Customer Reviews

Rooster

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Back in 1962 a migrant couple, whose third child has just been born is befriended by the elderly owners of a small Florida citrus orchard. The trees in the orchard have just been destroyed by a major freeze, and the migrant couple are given their American dream opportunity: they get to buy the land at a price they can afford, replace the trees, and wait seven years for the first crop. In the meantime the father supports the family by working at the local citrus processing plant. The mom helps make ends meet by buying cheap, tacky clothes and cans of "surprise" food--the ones which the labels have dropped off of. And the kids have a healthy schedule of never-ending chores in order to make it all work.

"Look over yonder, what do you see, the sun is a-rising, most definitely..."

Living next door are a father and his two sons, the remaining members of a family who had escaped by sea from Cuba. The younger son is the brain-damaged Rooster.

My reaction to ROOSTER is affected by my ability to relate to the main character, Kady, whose mid-1950's fictional birth was within a year of my own. The story, primarily set in 1969, is well ornamented with references to the clothing, music, TV commercials, and news of the day.

But, to me, it is the background tale of Kady's parents which really drives the story. The way Kady "is" and the way she and her brother respond to the culture and consumerism surrounding them can only be understood when you understand the way they have been raised.

"...I see the bad moon arising. I see trouble on the way. I see earthquakes and lightnin'. I see bad times today..."

My first thoughts of ninth grade (1969) are Woodstock and the Chicago 7 trial. But to Kady's parents, 1969 is to be the long-awaited first commercial crop that their orchard will produce.

Rooster has always called Kady his "madrina," his godmother; he believes that Kady can always make everything okay. But Kady is coming of age and becomes girlfriend to the son of a wealthy Florida land developer. The main story here is what happens when Kady and Jon's careless young love affects everyone around them, especially Rooster.

"What does it take to win your love for me? How can I make this dream come true for me?.."

This is a marvelous tale with a wealth of drama, romance, humor, cruelty, drugs, and rock 'n roll. This first novel by Beth Nixon Weaver is a 12 and up which I see as acceptable for classroom use: The romance is sensual, not sexual--the content is limited to kissing and the ambiguous "making out." Marijuana use is central to the story and is bound to be the catalyst for some important discussions.

"...And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make..."

This novel may be set in the Sixties, but it is SO much like high school life NOW. I know girls just as maddening as the girls Kady had to deal with--like Madison who is soooo superior to everyone and Charlotte who is embarrassed to be seen with Kady, unless she needs her for something. Once I got started reading this, I stayed up all night just to finish it. I know guys like Jon, too, who amaze you with their charm and fun-loving ways, then break your heart. Not only are they too cute for their own good, but they never scratch under the surface and get to know who you really are. It was a very moving scene in the hospital when Kady finally had the strength to stand up for what was right, even if it meant breaking up with Jon. She stopped smoking pot, too, not really because of Rooster, but because she realized that life was better when your eyes are wide open, even if it hurts some of the time.

This book made me realize a lot of things. Like, who would believe that rural Florida could be so incredibly beautiful? I can just picture the creaking bamboo and the orange groves and sitting around with my friends in a ravine. It made me realize, too, the importance of family, even crazy families like Kady's. And the importance of taking care of people like Rooster who embarrass and annoy you to death. Mostly, it made me realize that love can be found where you'd least expect it.

Most of this story is an enjoyable coming-of-age story in which a teenage girl starts to evaluate people on their merits instead of appearances. However, those of you who remember the ridiculous propaganda movies about marijuana they used to show in Health classes will recognize a silly scene right out of those films. A boy inadvertantly eats marijuana brownies and then--remember this?--thinks he can fly and so injures himself badly. I suspect today's readers will see this for what it is--inaccurate and manipulative.

Rooster, by new author Beth Nixon Weaver, weaves together a story set in the 1960's about a young girl who longs to get away from the poverty of the Florida orange grove that she lives on. While enjoying the activities that typify the sixties, which are written in a style that brings them to life, Kady learns from a young retarded neighbor the true meanings of life, even though that lessons almost costs the young boy's life. Nominated for the 2002 American Librarian Association's Best Book Award, Rooster is a pleasure to read and breath of fresh Florida air to the current book scene.

Beth Nixon Weaver is a powerful new voice among writers for young adults. In Rooster she has created the kind of memorable characters and vividly real settings that stay with you in the days after you finish the book. I find myself thinking often about Kady, fifteen and restless, determined to bridge the gap between her hardscrabble homelife and the lifestyle of the rich kids across the lake. Fragile, brain-damaged young neighbor Rooster, Kady's unwanted, worshipful shadow, is pathetically real. Flamboyantly senile Grampsie, who likes to wear her spiked tree-climbing boots around the house, is unforgettable! The gaudily painted ramshackle houses squatting on the edge of a dusty orange grove in the unair-conditioned Florida of the 1960s remain in my mind's eye still. Weaver is also a master plotter-her sinister clues kept me in a state of pleasurable dread, wondering what was going to happen, when, and to whom. But although I kept turning pages far into the night, I was never able to predict how the story would end.

Rooster is one of the most inspiring novels I have ever read! All the characters were so real that they are still kicking around in my head--especially Rooster. I can't wait to read a sequel so I'll know what happens next--especially between Kady and Tony. The is one of the best books I've ever read about relationships between people and learning to find out who you really are. I was very moved by the scene where the frail Rooster searches for his pet goose, believing he really is his O Mighty Protector. In the end, Rooster becomes the strong one in the ways that matter. The other reason I loved this book was because it is as funny as it is serious.

I got stuck at a book store for three hours yesterday and picked up this wacky book. This book is about a dirt-poor farm girl, Kady, that is idolized by a cuban refugee who happens to be retarded. While smimming in a muddy lake, Kady almost gets run over by a rich pot-head whom she falls in love with. As time goes on, she too gets involved with pot, causing her to spend more and more time with Jon the pot-head and less and less time with Rooster the retard. This is fine until Rooster decides to tag along with Kady and Jon. Whoops, can't go on, but you should. This book changes anyone who reads it because the characters seem real, the plot is meaningful, and the moral is touching. This is a must read!

This book is sad and funny and about the sixties. My favorite scene is when Kady washes her huge pig, Rosie, while cursing her life of endless chores. When she goes skinny dipping in the lake afterwards, Jon, this boy she has a crush on, shows up in his ski boat and invites her to this island across the lake where his friends hang out.

I tried to read this book several times. Not sure what it was about. Poor choice. Thank You.

I absolutley loved this book. I think that it is a great book for adults and children. The characters are real and well rounded. You will fall in love with Rooster espeacially. The wonderful details will weave a perfect picture for you of this world that the author created. I think that there is a little bit of everyone in this book, and you can recongnize yourself in it. Highly recommended.