Weetzie Bat

Block, F. L. (1989). Weetzie Bat. New York: Harper & Row.  
ISBN: 970064408183. Paperback. $7.95, 128 pages
Other Formats: Audiobook and eBook

Recommended for ages 14 and up

Image Courtesy of Goodreads

AWARDS:

•  ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
• ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

• ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• Parents' Choice Gold Award 
• (Retrieved from the Publisher's Website. )

Annotation: Weetzie and her eccentric group of friends are reinventing the norm in 1980's Los Angeles. They are living by their own set of rules.

Excess and eclecticism are standard fare in the 1980s, both especially permeate Los Angeles during this time period; and Weetzie Bat, an older teen, brilliantly personifies this subculture through her blonde, flattop hairstyle and Native American accessories. In her journey to adulthood, Weetzie Bat soon meets her soul mate and eccentric best friend Dirk, and she also forms a tight bonds with Dirk’s grandmother, who ends up bequeathing to Weetzie a magical lamp in her will. Thanks to an obliging genie, Weetzie gains 2 other unconventional friends named Duck and My Secret Agent Lover Man, as well as a little fairytale cottage that once belonged to Dirk’s grandmother. All 4 friends move into the cottage and decide to embark into show business together. Things are progressing quite smoothly until Weetzie Bat decides she wants to become a mother. Ultimately, with this revelation, friendship and loyalties are tested as precious boundaries are crossed. Just how far can the envelope be pushed before it falls to the ground?

This book is rather a quick read, since it is only 113 pages, but it definitely packs a punch. This book borders on the Chick Lit side, so if you are not a fan of that genre, you may want pass on this title. I enjoyed reading Weetzie Bat because the character is unlike any other that I have ever encountered. Weetzie Bat thrives on being--> different. Even though the beginning starts off somewhat lighthearted, the story quickly crosses into a pretty gritty territory. A number of taboo subjects are addressed, such as divorce, promiscuity, homosexuality, and Aids. I would recommend this book to teens in the 8^th grade and beyond. This story is definitely one that you will think about long after finishing it.