Weetzie Bat

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
Original ISBN 978-0-06-073625-5
HarperCollins, 1989
109 pages.

Plot Summary: Weetzie Bat and Dirk are truly two-of-a-kind: they enjoy movies, wearing funky clothes, and the uniqueness that is Los Angeles. They are each other’s best friends. Dirk’s Grandma Fifi gives Weetzie a magic lamp. A genie pops out to grant Weetzie three wishes. Weetzie wishes for a “Duck for Dirk, and My Secret Agent Lover Man for me, and a beautiful house for us to live in happily ever after.” Grandma Fifi dies, leaving her house to Dirk and Weetzie. Dirk meets Duck and falls madly in love. And Weetzie meets My Secret Agent Lover Man (yep, that’s his name). But there are issues that arise when they all try to live happily ever after.

Critical Evaluation: Weetzie Bat was Block’s first book and the first of seven in the Dangerous Angel series. Michael Cart (2004) has said that, “Francesca Lia Block’s Weetzie Bat (HarperCollins) is not only a classic of gay fiction but also one of the most memorable of all young adult novels.”

The book may be considered kitschy to some but it is a book that encompasses a lot of different issues that young adults face. It has a beautiful lyrical quality to it. It also shows how deep and special friendship is.

Reader’s Annotation: When Weetzie Bat and Dirk met in high school, they had no idea what their futures would bring.

Author Information: Block was born in Los Angeles in 1962. Block incorporates the city and its landmarks into her books. Block has written more than 30 books – most are young adult, but she has also written adult fiction, screenplays, and poetry. Block received the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. She is currently developing a series for MTV and is working on a screenplay to bring Weetzie Bat to the big screen.

Her website can be found at http://www.francescaliablock.com/

Genre: Magic-realistic

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: An introduction/description of the characters in this book would be a fun way to start.

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grade 10 and up

Lexile: 960

Challenge Issues: There could be challenge issues due to offensive language, or discussion of AIDS, gay relationships, pregnancy out of wedlock, abortion, or witchcraft. The defense of any book begins with a sound collection development policy, being familiar with the text, and finding positive professional reviews, noting any awards given to the book.

Reason’s for Item’s Inclusion: It is often mentioned as a Young Adult “must read.” I think this novel is truly one-of-a-kind.

Resources:

Cart, M. (2004, Winter). What a wonderful world: Notes on the evolution of GLBTQ literature for young adults. The ALAN Review, 31(2). Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/v31n2/cart.html