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Weetzie Bat #5
Baby Be-Bop
Everyone has a story to tell ...
Dirk McDonald's life was almost perfect. He lived with this grandmother, Fifi, in a beautiful gingerbread cottage in Hollywood. He had the beach, and his surfboard, and Fifi's red-and-white 1955 Pontiac convertible.
But Dirk wasn't happy. Inside, he was harboring a deep, dark secret. And he was afraid that if he admitted it to anyone—even Fifi—he would never be accepted again.
Then one night, Dirk's magic lamp came to life. Suddenly, all the stories from Dirk's past came flowing out of it. On that night, his life changed forever. At last, Dirk learned who he really was, and that any love that is love is right.
Dirk McDonald's life was almost perfect. He lived with this grandmother, Fifi, in a beautiful gingerbread cottage in Hollywood. He had the beach, and his surfboard, and Fifi's red-and-white 1955 Pontiac convertible.
But Dirk wasn't happy. Inside, he was harboring a deep, dark secret. And he was afraid that if he admitted it to anyone—even Fifi—he would never be accepted again.
Then one night, Dirk's magic lamp came to life. Suddenly, all the stories from Dirk's past came flowing out of it. On that night, his life changed forever. At last, Dirk learned who he really was, and that any love that is love is right.
112 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
About the author
Francesca Lia Block
99 books3,341 followersFrancesca Lia Block is the author of more than twenty-five books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association and from the New York Times Book Review, School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly. She was named Writer-in-Residence at Pasadena City College in 2014. Her work has been translated into Italian, French, German Japanese, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Portuguese. Francesca has also published stories, poems, essays and interviews in The Los Angeles Times, The L.A. Review of Books, Spin, Nylon, Black Clock and Rattle among others. In addition to writing, she teaches creative writing at University of Redlands, UCLA Extension, Antioch University, and privately in Los Angeles where she was born, raised and currently still lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 21, 2018
Beautiful book. Lyrical prose with a powerful economy of words that had me weeping numerous times.
The story is both of the time it was published (late 90s) and also timeless. I do wish that Dirk's story wasn't sidelined in the second half of the book, but the story's theme of learning about your past to accept your present and plan your future is a strong one.
The story is both of the time it was published (late 90s) and also timeless. I do wish that Dirk's story wasn't sidelined in the second half of the book, but the story's theme of learning about your past to accept your present and plan your future is a strong one.
February 29, 2024
Along with Emma Bull, Charles deLint, Terry Windling and others, Francesca Lia Block helped to create the genre Urban Fantasy in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Her version is based on a wise and naive, lyrical L. A., Old Hollywood and love-child era California. Great fun, and although awarded for the contributions she made to Young Adult fantasy, her lessons are universal and sweet.
February 29, 2024
4.5 stars
Baby Be-Bop is the prequel story to the Weetzie Bat series. This follows Dirk before he meets Weetzie Bat, fake dates her, and eventually meets the love of his life, Duck, after Weetzie wishes for him to meet his soulmate on a genie's lamp. I think out of all of the Weetzie Bat books, this one is my favorite. There's just something about Dirk's coming of age, and wrestling that I absolutely loved. The writing style was as magical as it always is and this coming-of-age story was such a great set-up for the character we come to love in the series.
Baby Be-Bop is the prequel story to the Weetzie Bat series. This follows Dirk before he meets Weetzie Bat, fake dates her, and eventually meets the love of his life, Duck, after Weetzie wishes for him to meet his soulmate on a genie's lamp. I think out of all of the Weetzie Bat books, this one is my favorite. There's just something about Dirk's coming of age, and wrestling that I absolutely loved. The writing style was as magical as it always is and this coming-of-age story was such a great set-up for the character we come to love in the series.
August 13, 2010
WHat a fantastic book!!
And guess what?!!!
This is NOT the last Weetzie Bat book like I thought. THere's a 6th one out there and a Pre-quel in the works. (I saw it is supposed to be released next August)
Baby Be-Bop is Dirk's story. We met Dirk in the 1st book. I originally thought that Dirk was going to be Weetzie's love interest. I think Weetzie thought that too. But no.. Dirk was meant for Duck :)
This was a very unique story. It was very very Francesca Lia Block!! I've read a few of her books and it seems like every chapter is a different story and they all mesh and mold in the end to become one.
