I'm not very far into this book, but so far I'm getting a sense of what the main character's family is like. Being african-american in New York City in the 1960's, Delphine's grandmother (Big Ma) worries about her granddaughters acting out in public (public meaning within the eyesight of lots of white people). Her two younger sisters, Fern and Vonnetta, fight between themselves a lot, and Big Ma blames Delphine for their behavior. Delphine's mother, whom she calls Cecile, is a black panther, and a "poet to the people". Delphine's parents are divorced, and she finds her father very handsome, even when he's sad and glum, which is most of the time. This time, however, when the three sisters come back from visiting Cecile, their father seems brighter, as if something has lit up inside him that wasn't there when they left.
When Delphine, Vonnetta and Fern see the Jackson 5 on television, they feel that they have to see these boys sing in a concert in Madison Square Garden in December, so they start saving for tickets to the concert, and Vonnetta finally gets to be in charge of something: saving money. With the help of Miss Marva Hendrix (their father's fiancee), Delphine realizes that she has been an oppressor to her younger sisters and feels stupid because she doesn't like Miss Marva Hendrix at all.
The ending of P.S. Be Eleven annoyed me because there were so many questions just begging to be answered. I recently found out that this book has a prequel; therefore it is the second book. I, for one, think that Rita Williams-Garcia should make it a trilogy. What happens to Uncle Darnell? What happens for Delphine Gaither and Ellis Carter when they go back to school after the Valentines dance? I get that Miss Marva Hendrix became Miss Marva Gaither, but will she remain that way after what happened to Pa and Cecile? These questions and many more demand answers, answers that only Rita Williams-Garcia knows. Will she come out with another book? I don't know, but all we can do is hope.
I read the 1st book, One Crazy Summer, when it was on the DCF list & really loved how Williams-Garcia brings you back into a time in history. That book deals with Big Issues of that time... interesting to see how some of them remain with us now: racial tension, self pride, kids seemingly abandoned by their parents... I, too, look forward to seeing how the author wraps it up.
I e-mailed Rita Williams-Garcia (the author of P.S. Be Eleven) about the unanswered questions at the end of the book, and she wrote me back saying that she has actually written another book, called Gone Crazy in Alabama, which will be released in April, that she says introduces more characters and answers many questions that were introduced in P.S. Be Eleven. I am looking forward to reading this third adventure of Delphine's, Vonnetta's, and Fern's. I certainly hope it's worth the wait.
Magda! This is so cool....that you emailed her AND got an answer AND that she is writing another book. How will we make it until the Gone Crazy In Alabama release in April?
Delphine's mother Celine always signs her letters "P.S. Be Eleven." Why did Celine need to remind Delphine to enjoy being 11 years old? Do you ever feel pressure to behave older than you are? Can you point to shows, books, video games where kids dress and act older than their age?
Exactly Van. Things Fall Apart is an intense book. Reading it, even if it is "over her head" probably makes Delphine feel older. Kids borrow books from the library all the time that are way over their reading level -because even just holding a chapter book can make a second grader fell grown up. I also think her mom wishes she had enjoyed just being eleven when she was growing up.
I think Delphine was feeling pressured to take care of her younger sisters and she didn't want to listen to her mother telling her to be eleven while she could. I think she knew what Cecile meant, she was just sort of putting up a front so she didn't have to give in.
her dad is maeiing a onther women . her mom is in oclama.
ReplyDeleteI'm not very far into this book, but so far I'm getting a sense of what the main character's family is like. Being african-american in New York City in the 1960's, Delphine's grandmother (Big Ma) worries about her granddaughters acting out in public (public meaning within the eyesight of lots of white people). Her two younger sisters, Fern and Vonnetta, fight between themselves a lot, and Big Ma blames Delphine for their behavior. Delphine's mother, whom she calls Cecile, is a black panther, and a "poet to the people". Delphine's parents are divorced, and she finds her father very handsome, even when he's sad and glum, which is most of the time. This time, however, when the three sisters come back from visiting Cecile, their father seems brighter, as if something has lit up inside him that wasn't there when they left.
ReplyDeleteWhen Delphine, Vonnetta and Fern see the Jackson 5 on television, they feel that they have to see these boys sing in a concert in Madison Square Garden in December, so they start saving for tickets to the concert, and Vonnetta finally gets to be in charge of something: saving money. With the help of Miss Marva Hendrix (their father's fiancee), Delphine realizes that she has been an oppressor to her younger sisters and feels stupid because she doesn't like Miss Marva Hendrix at all.
ReplyDeleteThe ending of P.S. Be Eleven annoyed me because there were so many questions just begging to be answered. I recently found out that this book has a prequel; therefore it is the second book. I, for one, think that Rita Williams-Garcia should make it a trilogy. What happens to Uncle Darnell? What happens for Delphine Gaither and Ellis Carter when they go back to school after the Valentines dance? I get that Miss Marva Hendrix became Miss Marva Gaither, but will she remain that way after what happened to Pa and Cecile? These questions and many more demand answers, answers that only Rita Williams-Garcia knows. Will she come out with another book? I don't know, but all we can do is hope.
ReplyDeleteI read the 1st book, One Crazy Summer, when it was on the DCF list & really loved how Williams-Garcia brings you back into a time in history. That book deals with Big Issues of that time... interesting to see how some of them remain with us now: racial tension, self pride, kids seemingly abandoned by their parents... I, too, look forward to seeing how the author wraps it up.
DeleteI e-mailed Rita Williams-Garcia (the author of P.S. Be Eleven) about the unanswered questions at the end of the book, and she wrote me back saying that she has actually written another book, called Gone Crazy in Alabama, which will be released in April, that she says introduces more characters and answers many questions that were introduced in P.S. Be Eleven. I am looking forward to reading this third adventure of Delphine's, Vonnetta's, and Fern's. I certainly hope it's worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteMagda! This is so cool....that you emailed her AND got an answer AND that she is writing another book. How will we make it until the Gone Crazy In Alabama release in April?
DeleteDelphine's mother Celine always signs her letters "P.S. Be Eleven." Why did Celine need
ReplyDeleteto remind Delphine to enjoy being 11 years old? Do you ever feel pressure to behave
older than you are? Can you point to shows, books, video games where kids dress and act
older than their age?
Because of she was asking to read the older book.I act older then I am alot of the time.
DeleteI mean Delphine was reading Some Things Fall apart, a book for adults.
DeleteExactly Van. Things Fall Apart is an intense book. Reading it, even if it is "over her head" probably makes Delphine feel older. Kids borrow books from the library all the time that are way over their reading level -because even just holding a chapter book can make a second grader fell grown up.
DeleteI also think her mom wishes she had enjoyed just being eleven when she was growing up.
I think Delphine was feeling pressured to take care of her younger sisters and she didn't want to listen to her mother telling her to be eleven while she could. I think she knew what Cecile meant, she was just sort of putting up a front so she didn't have to give in.
Delete