Frannie is a sixth grader in a mostly Black neighborhood in the early 1970s, living with her deaf older brother and thinking about an Emily Dickinson poem that calls hope the thing with feathers. When a new classmate arrives who is white, the other kids nickname him Jesus Boy because of his long hair and pale look, and whispers follow. Frannie has to work out what she believes about faith, difference and what hope looks like.
This short novel suits young readers, roughly ten and up, who like quiet stories that handle race, religion and family with care. Adults sharing it with a class will find plenty to discuss in its small scenes.
Inward-looking, clear-cut and thought-provoking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2007
- Language
- EN
