Crazy Lady! facts for kids
 |
|
| Author | Jane Leslie Conly |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
|
Publication date
|
1993 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
Crazy Lady! is an exciting children's novel written by Jane Leslie Conly. It was published in 1993. This book was recognized as one of the Newbery Honor books in 1994. This means it was chosen as one of the best children's books published that year.
Contents
Where Does the Story Take Place?
The story of Crazy Lady! happens in a small, busy neighborhood in northern Baltimore, Maryland. This area is called Tenley Heights. Most of the homes there are brick row houses. The famous Memorial Stadium is a big landmark in the neighborhood.
The story starts around 1983 or 1984. It is told as a flashback by the main character, Vernon Dibbs. At the beginning, Vernon is talking with Miss Annie. She is an older former teacher who helped him with his English grades. They are talking about someone from their neighborhood who moved away two years ago. Vernon remembers everything clearly. Miss Annie suggests he write down his memories, and that's how the story is told.
Meet Vernon and His Family
Vernon's family lives in one of the row houses, just like most families in Tenley Heights. His mother, Mary, passed away in 1980. She was a seamstress. His father works hard at a factory. He often works the evening shift. Vernon's father also struggles with reading.
Vernon is the third of five children. He has an older sister named Steph, a younger sister named Sandra, an older brother named Tony, and a younger brother named Ben. When the story begins, Steph and Tony have already moved out. Steph is married and works as a laboratory technician. Tony is attending college on a scholarship.
Vernon's School Troubles
The flashback part of the story begins in 1981. This is when Vernon starts junior high school. He is a year older than his classmates because he had to repeat a grade before. Now, he is in danger of failing again. His schoolwork is difficult, and his grades are low.
Vernon's family cannot easily help him get a tutor. His father is usually working. The family does not have extra money for tutoring. His older siblings, Steph and Tony, are busy with their own studies. They cannot take him to the library for help.
Meeting the "Crazy Lady"
Vernon spends most of his free time with his friends Bobby, Chris, and Jerry. They often get into mischief. Sometimes, they tease Maxine Flooter. People in the neighborhood call her the "Crazy Lady." Maxine often wears unusual clothes. She is always with her son, Ronald, who has a developmental disability. Ronald is also sometimes teased by the boys. This makes his mother very upset, as she is his only caregiver.
One day, things start to change for Vernon. He goes to the grocery store to buy potatoes. He sees the store owner, Milt, arguing with a customer about the price of potatoes. Vernon has the same argument with Milt. His sister Steph had bought potatoes for the same price just a few days before. Milt gets angry and kicks Vernon out of the store. As Vernon leaves, the customer tells him he did a good job standing up for himself. Vernon looks at her and realizes it's Maxine.
An Unexpected Friendship Begins
Vernon and Maxine start talking. Vernon mentions how much trouble he is having in school. Maxine decides to help him. She asks her neighbor, Miss Annie, to tutor Vernon. Miss Annie agrees to help Vernon improve his English grades. But she asks for a special kind of payment. She insists that Vernon must help Maxine around her house and also help with Ronald.
At first, it's not easy for Vernon. But he starts spending more and more time with Maxine and Ronald. Slowly, he begins to form a friendship with Ronald.
Vernon starts spending so much time helping Maxine and Ronald that he almost ignores his own family. This makes things a bit tense at home. However, he also starts staying up late at night. He talks with his father, who likes to listen to old music in the kitchen. These conversations help Vernon and his father become closer. Later, Vernon's father even asks him to teach him how to read, which is a very special moment for them.
Ronald and the Special Olympics
After a few weeks, Vernon meets Ronald's teacher. She suggests that Ronald join the local Special Olympics. The Special Olympics are sports events for people with intellectual disabilities. Vernon decides to take charge of getting Ronald ready for the games. He even gets his friends to help. His friend Jerry is especially helpful. Jerry has a brother with a developmental disability whom he visits on weekends, but he usually keeps this a secret.
Things get a bit difficult when Vernon organizes a block party to raise money for Ronald. The party ends when Maxine gets very upset and tells everyone off. Vernon becomes even more frustrated after Maxine interrupts a Sunday church service. She starts telling everyone in the church exactly what she thinks of them. She even tells Vernon that he doesn't have "the brains God gave a stump." After this, Vernon refuses to have anything to do with her. He only goes to her house to check on Ronald. Vernon even snaps at Maxine when she tries to tell him something important.
A Difficult Goodbye
The day of the Special Olympics finally arrives. Ronald and Vernon work as a team in walking races. They win several ribbons! At the games, they meet Ronald's teacher again. She offers them a ride home. In the car, Vernon learns something shocking. Maxine had been trying to tell him that Ronald would be moving to North Carolina to live with Maxine’s relatives.
Vernon is very upset by this news. He storms out of the car. He confronts Maxine, asking her why she is doing this. She tells him that she tried her best to help Ronald. But she believes he will be better off in North Carolina.
Finally, the day comes for Ronald to leave. Everyone in the neighborhood comes to say goodbye. Maxine cannot bear to see her only child leave, so she stays inside. After everyone says their goodbyes, Ronald's new family drives away. Seeing Ronald leave is too much for Vernon. He starts running after the car as fast as he can. But he cannot catch up. He trips over a curb and falls hard against a wall. As he lies on the ground, hurt, his father comes to him. The book ends with his father saying, "Vernon, I'm here."