THe Weetzie books have been a tad different. They were all pretty much about the main character.
In Baby Be-Bop we not only hear about Dirk's childhood, but we also hear about his mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa. We even catch a glimpse of Duck. Oh... and what about that lamp we heard about in the first book? Yup! We get its story too.
I adored this book and am now totally stoked that I have not read them all and that there are more (at least one lolz) in the works.
The one line that stuck with me in this story was about Dirk's Dad -DIRBY- he said:
"I wrote poetry from the time I could write. That was the only way I could begin to express who I was but the poems didn't make sense to my teachers. They didn't rhyme. They were about the wind sounds, the planets' motions, never about who I was or how I felt. I didn't think I felt anything. I was this mind more than a body or a heart. My mind photographing the stars, hearing the wind." — Francesca Lia Block
It made me think back to my days in high school. I never followed the rules either.
Here's the front of my reason:
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/3...
And here's the back: http://photo.goodreads.com/photos/128...
LMAO!! It says:
Excellent Design
So dramatic - This bothers me
Is it supposed to?
*It just made me giggle and think of that story.
Hope you guys check out these books! They tuely are fab ;)
And guess what?!!!
This is NOT the last Weetzie Bat book like I thought. THere's a 6th one out there and a Pre-quel in the works. (I saw it is supposed to be released next August)
Baby Be-Bop is Dirk's story. We met Dirk in the 1st book. I originally thought that Dirk was going to be Weetzie's love interest. I think Weetzie thought that too. But no.. Dirk was meant for Duck :)
This was a very unique story. It was very very Francesca Lia Block!! I've read a few of her books and it seems like every chapter is a different story and they all mesh and mold in the end to become one.
THe Weetzie books have been a tad different. They were all pretty much about the main character.
In Baby Be-Bop we not only hear about Dirk's childhood, but we also hear about his mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa. We even catch a glimpse of Duck. Oh... and what about that lamp we heard about in the first book? Yup! We get its story too.
I adored this book and am now totally stoked that I have not read them all and that there are more (at least one lolz) in the works.
The one line that stuck with me in this story was about Dirk's Dad -DIRBY- he said:
"I wrote poetry from the time I could write. That was the only way I could begin to express who I was but the poems didn't make sense to my teachers. They didn't rhyme. They were about the wind sounds, the planets' motions, never about who I was or how I felt. I didn't think I felt anything. I was this mind more than a body or a heart. My mind photographing the stars, hearing the wind." — Francesca Lia Block
It made me think back to my days in high school. I never followed the rules either.
Here's the front of my reason:
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/3...
And here's the back: http://photo.goodreads.com/photos/128...
LMAO!! It says:
Excellent Design
So dramatic - This bothers me
Is it supposed to?
*It just made me giggle and think of that story.
Hope you guys check out these books! They tuely are fab ;)
October 15, 2010
With the three deaths that have happened recently, young people driven beyond the brink from being bullied due to their homosexuality, I was glad when I picked up the final book in the Dangerous Angels series. It gave me some hope.
Baby Be-Bop is a prequel of sorts to Weetzie Bat and tells the story of Dirk McDonald throughout his childhood and entering into adolescence. This is a coming out story of the first order. Dirk realizes from a very young age that he is different and later realizes that he is gay and the ramifications that is going to have for himself and his family.
He agonizes over telling his grandmother Fifi who he worries it will hurt. He struggles with his feelings for his best friend Pup and worries about the effect it will have on their friendship. He gets into trouble, smokes weed, gets a fake ID and sneaks into clubs, dresses as a punk rocker so that no one will mess with him, falls in love and deals with heart break. Baby Be-Bop pulls no punches as Dirk deals with everything from friends that are too afraid to come out of the closet, to finding out that others that are out were not careful and are now suffering from HIV or AIDS.
Finally Dirk ends up struggling with thoughts of suicide and has to find a reason to live, a story that will make him want to live. That's when the magic that is in all of the Dangerous Angels books comes to life and the genie in the lamp appears to give Dirk hope. Baby Be-Bop can be read as a standalone book and if you want to read a magical, fantastical GLBT story then I recommend you read this one. It's short, but to the point. It shows someone being driven to the brink by hatred and being saved by love, hope and understanding.
