A Review from Publishers Weekly~
The author introduces two characters named Weetzie and Dirk. Both are unique and while they have different interests, including love interests, you can tell instantly they are inseparable and best friends. They go out with each other all the time and have a good time. If one gets in trouble, the other one is there for them. Weetzie’s had her share of troubles throughout the story. Her dad and mom split up. It was hard on her – especially because her dad completely left the state and moved to the East Coast. Weetzie stayed in California with her mom and her dad would come to visit and vice versa – she would go to New York and visit him, but it was still hard. Weetzie and Dirk often went to visit Dirk’s grandma - Grandma Fifi. She had a beautiful little cottage. But Grandma Fifi was getting old. One day she gave Weetzie a little gold lamp and Weetzie took it home and polished it up. Out came a genie! Weetzie had three wishes: she wished to find true love and also so that Dirk could find true love and also a place to live for Dirk and Weetzie. Without saying much more, I will say that Weetzie’s three wishes came true, but in a very unique way.
An offbeat heroine shares a Hollywood cottage with three equally quirky companions; in PW 's words, "Block's first book is related in a breezy, knowing voice; her strange and sparkling tribute to growing up in L.A. is a rare treat for those sophisticated enough to appreciate it." Ages 12-up. (Read other editorials on amazon.com)
My Review: The author introduces two characters named Weetzie and Dirk. Both are unique and while they have different interests, including love interests, you can tell instantly they are inseparable and best friends. They go out with each other all the time and have a good time. If one gets in trouble, the other one is there for them. Weetzie’s had her share of troubles throughout the story. Her dad and mom split up. It was hard on her – especially because her dad completely left the state and moved to the East Coast. Weetzie stayed in California with her mom and her dad would come to visit and vice versa – she would go to New York and visit him, but it was still hard. Weetzie and Dirk often went to visit Dirk’s grandma - Grandma Fifi. She had a beautiful little cottage. But Grandma Fifi was getting old. One day she gave Weetzie a little gold lamp and Weetzie took it home and polished it up. Out came a genie! Weetzie had three wishes: she wished to find true love and also so that Dirk could find true love and also a place to live for Dirk and Weetzie. Without saying much more, I will say that Weetzie’s three wishes came true, but in a very unique way.
The book has a little love triangle of sorts in it – or you
might even call it a love octagon!
Haha. Weetzie goes on to
have a baby by the name of Cherokee.
But that won’t be the only baby of the story! As I mentioned, Weetzie deals with some heartache throughout
the story. She always has people beside
her to support her. As Dirk says, “Love is a dangerous angel.” Be sure to check out this book to read
all about Weetzie and her love story and “Happily ever after” might not go
according to plan, but Weetzie and company learn to be happy, which is what
counts! I would recommend this book for older teens, grades 11 or 12. Excellent book for class discussion around GLBTQ issues and acceptance of alternative lifestyles.
If you liked this book, you might want to check out these
other books by Francesca Lia Block:
- Goat Girls (buy/review on Amazon)
- Beautiful Boys (buy/review on Amazon)
- Girl Goddess #9: Nine Stories (buy/review on Amazon)
- The Hanged Man (buy/review on Amazon)
- Dangerous Angels:The Weetzie Bat Books (buy/review on Amazon)
- I was a Teenage Fairy (buy/review on Amazon)
- Violet & Claire (buy/review on Amazon)
- The Rose and The Beast (buy/review on Amazon)
- Echo (book review on Google Site)
- Guarding the Moon: A Mother’s First Year (book review on Google Site)
- Wasteland (click here for the full book on Google)
About the Author: (from the book cover)
Francesca Lia Block is the acclaimed author of the Los
Angeles Times best sellers Guarding the Moon: A Mother’s First Year, The Rose and The Beast, Violet and Claire,
and Dangerous Angels: the Weetzie Bat Books, as wella s Beautiful Boys, Goat
Girls, Wasteland, Echo, I was a Teenage Fairy, Girl Goddess #9: Nine Stories, and the Hanged Man. Her work is published around the
world.
Here is a link to Francesca's Website:
http://www.francescaliablock.com/index
Also, if you are interested you might want to watch a youtube video of the reading of this book (in three parts). I have linked Part 1 for you below.
Reviews (from the back cover of Weetzie Bat):
“Transcendent.” – The New York Times Book Review
“Shimmering.” – The New York Post
“Magnificent.” – The Village Voice
“Sparkling.” – Publishers Weekly
“One of the most original books of the last ten years.” – The
Los Angeles Times Book Review
Questions to reflect on at a book club:
- How did Dirk and Weetzie stick together throughout the story?
- Why did My Secret Agent Lover Man leave for a short time period?
- Why did Duck leave for a short time period?
- What brought them all back together each time one of them experienced grief or difficult or had a hard time?
- How was “happily ever after” different than what one might expect?
Are you interested in reviewing the book? Please write a review!!!!
