Bibliographic Data: Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. Feathers. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780399239892
Plot Summary:
Franny is struggling to figure out the world around her, which is hard at any age, but it is especially trying for an eleven-year-old girl. Will her mom be okay? Is this new boy really Jesus? Why is he at this school? How does he know how to sign? What does Emily Dickinson mean when she says, “Hope is the thing with feathers?” Why is Samantha so pious? How is faith so easy for others? What would I say to Jesus (if there is one!) if I had the chance? This is the story of Franny growing in; her faith, her resolve, acceptance, and most importantly, in hope.
Critical Analysis:
“Feathers” is a novel told in four parts by Frannie, an eleven-year-old girl, who attends an all black middle school. One day, a new boy shows up at school, and because he is white he is the target of much ridicule and speculation. Frannie’s classmates assume that he has a white father or mother, and that he would fair better at the white schools across the freeway, not knowing that he just moved from there after having a hard time fitting in with his classmates. Her fellow classmates call this new kid “Jesus Boy”, based on his appearance, and her best friend, the pious Samantha, is almost intoxicated by the thought that it really could be him.
“Hope is the thing with feathers”. This quote from an Emily Dickinson poem that Frannie learns in school both confuses and fascinates her. Everything around her is strictly, black and white, and/or, cause and effect relationship. She knows how the world works. So much so, that you could basically diagram her every thought in the first two parts of this novel. For instance:
Mom tired --> Sick/Pregnant --> Inevitable Miscarriage --> Everyone will be sad.
If her mother is in bed in the middle of the afternoon, then her mother is sick. If she is sick, she is probably pregnant, and most likely will miscarry. Her and her brother made it full term in their mother’s belly, and therefore they are miracles. If mother gets pregnant again, she will get sick, the baby will die, and things will be solemn in their home again.
Girl finds brother cute --> Finds out he is deaf --> Is no longer interested .
If a “hearing” person talks to her deaf brother, she automatically assumes they will not be interested in him once they find out he is deaf.
Why are things this way? Simply put, Frannie has not quite learned how to hope. Things are just the way they seem. This is not a surprise, as things are pretty rough in 1971 where “Feathers” takes place, and segregation is still a paramount issue. Woodson exemplifies this in her strong use of symbolism.
There is a large freeway, which splits their town by race, and this is a clear representation of the black and white divide. When the new boy starts going to her school, things do not go well for him because he the lone white boy. Frannie does not hope for things to be any different, because she has never been shown that things can be. He is different, and therefore he does not belong.
However, as the novel progresses, so too does Frannie. She develops a strong sense of empathy and this is evident in many ways. After an awful case of the chicken pox she started school two months behind her peers, and so she too, knows how hard it is to be the new kid. This encourages her to give “Jesus Boy” a chance.
At one point, Trevor, the class bully and racist, is being really mean to the new kid, who ends up hurting him, and so he starts crying. Instead of simply stating that Trevor is getting what he deserves, Frannie intervenes and comforts him, much to the chagrin of Samantha. Samantha, seeing the new boy’s ability to hurt others, decides “Jesus Boy” is not really Jesus after all; “I was hoping so hard that Jesus had come back and had come right into our classroom. […]But he is not the real Jesus.” Instead of implying that Samantha was silly to have believed this, Frannie posits that perhaps “Maybe Jesus is the hope that you [Samantha] were feeling.”
Frannie finally understands that “Hope is the thing with feathers” indeed, as it is always there, a type of floating faith or belief system that spreads it’s expansive gilded wings, to shade everyone with the idea that things will be okay. Luckily for Franny, eventually they are.
Cultural and Historical Markers:
There is an abundance of historical and cultural markers present in “Feathers”, and this really helps the reader connect with the story, and the time. Woodson paints a clear picture with her words, having the characters use “Jive Talk”, which was popular in the 70s. Frannie has a pick for her hair that has a Black Power emblem on it. Ray Ray wears a shirt with a Black Power fist. The black panthers are mentioned. The author alludes to the Vietnam War, as well as the Black Panthers. She mentions the band Jackson 5 multiple times, a band that was synonymous with this time period. However, most importantly, Woodson dedicates a lot of time implying just how important Christianity and religion is within most of the characters in this story.
