From: Merri Lindgren <mlindgren>
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 16:58:49 -0500

Thank you, Emily, for launching our discussion of the books of Francesca Lia Block. Like you, I'm a fan of Block's books about Weetzie Bat and her friends and family. I especially appreciate the way elements of fantasy pop up at unexpected moments
(the genie in the lamp, for example), spiking the story with little jolts of energy.
 Block's poetic voice felt amazingly fresh when Weetzie Bat was published in 1989, and I still find it compelling and unique over 15 years later.

We'll spend the next two weeks talking about the work of Francesca Lia Block. Responses to her books seem to fall at either end of the love/hate continuum, but not often in the middle. Where do you stand? Did Weetzie's voice speak to you, or not? What about Block's other titles, such as Wasteland, Violet & Claire, I Was a Teenage Fairy, or Girl Goddess #9? Let's hear your thoughts.

Merri

Merri Lindgren, Librarian mlindgren at education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Mon 06 Jun 2005 04:58:49 PM CDT