Feathers

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. Feathers. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399239892

PLOT SUMMARY

There is a new student in Frannie’s sixth grade classroom.  He is white, unlike any of the other students, but insists that he isn’t.  The new student, Jesus Boy, impacts the other students’ lives, and especially Frannie’s, in unexpected ways.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The characters in this story offer unique experiences and viewpoints.  Child readers will be able to relate to the protagonist, Frannie.  As a sixth grader, many of her views will be relatable to other children.  Older readers will be able to understand deeper implications of her observations.  For example, it was obvious to me that her mother was pregnant when she complained of the exhaustion, which is something that younger readers would not understand. 

Woodson’s character descriptions are unique in that she is able to create a completely vivid image of characters without giving explicit details about their physical appearance.  As I was reading the story, I was able to picture all of the characters in my mind, very easily.  Upon further reflection, I realized that Woodson’s descriptions of the character’s mannerisms gave me more of a visual image than her descriptions of their appearances.  For example, Woodson writes about Frannie’s friend, Samantha: “She unfolded a tissue to blow her nose.  When she blew it, she leaned down and away from the table like I wouldn’t have thought of doing.  She even excused herself afterward” (11).  As a result, I pictured Samantha as a prim and proper girl.  Further description cemented this image.  Although Frannie is definitely the main character, the other characters are well-developed.

When Jesus Boy becomes a student in the classroom, he doesn’t fit in.  Any child who has ever transferred schools will be able to identify with this.  Frannie herself can identify with it because she was once a month late starting school because of the chicken pox.  Jesus Boy also knows sign language like Frannie.  Jesus Boy brings tension to the classroom and the climax and conclusion focus on Jesus Boy establishing his place in the classroom’s society.  There are secondary plotlines throughout the story, like Frannie’s search for religion and meaning, her mother’s pregnancy, and Sean’s attempts to fit in to a world where others can hear when he can’t.

Frannie lives with her deaf brother, Sean, and her parents in the black side of town. It is 1971, but the year is irrelevant to the overall plot of the story.  A majority of the story takes place in Frannie’s home and at her school.  Woodson is able to create a vibrant setting with her descriptions.  I found her descriptions of Frannie’s apartment building to be especially noteworthy (17-18).  By referencing the other side of the highway, the author effectively conjures up images of segregation.

The theme of this novel is hope, but other themes include religion and race.  The story begins with Frannie exploring a poem of hope that her teacher introduced in class.  Throughout the remainder of the story, Frannie seeks to explain the metaphor.

Woodson makes this story authentic to the 1970s by incorporating “jive talk” into the dialogue between characters.  This does not take away from the content, but gives important cultural context to the characters.  The dialogue seems natural in all parts of the book-- the way the children address each other, Frannie’s discussions with her brother, and Frannie’s interactions with her parents and grandmother.  Frannie’s internal dialogue is natural, as well and is endearing.  Woodson has the ability to write in a way that is not only believable, but absolutely lovely.

After reading this story, I can fully understand why Jacqueline Woodson won a Newbery Honor for it.  This book affected me in a way that no other story has before.  

I have never cried because of the sheer beauty of a book.  Until I read Feathers. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “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.”

Starred review in School Library Journal: “The story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice.”

CONNECTIONS

Readers who enjoyed Feathers might also enjoy the following books by Jacqueline Woodson:

Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac and D Foster. ISBN 0142413992

Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion. ISBN 0142415529