Weetzie Bat

Bibliographic Information: Block, F. (1989). Weetzie bat. New York: Harper & Row.  ISBN: 0-06-073625-9

Plot Summary: Weetzie and her best friend Dirk want nothing more than to find love.  During their search for “ducks” a.k.a. boyfriends (yes, Dirk is gay), they find a couple of duds, but nothing long-lasting.  They visit Dirk’s grandmother Fifi often, and on their last visit with her before she passes, Fifi gives Weetzie a magic lamp, in which a genie grants her three wishes.  Weetzie wishes for a duck for Dirk, a Secret Agent Lover Man for herself, and a house where they can live happily ever after.  After Fifi passes, Weetzie and Dirk inherit her house (third wish), Dirk meets Duck and they fall in love (first wish), and Weetzie is pursued by a movie director named My Secret Agent Lover Man, and they fall in love (second wish).  The all live in Fifi’s house together and everything seems to go well, until Weetzie tells My Secret Agent Lover Man she wants a baby.  He doesn’t want one, so Weetzie enlists the help of Dirk and Duck to get her pregnant.  Upon hearing of Weetzie’s pregnancy, a shocked Secret Agent Lover Man leaves a sad Weetzie, and she feels like she will never have her happy ending.  After Cherokee is born, My Secret Agent Lover Man returns and desires to be a part of the family.  Just when things seem to be going well again, a strange woman arrives on their doorstep with a baby- My Secret Agent Lover Man’s baby.  Will Weetzie ever get her happy ending?

Critical Evaluation:  Francesca Lia Block explores the theme of family in her novel Weetzie Bat.  Weetzie grew up with divorced parents, and she wanted nothing more than to find someone to love.  When she finds and falls in love with My Secret Agent Lover Man, they live in a house together with Weetzie’s friend, Dirk, and his love, Duck.  They live happily as a family would, a family different than the one Weetzie had as a child.  With the help of Dirk and Duck, her gay roomates, Weetzie conceives a baby. My Secret Agent Lover Man leaves in anger when he learns of Weetzie’s pregnancy.  Weetzie’s idea for her family does not conform to traditional views of family at the time the book was published.  Weetzie carrying the child of one of her gay roommates is similar to a storyline found in the TV series The New Normal.  When My Secret Agent Lover Man finally comes around to accept the family Weetzie has created, she takes him back only to be surprised by another addition to the family- the love child of My Secret Agent Lover Man, and the witch Vixanne.  Weetzie accepts the baby into their family, which more resembles a motley crew than anything.  Weetzie Bat and the other characters show readers that the most important defining characteristic of a family is love, and despite their non-traditional approach to family, they are a happy one.  

Reader’s Annotation: Weetzie Bat lives in a fantasy version of L.A. where genies in lamps grant wishes.  She wishes for a home and love.  Will her wishes come true?

Information about the author: Francesca Lia Block lives in Los Angeles, California, and is known for using magical-realism in her novels.  Many of her works focus on love, and how it can help is through our tough experiences.  She has received many awards, and her books are published around the world.  

    Blocks other works include over 30 titles of novels, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry.  She publishes poetry and other posts on her blog http://loveinthetimeofglobalwarming.blogspot.com/.  Block conducts writing workshops in person and online (Block, 2012).  

Genre: YA Fiction, Fantasy

Curriculum Ties: English (literature)

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. What is the definition of family?

2. Weetzie’s three wishes

Reading level/Interest age: 14+

Challenge Issues: This novel contains underaged drinking, homosexuality, sex, and an unconventional approach to family.

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I included this book: Weetzie Bat is an important addition to my collection.  It exemplifies controversial literature and discusses issues like gay marriage, childbirth out of wedlock, and AIDS in a way younger readers can understand.  In 2009, Weetzie Bat won the Phoenix Award from the Children's Literature Association (Children's Literature Association, n.d.).

References:

Block, F. (2010). Bio. Frencesca Lia Block. Retrieved 7 May 2013 from

http://www.francescaliablock.com/bio

Children's Literature Association (n.d.) Past Phoenix Award recipients. [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.childlitassn.org/images/resources/resources-T.Crisp_Phoenix_Award_Recipients_Websites__Updated_January_2010.pdf