Witch Baby (Weetzie Bat) (Paperback)

by Francesca Lia Block (Author) "Once upon a time..." (more)
Key Phrases: witch baby, baby witch, witch child, Witch Baby, Angel Juan, Santa Cruz (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
One of kids' favorite characters in Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series is Witch Baby: a tangly haired, purple-eyed girl who can curl her toes into cashew shapes. She's a bit of an outsider, more in touch with feelings and portents than the rest of the gang from Shangri-L.A. In Witch Baby and Missing Angel Juan, we're able to watch Witch Baby work through some of her feelings of alienation. Her willingness to explore darker emotional realms is a real inspiration, and, in fact, she seems more evolved and "whole" than the others. In Missing Angel Juan, Witch Baby finally finds a way to create her own sense of belonging. She finds out more about her history and her unique needs to push through some of the shyness and moodiness that has always kept her separate from others.

From Kirkus Reviews
This sequel to the extraordinary Weetzie Bat (1989) revisits L.A.'s frenetic pop world, again using exquisitely crafted language to tell a story whose glitzy surface veils thoughtful consideration of profound contemporary themes. Witch Baby--child of Weetzie Bat's lover (My Secret Agent Lover Man) and taloned Jayne Mansfield-groupie Vixanne Wigg--is at odds with all her complicated family (which still includes gay lovers Dirk and Duck). She's jealous of Weetzie's daughter Cherokee, beloved of Raphael, biracial son of other characters in book #1; she's a drummer whose music echoes her inner turmoil and a photographer whose disturbing shots reflect her distress at the world's horror--a glowering personality whose excesses trouble both herself and others. Still, like Weetzie Bat's, Witch Baby's quest for meaning ends on an up beat: though her first love is deported to Mexico, there's hope of finding him again; meanwhile, her honesty results in a reconciliation between Duck and his mom; Witch Baby also learns who her ``real'' parents are and returns to the fold after meeting the many-masked Vixanne. Like her adoptive mother, Witch Baby is painfully aware of many kinds of cruelty--to the homeless, to the environment, to people who are ``different''; but, again, generosity and love triumph in a far-from-perfect world. Block's deft wordplay, connections, and allusions continue to delight in this satisfying extension, which will be most easily enjoyed by those familiar with the earlier book. (Fiction. YA+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (October 30, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064470652
• ISBN-13: 978-0064470650
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #234,301 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Block's best, June 1, 1999

By A Customer

The first book I've ever read of the Weetzie Bat collection was Baby Be Bop. After that experience I was hooked forever. This book, however, would have to have been one of Block's very best. It was so whimsical, magical, and painful, that even though it was very short, I just couldn't put it down. Find out for yourself and read this slinkster-cool book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book in the series, February 9, 1999

By	"pazy" (Rochester, New York USA) - See all my reviews

I had read Weetzie Bat and the Goat Guys. It had seemed like a nice book so I decided to read the rest of the series. I was upset though when I discovered that the second book in the series was about Witch Baby. She just didn't seem to be one of the nicer characters in Weetzie Bat. But I decided I should at least try to read through this one before going on to the next book in the series. Boy was I surprised when Witch Baby turned out to be on of my favorite characters of all time and this turned out to be one of my favorite books of all time! This may have been the only book I ever read which made me cry almost every single moment I was reading. I was able to relate to Witch Baby just a little too well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and Magical, June 30, 2002

By	"dragon_angel" (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews

Witch baby the book stands out among the other works in the Dangerous Angels series just as Witch Baby the character does from her colourful, sparkling, and seemingly wonderful almost-family in glittering LA. The story of Witch Baby is written from the point of view of a mysterious, elf-like little girl with a dark, secretive, and magical nature about her. She lives in a world of family, friends, sunshine and movies, but never feels that she really belongs to it. Is it because she's the daughter of a witch? Because she never knew who her father was? Whatever the reason, Witch Baby is determined to find her place in the world (most importantly in her own family), and opens peoples eyes in her own mysterious Witch Baby way. I love this book because it really makes the reader see things from a unique point of view, using the colourful imagery and feeling that Francesca Lia Block is known for. This is a particularly good read for adolescent and teenage girls, but I would encourage anyone to try it, because I think everyone can relate to Witch Baby and her struggle to fit in at some point in their lives.