The first in the prize winning trilogy about Delphine, Vonetta and Fern, the irresistible, strong voiced, and unforgettable Gaither family sisters. This is the story of their trip from Brooklyn, where they live with their old fashioned grandmother, Big Ma and their father, Pa, to Oakland, California where they meet their estranged mother, Cecile. Set in 1968 at the height of the civil rights movement, the girls are plunged into a world of Black Panthers and political activism; this is a story which immerses readers into a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. Eleven year old Delphine, the oldest sister, is our wonderful narrator, who packs both a moving and humorous punch in her telling of that summer. A rewarding and challenging read.