Baby Be-Bop is a prequel of sorts to Weetzie Bat and tells the story of Dirk McDonald throughout his childhood and entering into adolescence. This is a coming out story of the first order. Dirk realizes from a very young age that he is different and later realizes that he is gay and the ramifications that is going to have for himself and his family.
He agonizes over telling his grandmother Fifi who he worries it will hurt. He struggles with his feelings for his best friend Pup and worries about the effect it will have on their friendship. He gets into trouble, smokes weed, gets a fake ID and sneaks into clubs, dresses as a punk rocker so that no one will mess with him, falls in love and deals with heart break. Baby Be-Bop pulls no punches as Dirk deals with everything from friends that are too afraid to come out of the closet, to finding out that others that are out were not careful and are now suffering from HIV or AIDS.
Finally Dirk ends up struggling with thoughts of suicide and has to find a reason to live, a story that will make him want to live. That's when the magic that is in all of the Dangerous Angels books comes to life and the genie in the lamp appears to give Dirk hope. Baby Be-Bop can be read as a standalone book and if you want to read a magical, fantastical GLBT story then I recommend you read this one. It's short, but to the point. It shows someone being driven to the brink by hatred and being saved by love, hope and understanding.
April 7, 2013
Francesca Lia Block is one of my favorite writers of all time--not just as a young adult or children's author but of all genres. She write in a style that is thickly descriptive, flavored for all of the sense and filled with a sense of innocence with darkness of reality twisted in.
It was actually with Block how I figured out why I liked the young adult genre so much--when it comes to most "adult" novels--outside the genres of romance or horror or mystery--there is a world weariness that usually drapes over the characters. The idea of hope and the art of questioning has usually left the story whereas even with the darkest young adult novel there is a sense of hope or idea of time to come and change things. That's something I definitely lock into.
That said--Baby Be-Bop is the 5th book in the Weetzie Bat series but could simply stand on it's own two feet as a single novel. It tells the story Dirk McDonald growing up in a timeless--though 80s in the series timeline--Los Angeles and figuring out who he is, what he wants and how it fits into the history of his family. There are touches of magic and the punk rock scene, dark thoughts and history played off the magic of first love and desire and something very adult in how this is all pursued.
It is the type of book I wish I could write because it blends so much in with such little effort. It seems like a simple story with a simple goal but it is more about the world and becoming an adult than one would imagine.
It was actually with Block how I figured out why I liked the young adult genre so much--when it comes to most "adult" novels--outside the genres of romance or horror or mystery--there is a world weariness that usually drapes over the characters. The idea of hope and the art of questioning has usually left the story whereas even with the darkest young adult novel there is a sense of hope or idea of time to come and change things. That's something I definitely lock into.
That said--Baby Be-Bop is the 5th book in the Weetzie Bat series but could simply stand on it's own two feet as a single novel. It tells the story Dirk McDonald growing up in a timeless--though 80s in the series timeline--Los Angeles and figuring out who he is, what he wants and how it fits into the history of his family. There are touches of magic and the punk rock scene, dark thoughts and history played off the magic of first love and desire and something very adult in how this is all pursued.
It is the type of book I wish I could write because it blends so much in with such little effort. It seems like a simple story with a simple goal but it is more about the world and becoming an adult than one would imagine.
September 29, 2009
Another of my favorite books, for which there are simply not enough stars. A moving prose poem full of beautiful images and truly human pain and hope, a book about finding yourself, losing love, and holding fast to family. A story about how everyone has a story. Just lovely. Can't recommend it enough.
June 17, 2008
This is one of top five books. Of all the Weetzie Bat books this one was my favorite. It has one of the best ending I ever read in a book. It one of the books I turn to when I need comfort. The style of the author is not for everyone but, I love it.
October 18, 2015
A story of healing, coming out, turning in, magic, tears, and fireflies. I cannot get enough of these stories.
February 19, 2022
3.5 stars.
This is a nice book, and I really appreciated finally getting to know more of Dirk's (and a little bit of Duck's) backstory. They're two characters who are easy to love from the very first time they're introduced in Weetzie Bat, but they're mainly relegated to sidekicks in the first two books (serving as Weetzie's best friends and then as caretakers/confidantes of Witch Baby) before nearly disappearing in the third and fourth books. I can see how this book was probably pretty groundbreaking for its time in how candidly it addresses the topic of coming out and navigating one's sexuality in a way that's accessible to very young teens. It's ultimately uplifting, but it also doesn't shy away from depicting the prejudice and violence that sadly often lurks in the shadows.