We have recently learned in our current reading for this Multi-Cultural Literature course, that there is a distinct difference in the role that black and white churches play in communities. In black communities, many civil rights activists rose from the ranks of these churches, and it is in these buildings and congregations that African-Americans find refuge, solidarity, and hope.
To further add authenticity to the story, Woodson also refers to the divides or prejudices within the black culture itself. She depicts the Grandmother as disliking the high school girls with their big Afros, as if they have something to prove. She uses Samantha’s friend, an affluent and former private school student, to show that there are still class/socioeconomic issues even within persons on the same side of the freeway.
Review:
Starred Review. Grade 4–7—"Stepped through that door white and softly as the snow," notes sixth-grader Frannie, on the arrival of a pale, long-haired boy to her predominantly black middle school on a winter day in 1971. He is dubbed the Jesus Boy by the class rowdy, and the name seems to suit the newcomer's appearance and calm demeanor. Frannie is confused, not only by declarations that he's NOT white, but that her friend Samantha, daughter of a conservative Baptist minister, also seems to believe that he is Jesus. In light of this and other surprises in her life, Frannie questions her own faith and, most of all, the meaning of the Emily Dickinson poem that she is studying in class, "Hope is a thing with feathers/that perches in the soul/…." How does she maintain hope when her newly pregnant mother has lost three babies already? She also worries about her deaf older brother, Sean, who longs to be accepted in the hearing world. She sees the anger in the bully intensify as he targets Jesus Boy. With her usual talent for creating characters who confront, reflect, and grow into their own persons, Woodson creates in Frannie a strong protagonist who thinks for herself and recognizes the value and meaning of family. The story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice. They will appreciate its wisdom and positive connections.--D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Awards:
Oprah's Kids' Reading Lists - 10-to-12 Years
ALA Notable Children's Books - Older Readers Category – 2008
Newbery Honor – 2007
Connections:
A character growth chart suits this novel very well. Having kids fill in bubbles describing the characters many traits throughout every chapter, or even only for the four parts of this book, would show them how much each character evolves, or in some cases, regress.
Plot Summary:
Franny is struggling to figure out the world around her, which is hard at any age, but it is especially trying for an eleven-year-old girl. Will her mom be okay? Is this new boy really Jesus? Why is he at this school? How does he know how to sign? What does Emily Dickinson mean when she says, “Hope is the thing with feathers?” Why is Samantha so pious? How is faith so easy for others? What would I say to Jesus (if there is one!) if I had the chance? This is the story of Franny growing in; her faith, her resolve, acceptance, and most importantly, in hope.
Critical Analysis:
“Feathers” is a novel told in four parts by Frannie, an eleven-year-old girl, who attends an all black middle school. One day, a new boy shows up at school, and because he is white he is the target of much ridicule and speculation. Frannie’s classmates assume that he has a white father or mother, and that he would fair better at the white schools across the freeway, not knowing that he just moved from there after having a hard time fitting in with his classmates. Her fellow classmates call this new kid “Jesus Boy”, based on his appearance, and her best friend, the pious Samantha, is almost intoxicated by the thought that it really could be him.
“Hope is the thing with feathers”. This quote from an Emily Dickinson poem that Frannie learns in school both confuses and fascinates her. Everything around her is strictly, black and white, and/or, cause and effect relationship. She knows how the world works. So much so, that you could basically diagram her every thought in the first two parts of this novel. For instance:
Mom tired --> Sick/Pregnant --> Inevitable Miscarriage --> Everyone will be sad.
If her mother is in bed in the middle of the afternoon, then her mother is sick. If she is sick, she is probably pregnant, and most likely will miscarry. Her and her brother made it full term in their mother’s belly, and therefore they are miracles. If mother gets pregnant again, she will get sick, the baby will die, and things will be solemn in their home again.
Girl finds brother cute --> Finds out he is deaf --> Is no longer interested .
If a “hearing” person talks to her deaf brother, she automatically assumes they will not be interested in him once they find out he is deaf.
Why are things this way? Simply put, Frannie has not quite learned how to hope. Things are just the way they seem. This is not a surprise, as things are pretty rough in 1971 where “Feathers” takes place, and segregation is still a paramount issue. Woodson exemplifies this in her strong use of symbolism.
