FEATHERS by Jacqueline Woodson

Bibliography
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. Feathers. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 9780399239892

Plot Summary
Frannie lives with her family on the side of the highway where all the African Americans live with their own school, library, and grocery stores. Her brother, Sean, is deaf; she admires her teacher, Ms. Johnson; she has a best friend, Samantha, that is religious; and she has a close relationship with her family. Life is the normal routine until a new boy, called Jesus, joins her sixth grade class and neighborhood. Jesus brings hope to some and draws envy from others. Most importantly, he causes Frannie to view life from a different perspective.

Critical Analysis
Feathers is told from the point of view of sixth grader Frannie. It covers her thoughts and actions during a period of Frannie’s life where she learns an important life lesson about people and what makes life so meaningful. We learn about Frannie’s thoughts, everyday life, relationships, and personality. Through Frannie’s eyes, readers become attached to a family living in 1971.

Anyone with a loving, close-knit family can relate to Frannie’s experiences. Like all families, Frannie’s family is unique. The family in this story is unique because they are African American and one child is deaf. One may think these two facts may prevent some readers from understanding such a story, but this is not true. The ideals, hopes, and struggles in Frannie’s world are real to many. For example, Frannie’s mother has experienced a few miscarriages and is afraid of having another. Jesus looks different from the other children, and so they shy away from him. Trevor is the school bully, and the kids avoid him whenever possible. Because of these everyday occurrences that can happen to anyone, it is easy to get lost into the story of a family instead of focusing on the fact that the family represents a minority group.

However, Feathers is not so universal that it overlooks the African American culture. The cultural markers are dead on accurate. In fact, being an African American myself, the story leaves me nostalgic. I too grew up in an all African American neighborhood in the 1970s. Such elements like the playground chants, races sticking to their respective sides of town, the importance of going to church, and the songs the family listen to are all familiar to me. I love the Jackson 5, missing church was a scandal, and I loved to play “Down, Down Baby.” I wore my hair mostly in braids, and unbraided hair was too mature looking for a child. Best of all, the story describes the different shades of brown an African American can be. Trevor, the bully, has white skin and blue eyes. Frannie is brown-skinned.

Woodson also gives us a peak into the world of being deaf. Sean, Frannie’s brother, is deaf. Frannie and her whole family are bilingual because of it; they speak sign language. Others treat Sean unfairly because he is deaf. Therefore, the story explores the different ways in which discrimination can occur. Woodson’s message is that any perceived difference could cause discrimination. This may be a good discussion to have with children who read this book. Adults who have read this book may also have to explain to children the reason why the book is titled Feathers. The message may escape younger middle schoolers and deserves extra reflection.

Woodson presents a lovely story told from a child’s point of view. It describes the hardships and prejudices a family can face as well as the imaginings of a sixth grade child. It explores hope and the beauty of life.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• John Newbery Medal, 2008 - Honor Book
•  Booklist: "Woodson tells her story with immediacy and realism through the stirring first-person narrative of a young girl, Frannie, growing up in 1971."
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "In a seamless, stirring narrative, Jacqueline Woodson explores how assumptions and labels are barriers to genuine understanding and meaningful relationships." 
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "Those who read for plot will be left wanting more, but readers of a more philosophical turn of mind may appreciate the way the novel probes ordinary circumstances for their potential for luminous insight."
• VOYA: " . . . this book is dynamic as it speaks to real issues that teens face. It is a wonderful and necessary purchase for public and school libraries alike."

  Connections

• Other award winning books by Jacqueline Woodson for middle schoolers:
  After Tupac & D Foster. ISBN 9780399246548
  Hush. ISBN 0399231145
  Locomotion. ISBN 0399231153
  Miracle's Boys. ISBN 0399231137
  Peace, Locomotion. ISBN 9780399246555
• Feathers explores heavy topics such as discrimination, differences, hope, racism, and relationships. After reading this book, take time to discuss some of the issues that the story addresses.
• Jacqueline Woodson is a prolific writer with many award-winning books. Check out her website at http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/.