That being said, it felt a little too scattered for me following the comparatively tightly-plotted Missing Angel Juan. Block always favors atmosphere and characters over plot, which I usually don't mind, but this book is clearly an attempt to return to the kaleidoscopic and loose nature of the first book, which is a bit more hit or miss here. The entire second half of the book is basically a dream sequence, where Dirk is talked down from his suicidal feelings by visions of his great-grandmother, parents, and future boyfriend that appear to him via a magic genie lamp. I felt like this sequence went on for far too long, and I got a bit bored with it after a certain point because it was just entirely expository dialogue. Still, overall, this book is a poignant way to close out the original series, even though I really expected the final pages to return us to Weetzie and Dirk's first meeting and was slightly let down when they didn't, though maybe that would have detracted from this being Dirk's story, Weetzie's having already been told.
This is a nice book, and I really appreciated finally getting to know more of Dirk's (and a little bit of Duck's) backstory. They're two characters who are easy to love from the very first time they're introduced in Weetzie Bat, but they're mainly relegated to sidekicks in the first two books (serving as Weetzie's best friends and then as caretakers/confidantes of Witch Baby) before nearly disappearing in the third and fourth books. I can see how this book was probably pretty groundbreaking for its time in how candidly it addresses the topic of coming out and navigating one's sexuality in a way that's accessible to very young teens. It's ultimately uplifting, but it also doesn't shy away from depicting the prejudice and violence that sadly often lurks in the shadows.
That being said, it felt a little too scattered for me following the comparatively tightly-plotted Missing Angel Juan. Block always favors atmosphere and characters over plot, which I usually don't mind, but this book is clearly an attempt to return to the kaleidoscopic and loose nature of the first book, which is a bit more hit or miss here. The entire second half of the book is basically a dream sequence, where Dirk is talked down from his suicidal feelings by visions of his great-grandmother, parents, and future boyfriend that appear to him via a magic genie lamp. I felt like this sequence went on for far too long, and I got a bit bored with it after a certain point because it was just entirely expository dialogue. Still, overall, this book is a poignant way to close out the original series, even though I really expected the final pages to return us to Weetzie and Dirk's first meeting and was slightly let down when they didn't, though maybe that would have detracted from this being Dirk's story, Weetzie's having already been told.
June 28, 2017
Once again I find myself struggling with the finer points of what is, essentially, a really beautiful book. The imagery is just delicious and the overall message is right on.
But....
The main character's "solution" to finding himself is magic. Not like he learns to be a magician, but an actual magic lamp that shows him things to help him figure himself out. That won't work for the rest of us. If the book wasn't so rooted in the "real world" until that point, I think it would be easier for the reader to take. I am reminded of Alice Hoffman but where Hoffman preps you ahead of time, Block doesn't lay the groundwork for moving into magical realism as deeply as she does.
It's also a little disheartening that as one of the first widely published books for YAs with a gay character and a driving theme that there are no realistic takes on how to come out, come to grips yourself, and be comfortable with who you are.
I was also confused by the tales that lead Dirk to his wholeness. All of them are stories of heterosexuals with identity issues one would not equate to sexuality. The last story is about a young gay man but it is (in this book) someone Dirk doesn't know or identify with in any way.
This is a better read in along with the rest of the Weetzie Bat series as a pre-quel that gives Dirk's story, but as a stand alone touted as the "fearless YA book with a gay theme" it doesn't work.
But....
The main character's "solution" to finding himself is magic. Not like he learns to be a magician, but an actual magic lamp that shows him things to help him figure himself out. That won't work for the rest of us. If the book wasn't so rooted in the "real world" until that point, I think it would be easier for the reader to take. I am reminded of Alice Hoffman but where Hoffman preps you ahead of time, Block doesn't lay the groundwork for moving into magical realism as deeply as she does.
It's also a little disheartening that as one of the first widely published books for YAs with a gay character and a driving theme that there are no realistic takes on how to come out, come to grips yourself, and be comfortable with who you are.
I was also confused by the tales that lead Dirk to his wholeness. All of them are stories of heterosexuals with identity issues one would not equate to sexuality. The last story is about a young gay man but it is (in this book) someone Dirk doesn't know or identify with in any way.
