| Feathers | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Jacqueline Woodson |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young-adult fiction |
| Publisher | Putnam Juvenile |
| Publication date | March 1 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 118 |
| ISBN | 9780399239892 |
Feathers is a children's novel by Jacqueline Woodson. It was first published in 2007.
In 1971, a white boy is new to an African American urban school. Bully Trevor brings the obvious fact that the new boy is white to everyone's attention. The boy knows sign language even though he isn't deaf. The boy acquires the nickname Jesus Boy. A preacher's daughter thinks that the boy is Jesus and a girl named Frannie hopes that the boy is Jesus. Frannie feels a sort of kinship with the boy because she remembers being a stranger at the school and because he knows sign language. Frannie has hopes for the future. Her mother's firstborn baby, Lila died in infancy and her older brother, Sean, is deaf. Her mom and dad taught themselves sign language so that they can communicate with Sean. Her family loves and supports each other.
Robin Smith, of Book Page, said that the book filled him with joy and hope."[1] Norah Piehl, of Kids Reads, reviewed the book saying, "Set against the music, politics and conflicts of the early 1970s, Jacqueline Woodson's exceptional new novel grounds universal ideas in a particular time and place."[2] Matt Berman, of Common Sense Media said that the book is beautifully written, lyrical, thoughtful, at times even wise and that it will mostly be loved by adults.[3] It is a 2008 Newbery Honor book.[4]