Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Puffin Books, 2010

            Feathers is a story about a girl named Frannie who forms an unlikely friendship with the newest student at her school, a white male who has come to a predominantly African American community.  Feathers discusses heavy topics, such as religion and race, that are not always discussed in school. I think that reading this book allowed with students could create a safe place for them to discuss their feelings and reactions towards the story.

            Frannie’s brother, Sean, is a boy who is deaf.  This is another topic that I would want to discuss with my students. Reading some of the conversations that Sean had with others throughout the story made me feel drawn to him as a character, wishing I knew sign language. I think that teaching the students some signs as they read the story would be an excellent idea for a lesson.

            Throughout the novel, Woodson discusses elements of fighting, which is clearly prohibited in schools. This bring up the perfect time to discuss with students ways in which you could go about difficult situations without violence.