This is a better read in along with the rest of the Weetzie Bat series as a pre-quel that gives Dirk's story, but as a stand alone touted as the "fearless YA book with a gay theme" it doesn't work.
November 22, 2020
Such an important little YA book about accepting others and accepting yourself. I love how in this series each book is a deep dive on 1 or 2 different characters. They're like the X-Men origin stories, but way more fun (which is high praise because I sure do love the X-Men movies).
Baby Be-Bop shines a light on Dirk McDonald and his family (including Grandma Fifi!), which is, of course, full of ancestral magic. We also get a glimpse of Duck Drake and his life before he met Dirk.
"They stood under the shifting sunlight, laughing. Dirk thought their laughter would look like sunlight through leaves if he could see it. A flock of poppies, with their faces toward the sun, moved in the breeze as if they were laughing, too." p. 10
"He picked up the golden lamp. It was heavy with stories of love. It was light with stories of love. I could sink to the bottom of the sea, touch the core of the earth with the weight of love. It could soar into the clouds like a creature with wings." p. 88
Baby Be-Bop shines a light on Dirk McDonald and his family (including Grandma Fifi!), which is, of course, full of ancestral magic. We also get a glimpse of Duck Drake and his life before he met Dirk.
"They stood under the shifting sunlight, laughing. Dirk thought their laughter would look like sunlight through leaves if he could see it. A flock of poppies, with their faces toward the sun, moved in the breeze as if they were laughing, too." p. 10
"He picked up the golden lamp. It was heavy with stories of love. It was light with stories of love. I could sink to the bottom of the sea, touch the core of the earth with the weight of love. It could soar into the clouds like a creature with wings." p. 88
September 27, 2019
And thus concludes my journey with the Weetzie Bat series, minus the prequel. I liked this book a lot; it night be my favorite after the original. I was hoping to hear more about Dirk and Pup, but Pup was barely mentioned. It was almost like he was a placeholder, a plot device for Dirk's sexuality. I was a bit disappointed and confused.
Block is a good author, but after reading 5 of her books almost back-to-back, it's apparent that prose is her strong suit. Character development, plot, conflict-- none of those things are very prevalent in her novels. I loved Weetzie Bat, and I wanted to love the whole series, but the magic wore off after a while. I like prose as much as the next person, but it became tedious to read and I came to realize that the prose was meant to disguise the lack of a good story.
Just my opinion, not meaning to be harsh.
Block is a good author, but after reading 5 of her books almost back-to-back, it's apparent that prose is her strong suit. Character development, plot, conflict-- none of those things are very prevalent in her novels. I loved Weetzie Bat, and I wanted to love the whole series, but the magic wore off after a while. I like prose as much as the next person, but it became tedious to read and I came to realize that the prose was meant to disguise the lack of a good story.
Just my opinion, not meaning to be harsh.
September 30, 2022
A young Dirk, struggling and still in the closet, meets his family past and future. This one is ... fine. I like Dirk as a character, and I like his story conceptually--but in practice the breadth, the pacing, the fluid dream sequences all come to feel a little distant. I also don't appreciate that cruising is framed as a symptom of homophobia, but this is probably nitpicking when Block's depiction of queer characters was so revolutionary and formative for its time. So I'm a little ambivalent, but that's okay: in view of the series entire, this serves a purpose; and I still love the series.
March 22, 2019
Absolutely poetic book! Some lines in this book really knocked me out of my seat, they were so beautiful. I'm a sucker for authors who write nature really well, and Francesca Lia Block transported me into the perfect California evenings where her book takes place. The story was very much secondary to the prose, and it lagged in places, particularly right at the end of Part 1. However, if you like your Gay YA with a side of poetry, this is very much the book for you!
June 22, 2019
After reading all five books in the Weetzie Bat series over the course of a few days, I felt lost in the same LA daze that Weetzie and her friends seem to exist in, and while I enjoyed the message of this book (something lacking in the others, even in my favorite of the five, "Witch Baby"), the plot was difficult to follow and some themes were so subtle that they could hardly be pointed at.
Not awful, but of the Weetzie Bat books, not necessarily the one I'd keep at my bedside.
