Title:

Feathers                                                            'Tween #1

Author:

Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator:

None

Publisher:

Putnam

Date:

2007

ISBN:

9780399239892

# of Pages (Readership):

118 (Intermediate/Middle School)

Genre

Realistic fiction

Diversity

African American protagonist Frannie, Jesus Boy, white student in all-black school

Plot Summary:

1971- Frannie (6^th grade) lives on black side of highway – brother Sean (2 years older) deaf – Mama pregnant (afraid of losing another baby) - Teacher Ms. Johnson – poetry – “Hope is the thing with feathers…” (Emily Dickinson – p. 3) – new boy in class – only “white” – kids call him Jesus Boy – JB’s father is black – JB not accepted on white side of highway – F’s best friend Samantha, daughter to Christian minister - Trevor class bully (broken arm) – picks fight with JB – swings, misses, falls – Frannie and JB help him up (pp. 84-90) – bond of honesty between the two

Illustrations:

None

Theme(s):

Doing the “right” thing can be difficult.

Family members stick together and support one another.

Bullies get their due.

Personal Response:

Woodson’s characters are well drawn, Frannie and Jesus Boy in particular. Over the course of the story, Frannie develops increasing empathy for other people’s feelings, particularly to Sean’s, Trevor’s, and JB’s. The story rings true. Some readers may be surprised that JB’s adopted father is African American. Touching scenes – insight into JB and Trevor – p. 93 and p. 103

Curricular or Programming Connections:

Prejudice

Bullies

Strong Families

Religious Beliefs (bit of Jesus inside all of us)

Note to self: Writer’s Block – p. 110 – imagine feelings if can’t remember them