Block, F. (1989). Weetzie Bat. NY: Harper Collins Publishing. ISBN: 0060205342.
Plot Summary: Weetzie Bat is a tender-hearted, fun-loving teen who is lost in the vast landscape of Los Angeles, which she calls Shangri-L.A. Her parents live apart and she doesn’t like school much, until she meets Dirk, her gay best friend. They visit his grandmother, who gives her a genie lamp that grants three wishes. She says, “I wish for a Duck for Dirk, and My Secret Agent Lover Man for me, and a beautiful little house for us to live in happily ever after."
As the story progresses, each of her wishes come true. Dirk’s grandmother dies and leaves her cottage to the two friends. Dirk meets his love, a boy named Duck, who moves into their house. Weetzie meets a film director, she calls "My Secret Agent Lover Man" and stars in his film as he also moves into the house. Weetzie wants a baby, but her lover refuses. Instead Dirk, Duck and Weetzie secretly impregnant her in a failed plan that her lover will change his mind once the baby is born. Cherokee is born and after some time, Secret Agent Lover Man returns and joins the family.
All is bliss until a strange witchy woman enters their life and claims Dirk as the father to her unborn child. She soon leaves the child with Weetzie, who names her Lily. In the meantime, Duck leaves out of grief that his friend is dying of AIDS. Dirk searches for his lover in San Francisco, the two are reunited and return home Weetzie and her lover. Everyone learns the power of love, acceptance, forgiveness and how to feel good with their own definition of happiness.
Critical Evaluation: I agree with the critics that Francesca Lia Block has a unique style of writing and storytelling. Very interesting. The sparse dialogue and plot descriptions leave room for the imagination and she captures the essence of Los Angeles better than any other YA author I have read. The dreamlike feeling to this modern fairy tale exactly describes the feeling of Los Angeles’ timeless, sun-baked, endless sprawling atmosphere filled with celebrity wannabes and many mixed family configurations. The sparkle and grime of the city is also aptly portrayed in Weetzie’s retro-80s punk look as well as the lingering allusions to Hollywood’s faded 1950s glam. The novel’s magic realism only adds to the allure of Weetzie’s lifestyle and the omnipresent sense of possibility of this city. I appreciated the open and unapologetic descriptions of events that shape Weetzie’s life and portayal of a young character who accepts the sadness, challenges, pain and joys of her life with grace and gratitude. This is not a book that everyone will like, but it’s a valuable addition to today’s YA collections.
Information about the author: Block was born in 1962 in Los Angeles to a poet and a painter. She wrote Weetzie Bat while a student at UC Berkeley and is working on the screenplay for a possible movie version of her fictional Dangerous Angels series characters. Her love of Greek mythology and the creative arts has provide inspiration for the more than 25 novels and nonfiction books she has written for young adults. She is the recipient of many awards, including the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Library Association and her books have been translated into many languages. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her son, daughter and two dogs.
Genre:
Teen Issues: Pregnancy and Teen Parents
Contemporary Life: Romance
Fantasy: Fairy Tales
Curriculum Ties: English class, Creative Writing class, Book clubs, Social clubs
Booktalking Ideas:
1.) How the descriptions of Los Angeles influence the novel and characters
2.) The events of Weetzie’s life and how it affects her outlook and relationships
3.) Does Weetzie and Dirk make good or bad choices? Do we have to see them as “bad” or “good”?
4.) If given three wishes by a genie, what would you ask for?
5.) Teen Parenting and how Weetzie and her friends cope
Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 16 – 25
Challenge Issues/Defenses:
Potential Challenges:
• Homosexual Characters
• Premarital Sex
• Blended and Unusual Family Configurations
• Alternative Lifestyles
• Content includes topic of Abortion
• Content includes topic of AIDS
• Appropriateness for Teenage Readers
Defense Strategy:
• Provide our Collection Development Policy (which includes Young Adult scope): http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/library/collection.asp
• Refer to awards earned by this book:
http://www.harperteen.com/book/index.aspx?isbn=9780060736255
• Refer to actual readers reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Weetzie-10th-Anniversary-Francesca-Block/dp/0064408183
• Provide guidelines book clubs have used to address issues:
http://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-weetzie-bat/topicsfordiscussion.html
• Provide interview with the author regarding challenges to her books:
http://www.ncac.org/KRRP-Interview-with-author-Francesca-Lia-Block
Why This Book Was Included: Teens in the Los Angeles area often ask for books that represent their lives. They sometimes express a dislike for books that take place in more traditional states and other historical time periods. This book’s writing style can be challenging, but I’ve received reports from library readers and staff members that the portrayal of Weezie’s parents, lifestyle, choices and adventures in LA are accurately reflected in tone and characterization. It’s an interesting, alternative work of YA fiction and one of the few that matter-of-factly shows outcomes of acceptance without the expected narrative involving a judgmental community.
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