Not awful, but of the Weetzie Bat books, not necessarily the one I'd keep at my bedside.
January 21, 2020
The first time I read this book was in the late 90s or early 2000s as part of the Dangerous Angels anthology when I was probably way too young to understand all its pieces and plots. It was my first memory of encountering lgbt anything and had always held a special place in my heart.
It holds up. So good.
It holds up. So good.
October 28, 2018
This was kinda different from the others, even though the stories were still fucked up in a strange way there were so many of them crammed into this one that they didn't have time to get too disturbing. Yaay, love always wins, still, don't do drugs.
June 4, 2017
Fantastic queer ya lit
June 17, 2017
Touching prequel that focuses on Dirk and Duck.
August 26, 2018
4.5 stars. Holds up the best out of all of the Weetzie Bat series. Magical realism-infused coming out story. This is the book they should be turning into a movie.
November 17, 2018
Less narrative than the rest of the Dangerous Angels series, hard to say how it fits in with the Dirk we see as Weetzie's best friend.
February 11, 2019
While not as good as its predecessors, this is an important read for Weetzie fans. It is the most sad and grounded in reality.
March 28, 2021
I thought Part One was legitimately perfect. Unfortunately, the second half really didn’t speak to me at all. I still recommend it overall but mostly for Part One.
June 19, 2020
This is the last book that I read in this series. I really didn't like this one at all.
December 15, 2012
The story opens up with Dirk as a child playing with his toys, and telling his grandmother Fifi, that all the men were taking showers. And that’s when he knew that he liked boys romantically, much to his grandmothers’ worries. Then it moves on to tell how Dirk is a big fan of James Dean, likes working-out, getting A’s in school, and keeping to himself in case someone got suspicious about his sexuality. The story speaks of Dirk’s home life with Fifi, and her cottage house with a chocolate frosting roof with gnome statues and flowers, along with his pets Kit—the healing cat and Kaboodle—the winking dog. But everything changes when he come across Pup Lambert.
On his way home from school Dirk comes across a boy in a tree by the name of Pup, who has red hair and freckles. The two became inseparably ever since, hanging out day after day skate-boarding or on somebody else lawn who they don’t know. Then one day out-of-the-bloom after surfing, Pup suggest that they hitch-hike their way back home, they are then picked up by Nancy and Tracey—who happens to go to their school. Everything changes when the duos get invited back to Tracey place to go in the Jacuzzi, leaving Dirk feeling anguished when he sees Pup kissing Tracey. Feeling like he has to come clean, Dirk thinks its only right if he told Pup how he felt, but soon becomes regretful after Pup leaves without even a “goodbye”.
Now that Pup ended their friendship, Dirk is left as a loner who takes on a new identity of transforming himself into a black mohawk-haired punk. Going out to night clubs in his red and white 1955 convertible, even bring Kaboodle to tag along for the ride sometimes. During these events he encounters a number a people ranging from crazy nutcases to the homeless, but one night out bad after he gets jumped by a group neo-nazi skinheads after calling one of them “fucking fascist skinhead shit” leaving him for dead. Luckily, he makes it back home safe after the beating, making his way to his room and falling into a dream-like state after he takes the lamp Fifi gave him the moment he received his car.
When he wakes up, Dirk sees a young woman in his bedroom whose name is Gazelle. She tells him that her childhood wasn’t so grand, especially falling under the ill-treatment of her aunt who made her sew under the harshest conditions. One day a man comes to the door and asks Gazelle to make a dress. After Gazelle makes it, the mysterious man tells her that the dress was for her, and gives her a lamp were she could tell her stories into it. She later finds out that she’s pregnant, with Fifi, and right before her due date is up her aunt dies. Right before she disappears she says “any love that is love is right.” The next one to appear is Derby McDonald, Dirks father who died in a car crash when he was little, who tells him how he enjoyed his life as a poet and with his mother Just Silver—I know, that’s a unique name.
The only words I can describe Francesca Blocks writing is uniquely-eccentric; she uses metaphorical and simplified words that can be easily conveyed to the reader. But their were times when the dialogue got lost, and your not sure which character is saying what, and the quotation marks weren’t put in place all the time. The last portion of the page confused me when it got to Durks’ part of the story, because I didn’t know how it fit in to the plot at all, and Francesca writing can be confusing at times. But the moral is when you tell your story, you learn to appreciate life more by getting you voice out and being yourself.
