of adversity that the family learns just how much they actually care about each other. This story will rattle your emotions by allowing the reading to laugh, cry, and feel anger all in one sitting. Rita Williams-Garcia is a master at creating realistic and relatable dialogue.

Reading Level

Ages 8-12, Lexile Measure: 740L

Suggested Delivery

Independent Reading

Electronic Resources

This novel is perfect for use with a web 2.0 tool called the Breaking News Generator. This site allows students to upload a photo and then create a realistic looking breaking news snapshot. Use this to fill the world in on tussles between Vonetta, Fern, and Delphine. Or warn Big Ma of the Arrival of the girl’s mother.

Use this video to gain interest in the story by showcasing some of the points of emphasis in the novel. The video does a great job of creating suspense by talking about family rivalry, family history, US History, and the racial divide that was rampant in the south.

Key Vocabulary

·      KKK – Ku Klux Klan, A group that believes the Arian race is supreme.

·      Arrogance – Believing that you are better than someone else

·      Bigamy – The act of going through a marriage ceremony when you are already married.

·      Consternation – Feeling of anxiety towards something unexpected.

·      Rebuke – Express sharp disapproval towards someone because of their behavior.

·      Contradict – To deny the truth of one thing by saying something opposite.

Teaching Strategies

            Before – This novel does incorporate some confusing vocabulary throughout the text. To prevent confusion, I suggest creating a word wall with the words and definitions that students may have trouble with while reading the text. This strategy is useful in building vocabulary to ensure higher comprehension.

            During – Students can use the Echo or Choral reading technique to ensure fluency. This can be accomplished in pairs or small groups where students can read selections out loud to each other. Another way to incorporate some fun into the reading is to have students participate in a readers theatre activity where students can pick their favorite character and read the dialogue.

            After – Using an opinionnaire strategy for post-reading can prove highly effecting for this novel. Have students create three controversial opinions about the characters, a plot point, or a setting. Next, let the students mingle around the room and debate their opinions using facts from the books for support. Emphasize academic language as well as respectful listening skills during this activity.

Writing

Using the post reading activity, have students write down their opinions with three supporting facts as to why they feel that way. Allow students to debate (or agree) with each other and add to their opinions to make them stronger.