Whirligig [Hardcover]

Paul Fleischman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1998

When sixteen-year-old Brent Bishop inadvertently causes the death of a young woman, he is sent on an unusual journey of repentance, building wind toys across the land.

In his most ambitious novel to date, Newbery winner Paul Fleischman traces Brent's healing pilgrimage from Washington State to California, Florida, and Maine, and describes the many lives set into new motion by the ingenious creations Brent leaves behind.

Paul Fleischman is the master of multivoiced books for younger readers. In Whirligig he has created a novel about hidden connections that is itself a wonder of spinning hearts and grand surprises.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After a drunk teenage boy kills a girl while driving, his life is transformed by fulfilling a request of the girl's mother. PW's boxed review called Fleischman's novel "stellar." Ages 12-up. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?Vapid, self-absorbed, status-conscious Brent attends a party at which he suffers a very public rejection by the girl he's been lusting after. Drunk, furious, and unable to deal with his humiliation, he tries to kill himself on the trip home, but his reckless driving kills a stranger instead: a lovely, talented, motivated, high school senior. Though Brent's parents would like to minimize his sense of guilt and his punishment, Brent himself is tormented and longs to make some restitution. The court arranges a meeting with his victim's mother, who asks Brent to "make four whirligigs, of a girl that looks like Lea....Then set them up in Washington, California, Florida, and Maine?the corners of the United States." The brilliant Fleischman has written a beautifully layered, marvelously constructed novel that spins and circles in numerous directions. Readers follow the creation of each whirligig and its impact on one or more observer: a young violinist, a Holocaust survivor, a Puerto Rican street-sweeper. They also follow Brent's journey by bus to the corners of the country and of his journey within himself to find a balance between recrimination and reconciliation. Though Whirligig has linear movement, it impresses readers more with its sense of interconnected spiraling. Brent's skill and inventiveness grow with each whirligig. The emotional responses of those who see his creations likewise vary: some find joy, some peace, some equilibrium. There is enormous vitality and hopefulness expressed in this brief masterwork.?Miriam Lang Budin, Mt. Kisco Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805055827
• ISBN-13: 978-0805055825
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,008,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California, the son of children's book author Sid Fleischman. Drawing on history, music, art, and theater, his books have often experimented with multiple viewpoints and performance. He received the Newbery Medal in 1989 for JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, a Newbery Honor Award for GRAVEN IMAGES, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for BULL RUN, and was a National Book Award finalist for BREAKOUT. He lives on the central coast of California.

For more information, visit paulfleischman.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars incredible story!, November 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whirligig (Hardcover)

As an English teacher, I am always looking for books that will hook my students. This is definitely one of them! I was entranced with this story from the first page. There are so many wonderful subplots in addition to the story of Brent. Everyone can learn valuable lessons by reading this book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Piece by Piece, A Beautiful Read, August 22, 2000

By 

Mary Beth Richardson (Redlands, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whirligig (Mass Market Paperback)

Brent Bishop can never fit in, so he tries to kill himself. Driving home from a party where he is totally humiliated, Brent deliberately crashes his car. He lives, but takes another's life. A young woman, Lea, dies in the accident, & her mother wants only one thing from Brent. He must build four whirligigs in Lea's likeness & place them in the four corners of the United States.

Brent makes his whirligigs much like Paul Fleischman constructs his heartwarming novel. The story moves seamlessly back & forth between Brent's journey to piece his life together, & glimpses into the lives of the fragile people who encounter each whirligig. Their stories in each simple chapter build a satisfying & uplifting whole, just like Brent's creations. This tale of redemption & restoration is a thing of beauty that will bring any reader joy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Harsh Reality of Decision-Making, June 25, 2003

By 

EnglishTeacher (Stanford, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whirligig (Mass Market Paperback)

"We can never know all the consequences of our acts." What a statement! These consequences can be good or bad--it all depends on the direction we choose throughout our lives. Through a tragic accident, Brent Bishop, found these consequences to be an unwanted invitation to the realities of life. Although Whiligig has a heavy lesson for us all, you will find it to be an enjoyable read. It is fast paced and allows you to look at the effects of one decision and how it changes the lives of many different people.

Brent Bishop's family has moved to Chicago because of his father's new job. With his father's increase in salary, Brent is able to go to a private school for the first time. But his new high school does not welcome Brent like he had hoped for. He found himself playing the all-to-familiar game of tyring to fit in with the popular crowd. One night at a party, Brent finds that fitting in with the popular crowd leaves him with the feeling of being rejected. Brent's feelings of rejection take him on a journey which meets a tragic fate.

It's through this tragedy that Brent is forced to find meaning in life. Brent finds forgiveness and a new hope for the future by traveling to the four corners of the country experimenting with his new skills in carpentry.

Sometimes some of the most important lessons are learned through the expense of a tragedy. Paul Fleischman gives us a chance to reflect on how our decisions in life can change us in a split second. But even when we make bad decisions, there is always a lesson to be learned and our lives can more forward. Fleischman also shows us the harsh reality that our decisions not only effect us as an individual but the decision effects the people around us.

This book is great for junior high students who are looking forward to going to high school. It is also good for high school students who are beginning to make life-changing decisions. Plus, there is a lesson on forgiveness for adults. A book is always good when it can target such a varied audience.