There is a large freeway, which splits their town by race, and this is a clear representation of the black and white divide. When the new boy starts going to her school, things do not go well for him because he the lone white boy. Frannie does not hope for things to be any different, because she has never been shown that things can be. He is different, and therefore he does not belong.
However, as the novel progresses, so too does Frannie. She develops a strong sense of empathy and this is evident in many ways. After an awful case of the chicken pox she started school two months behind her peers, and so she too, knows how hard it is to be the new kid. This encourages her to give “Jesus Boy” a chance.
At one point, Trevor, the class bully and racist, is being really mean to the new kid, who ends up hurting him, and so he starts crying. Instead of simply stating that Trevor is getting what he deserves, Frannie intervenes and comforts him, much to the chagrin of Samantha. Samantha, seeing the new boy’s ability to hurt others, decides “Jesus Boy” is not really Jesus after all; “I was hoping so hard that Jesus had come back and had come right into our classroom. […]But he is not the real Jesus.” Instead of implying that Samantha was silly to have believed this, Frannie posits that perhaps “Maybe Jesus is the hope that you [Samantha] were feeling.”
Frannie finally understands that “Hope is the thing with feathers” indeed, as it is always there, a type of floating faith or belief system that spreads it’s expansive gilded wings, to shade everyone with the idea that things will be okay. Luckily for Franny, eventually they are.
Cultural and Historical Markers:
There is an abundance of historical and cultural markers present in “Feathers”, and this really helps the reader connect with the story, and the time. Woodson paints a clear picture with her words, having the characters use “Jive Talk”, which was popular in the 70s. Frannie has a pick for her hair that has a Black Power emblem on it. Ray Ray wears a shirt with a Black Power fist. The black panthers are mentioned. The author alludes to the Vietnam War, as well as the Black Panthers. She mentions the band Jackson 5 multiple times, a band that was synonymous with this time period. However, most importantly, Woodson dedicates a lot of time implying just how important Christianity and religion is within most of the characters in this story.
We have recently learned in our current reading for this Multi-Cultural Literature course, that there is a distinct difference in the role that black and white churches play in communities. In black communities, many civil rights activists rose from the ranks of these churches, and it is in these buildings and congregations that African-Americans find refuge, solidarity, and hope.
To further add authenticity to the story, Woodson also refers to the divides or prejudices within the black culture itself. She depicts the Grandmother as disliking the high school girls with their big Afros, as if they have something to prove. She uses Samantha’s friend, an affluent and former private school student, to show that there are still class/socioeconomic issues even within persons on the same side of the freeway.
Review:
Starred Review. Grade 4–7—"Stepped through that door white and softly as the snow," notes sixth-grader Frannie, on the arrival of a pale, long-haired boy to her predominantly black middle school on a winter day in 1971. He is dubbed the Jesus Boy by the class rowdy, and the name seems to suit the newcomer's appearance and calm demeanor. Frannie is confused, not only by declarations that he's NOT white, but that her friend Samantha, daughter of a conservative Baptist minister, also seems to believe that he is Jesus. In light of this and other surprises in her life, Frannie questions her own faith and, most of all, the meaning of the Emily Dickinson poem that she is studying in class, "Hope is a thing with feathers/that perches in the soul/…." How does she maintain hope when her newly pregnant mother has lost three babies already? She also worries about her deaf older brother, Sean, who longs to be accepted in the hearing world. She sees the anger in the bully intensify as he targets Jesus Boy. With her usual talent for creating characters who confront, reflect, and grow into their own persons, Woodson creates in Frannie a strong protagonist who thinks for herself and recognizes the value and meaning of family. The story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice. They will appreciate its wisdom and positive connections.--D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Awards:
Oprah's Kids' Reading Lists - 10-to-12 Years
ALA Notable Children's Books - Older Readers Category – 2008
Newbery Honor – 2007
Connections:
A character growth chart suits this novel very well. Having kids fill in bubbles describing the characters many traits throughout every chapter, or even only for the four parts of this book, would show them how much each character evolves, or in some cases, regress.