FEATHERS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. FEATHERS. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN: 0-399-23989-8

PLOT SUMMARY

Frannie is an African American sixth grade girl who attends a school that has a predominately black population.  Although there is no more official segregation in 1971, the highway separates the African American community from the white community causing Frannie to wonder what life is like on the other side of town.  When a white boy with long, curly hair shows up in Frannie's classroom, she immediately wonders what has brought him to her school and remembers how she felt in first grade when she was the new student.    Because of his appearance and his ability to calmly ignore the school bully, the students nick name him "Jesus Boy."  Frannie feels badly for Jesus Boy and becomes more interested in him when she realizes that he knows sign language.  Through her conversations with her deaf brother and her new friendship with Jesus Boy, Frannie starts to see life differently and is able to find hope for herself and her family.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jacqueline Woodson uses Frannie, an eleven year-old girl, to tell a story on the subject of racism and hope in her novel, FEATHERS.  This book is set during the early 1970’s when parts of America were still practicing segregation although it had officially ended.  All readers, regardless of skin color, will be able to relate to Frannie’s struggles of friendship, religion, and family issues. Woodson uses Frannie’s internal thought processes and conversations and interactions with the other characters help the reader to fully understand these struggles.

While every culture will be able to connect with this story, Woodson writes from her own race to share the African American culture. Through the description of the cornrows and Afro hairstyles, the fried chicken and greens that Frannie’s family eats for dinner, the different skin types and colors, and the “jive” language spoke by the characters as they call each other “cat” or “brother-man,” it is obvious that the story is showing life from the African American point of view.  The cultural details included show the time period which this story is set as well as the fact that African Americans are the cultural focus of this story. 

Everything that Frannie has worried about comes together at the end of the story.  Frannie’s mother is doing well with her pregnancy, Trevor, the bully, starts to change his ways, Jesus Boy is starting to be accepted by everyone, she understands more about her brother, and Frannie realizes that hope is alive in everyone.  The combination of well represented cultural aspects, the development of believable characters, and the interwoven message of religion, hope, and acceptance makes this book one young adults would surely enjoy. 

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newbery Honor 2008

"The theme of "hope" recurs in the description of the Black Power movement, and in Frannie's musings on the Emily Dickinson poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers." Developing this metaphor, Woodson captures perfectly the questions and yearnings of a girl perched on the edge of adolescence, a girl who readers will take into their hearts and be glad to call their friend." Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2007)


"Set in 1971, Woodson's novel skillfully weaves in the music and events surrounding the rising opposition to the Vietnam War, giving this gentle, timeless story depth. She raises important questions about God, racial segregation and issues surrounding the hearing-impaired with a light and thoughtful touch."  Publishers Weekly (January 8, 2007)

"As sixth-grader Frannie puzzles over the meaning of a line from an Emily Dickinson poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers," lots of questions start coming up. What does the music her deaf brother hears sound like? Why is Mama so tired during the day? How come the new white boy in class named Jesus says he's not white, and could he possibly be the Jesus, as Frannie's friend Samantha thinks? How does it feel to have that kind of faith, anyway? Frannie eventually works out her own answers, finding hope not in Samantha's big miracles but in everyday bits of goodness-the "moments" her teacher tells her to write about." Horn Book (March/April, 2007)

CONNECTIONS

-Discussion Questions - http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/feathers.html

-Biography on Jacqueline Woodson - http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/bio.shtml

-Other books by Jacqueline Woodson:

     LOCOMOTION. ISBN: 0-14-241552-9

     PEACE LOCOMOTION. ISBN: 0-399-24655-X

-RULES by Cynthia Lord. ISBN:0-439-44383-0   Deals with a family member with a disability