On his way home from school Dirk comes across a boy in a tree by the name of Pup, who has red hair and freckles. The two became inseparably ever since, hanging out day after day skate-boarding or on somebody else lawn who they don’t know. Then one day out-of-the-bloom after surfing, Pup suggest that they hitch-hike their way back home, they are then picked up by Nancy and Tracey—who happens to go to their school. Everything changes when the duos get invited back to Tracey place to go in the Jacuzzi, leaving Dirk feeling anguished when he sees Pup kissing Tracey. Feeling like he has to come clean, Dirk thinks its only right if he told Pup how he felt, but soon becomes regretful after Pup leaves without even a “goodbye”.
Now that Pup ended their friendship, Dirk is left as a loner who takes on a new identity of transforming himself into a black mohawk-haired punk. Going out to night clubs in his red and white 1955 convertible, even bring Kaboodle to tag along for the ride sometimes. During these events he encounters a number a people ranging from crazy nutcases to the homeless, but one night out bad after he gets jumped by a group neo-nazi skinheads after calling one of them “fucking fascist skinhead shit” leaving him for dead. Luckily, he makes it back home safe after the beating, making his way to his room and falling into a dream-like state after he takes the lamp Fifi gave him the moment he received his car.
When he wakes up, Dirk sees a young woman in his bedroom whose name is Gazelle. She tells him that her childhood wasn’t so grand, especially falling under the ill-treatment of her aunt who made her sew under the harshest conditions. One day a man comes to the door and asks Gazelle to make a dress. After Gazelle makes it, the mysterious man tells her that the dress was for her, and gives her a lamp were she could tell her stories into it. She later finds out that she’s pregnant, with Fifi, and right before her due date is up her aunt dies. Right before she disappears she says “any love that is love is right.” The next one to appear is Derby McDonald, Dirks father who died in a car crash when he was little, who tells him how he enjoyed his life as a poet and with his mother Just Silver—I know, that’s a unique name.
The only words I can describe Francesca Blocks writing is uniquely-eccentric; she uses metaphorical and simplified words that can be easily conveyed to the reader. But their were times when the dialogue got lost, and your not sure which character is saying what, and the quotation marks weren’t put in place all the time. The last portion of the page confused me when it got to Durks’ part of the story, because I didn’t know how it fit in to the plot at all, and Francesca writing can be confusing at times. But the moral is when you tell your story, you learn to appreciate life more by getting you voice out and being yourself.
October 2, 2009
Please note: this book appears to be unavailable as a standalone version. However, it has been collected with all the Weetzie Bat books in Block'sDangerous Angels, which is still in print.
"Our stories can set us free, Dirk thought. When we set them free."
Dirk McDonald has a secret, a dark secret that he thinks will destroy him if he tells the world. Yet others can sense what he's trying to hide, and one night their hatred erupts into violence, leaving Dirk brutally beaten and taking him on a magical journey into the stories of his family's past.
Baby Be-Bop is a work of magical realism and a coming out story, written in poetic and descriptive language. It's actually the prequel to the rest of the Weetzie Bat series, showing us how Weetzie's best friend Dirk comes to terms with his sexuality before the two of them meet. Dirk is a sensitive soul who turns to punk rock because he thinks it will give him strength to stand against the homophobes and against his own fears. However, the punk rock scene leads to his encounter with the skinheads who ultimately beat him to a pulp. This scene is brutal, but not graphic, and is essential both in fulfilling Dirk's worst fears and showing that he can survive them, and in introducing to his family's stories. By learning about his past, Dirk learns not to fear his future, and that everybody has a story to tell.
"Our stories can set us free, Dirk thought. When we set them free."
Dirk McDonald has a secret, a dark secret that he thinks will destroy him if he tells the world. Yet others can sense what he's trying to hide, and one night their hatred erupts into violence, leaving Dirk brutally beaten and taking him on a magical journey into the stories of his family's past.
Baby Be-Bop is a work of magical realism and a coming out story, written in poetic and descriptive language. It's actually the prequel to the rest of the Weetzie Bat series, showing us how Weetzie's best friend Dirk comes to terms with his sexuality before the two of them meet. Dirk is a sensitive soul who turns to punk rock because he thinks it will give him strength to stand against the homophobes and against his own fears. However, the punk rock scene leads to his encounter with the skinheads who ultimately beat him to a pulp. This scene is brutal, but not graphic, and is essential both in fulfilling Dirk's worst fears and showing that he can survive them, and in introducing to his family's stories. By learning about his past, Dirk learns not to fear his future, and that everybody has a story to tell.
