Book Review for FEATHERS (Genre 6)

Please note: The following book review has been completed as part of coursework for Texas Woman's University.

1. Bibliography
Woodson, Jacqueline. Feathers. New York: G. P. Puntnam's Sons.

2. Plot Summary
In the early 1970s, a new boy arrives at Frannie's school in which all of the students are African-American.  The new boy quickly gains the epithet Jesus Boy and is teased by some of the students for being white, even though he claims he isn't.  Frannie's best friend, Samantha, believes that the new boy really is Jesus, but Frannie thinks that's ridiculous.  Throughout the story, Frannie deals with difficult issues such as her brother's deafness, her mother's previous miscarriages and pending pregnancy, as well as her own issues of faith and hope.

3. Critical Analysis
The character of Frannie goes on an internal journey of trying to discover hope.  The emotional growth she achieves by the end is critical to the novel because Frannie finds hope in everyday occurrences.  The plot is original and intriguing.  Readers will find themselves just as curious about the Jesus Boy as the students at Price.  Although the setting is in the 1970s, the story could happen in any time period because the themes of racism, hope, faith, and bullying occur even today.  Young readers will be able to identify with Frannie's struggles of growing up and trying to understand life.  Through Frannie's thoughts and dialogue, the reader can understand why she has little hope in her mother's current pregnancy since she's already lost two other babies.  But in the end, Frannie's discovery of hope is subtle and emerges naturally from the story.  The dialogue of the characters is believable for their young age and time period.  The author has struck just the right balance between dialogue and narration, and the first person point-of-view from Frannie's perspective allows readers to see into her mind.  The main character is female and is balanced by a sensitive male character, Jesus Boy.  The culture of the time is evident through the children's resentment of Jesus Boy for being white, not black like the rest of them.  Overall, Feathers is an engaging story that presents real people with real problems that transcend time.

4. Review Excerpts
Newbery Honor Book-2008
Oprah's Book Club Kids Reading List selection 

Publishers Weekly, Starred review: "Woodson’s novel skillfully weaves in the music and events surrounding the rising opposition to the Vietnam War, giving this timeless story depth.  She raises important questions about God, racial segregation and issues surrounding the hearing-impaired with a light and thoughtful touch."
School Library Journal, Starred review: "he story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice."

5. Connections 
Teachers might wish to pair this book with picture books about hope to introduce the theme.
Foreman, Michael. A Child's Garden: A Story of Hope. ISBN 9780763642716
Graham, Bob. Spirit of Hope. ISBN 1572552026
Olmos, Gabriela. I Dreamt: A Book About Hope. ISBN 9781554983308

Readers might also like to read more of Jacqueline Woodson's work for an author study.
Woodson, Jacqueline. Each Kindness. ISBN 0399246525
Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac and D Foster. ISBN 0142413992
Woodson, Jacqueline. Hush. ISBN 0142415510