Harper & Row. 1989.
ISBN 0060205342
$12.89. Hardcover. 88 pages.
Readers Annotation
Weetzie and her best friend Dirk live happily together in Shangri-L.A. Together they build a happy home with their lovers and Weetzie’s children.
Plot Summary
In this modern fairy tale, Weetzie Bat, a girl on the fringe of society, meets Dirk, a young gay man. The two become best friends. Together they build a near utopian home for themselves. Both Weetzie and Dirk wants to find love. Dirk finds his soul mate in Duck, while Weetzie discovers “My Secret Agent Lover Man.” The foursome lives happily together until Weetzie decides she wants to have a child. My Secret Agent Lover Man balks at the prospect of becoming a father, but Weetzie persists. Dirk and Duck offer to become surrogate fathers, and later when My Secret Agent Lover Man returns after the birth of their daughter, the four friends/lovers settle down to raise their child. My Secret Agent Lover Man, an independent filmmaker, is blessed with a second child. Tender-hearted Weetzie decides she wants to raise this child with her daughter, Cherokee. The addition of “Witch Baby” livens up the household even more. When Charlie Bat (Weetzie’s father) dies, it is the first great grief felt by the friends. The toll of deaths (the unspoken AIDS crisis) takes its measure with Duck, who leaves his long-time lover. Dirk searches for Duck. He finds him in San Francisco. In the end, the friends are seated around a dinner table together, and Weetzie understands that love is a choice, and she and her family can exist happily together.
Critical Evaluation
This first novel by Block has moments when it reaches the sublime. Grandma Fifi giving the Genie to Weetzie. Weetzie's three wishes coming true, and the intense happiness felt by the foursome living together in Grandma Fifi's Hollywood home. There is a level of magical realism that suits the storyline. Yet I found myself confused at times. There is no clear timeline. The story begins when Weetzie and Dirk meet in highschool. Soon they are going to concerts and bars, hanging out at Grandma Fifi’s house. After Grandma Fifi dies and leaves the house to Dirk and Weetzie, I was no longer clear on the ages of the protagonists. Were they still teens or young adults? Wikipedia states that Weetzie is about 23 years old at the end of the first novel, but I don’t agree with that assessment. She could be any age. Although not openly stated it is obvious that Block is talking about the AIDS crisis when she discusses the friends that have died in the gay community. I wish she had been more open, speaking more clearly about the disease. I deeply appreciate the honesty and hopefulness portrayed in this novel.
This is a very short easy-to-read novel. It is also part of a series of books called Dangerous Angels. The series includes Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop.
Information about the author
Born on December 3, 1962, Francesca Lia Block is a native of Los Angeles. Weetzie Bat was written while she was attending UC Berkeley. She is a prolific writer who has completed more than 25 novels. In 2005 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Library Association. You can find out more about her at http://www.francescaliablock.com/.
Genre
Fiction, Contemporary Issues
Curriculum ties
None
Challenge Issues
This book is loaded with controversial issues. Librarians should be prepared for challenges. Issues will include: sexuality, homosexuality, and abortion.
Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Weetzie-Bat-Francesca-Lia-Block/dp/0060736259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258216146&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss how Weetzie doesn’t like high school very much because no one understands.
2. Talk about how she meets Dirk and they become best friends.
3. Mention that Dirk is a young gay man.
4. Talk about the images of magical realism in the story (Genie, and Lanka Witch).
Reading Level/Age
Young Adult. Ages 16 and up.
Why I included this title
This book was suggested by SJSU Assistant Professor Joni Bodart as a "must read."
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