October 8, 2013
Baby Be-Bop is the story of Dirk McDonald, a young man in L.A. who has always known that he was gay but has to hide that part of himself. Having been orphaned at a young age, he lives with his grandmother Fifi but fears that she will judge him for loving boys if he ever revealed his secret. Dirk arms himself by adopting the punk culture. When he shaves his hair into a blue mohawk, dons the leather jacket and hits the clubs, he looks too tough to mess with, even if someone did guess his secret. But even the punk culture isn't safe and a run-in with some Aryan boys with swastikas lands Dirk in trouble he doesn't know how to deal with. Tied in with all this harsh reality is some of the best magic realism I've ever read. Block breathes magic into everything, whether it's descriptions of Dirk's grandmothers garden, her pets Kit and Kaboodle or even in its most obvious sense, with the family heirloom, a lamp with its very own genie. Whether the reader chooses to believe them hallucinations or an actual magical journey, Dirk comes to reexamine himself and his world through the stories of his family. Dirk's voice feels so raw and real that I couldn't help but enjoy seeing the way he viewed the world and I loved the ending. It's a story of hope and acceptance and magic throughout. I very much enjoyed it and I think that fans of young adult lit who are more interested in urban culture in L.A. will love it!
May 29, 2008
The book take place during the late civil rights movement. Dirk the boy who try to find his own identity. Which he grow up with his grandmother and her grandma's best friend. I feel like Dirk has been influence by her grandma's best friends, who are gay. He want to find out who his father and mother are. He did so will in school. The one who can stand out in school and favor by many people. But he also find out himself is gay too. He knew that society can not except the fact but he can not help himself. He is in love with his best friend, since they grew up together and share everything together, as time goes by the can not stop from caring and love on another. Bout of them were in the stay of depression. And one time he did not want to live no more and hurt himself and after he fainted thing fall in place and led to solution. I feel that this book is promoting that people can not control their feelings toward things and people that are around them. It was natural that different people have different feelings because of where they grow up and how they were raised. People should respect one's thought and his feelings you might not agree but you can not control their own choice.
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November 14, 2014Book review: Baby Be-Bop
Baby be-bop by Francesca Lia Block is about Dirk McDonald life, he lived with his grandmother fifi in a little gingerbread house in Hollywood. The main characters where Dirk, fify(grandmother) where the big main characters, there where some smaller main characters to, they are Pup, Duck and Bam-Bam. The plot developed when Dirk meet Pup in a tree,"as Dirk walked home from school he heard a whistle, and he looked up into an olive tree. In the branches sat a boy. He had brown hair with leaves in it, freckles on his turned-up noseand a Cheshire Cat grin."
The book theme was learning to like yourself for who you are. I think the auther did a good job writing the book but there was a lot of changes in the book. The book didn't really affect me in any sort of way. I wouldn't really recommend this book for people because it wasn't that interesting and change a lot in the story.
The rating I'm giving the book is a 3out of 5 because I thought the book wasn't really that interesting to me. Another reason is because it didn't really have any big jumps in the book like I like.
Baby be-bop by Francesca Lia Block is about Dirk McDonald life, he lived with his grandmother fifi in a little gingerbread house in Hollywood. The main characters where Dirk, fify(grandmother) where the big main characters, there where some smaller main characters to, they are Pup, Duck and Bam-Bam. The plot developed when Dirk meet Pup in a tree,"as Dirk walked home from school he heard a whistle, and he looked up into an olive tree. In the branches sat a boy. He had brown hair with leaves in it, freckles on his turned-up noseand a Cheshire Cat grin."
The book theme was learning to like yourself for who you are. I think the auther did a good job writing the book but there was a lot of changes in the book. The book didn't really affect me in any sort of way. I wouldn't really recommend this book for people because it wasn't that interesting and change a lot in the story.
The rating I'm giving the book is a 3out of 5 because I thought the book wasn't really that interesting to me. Another reason is because it didn't really have any big jumps in the book like I like.
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