tampax's review against another edition
5.0
Witch Baby is my favorite of all of the characters and I love this journey of hers. She is so different and yet so loved by her family.
exlibrisbitsy's review against another edition
4.0
In Witch Baby Francesca Lia Block really spreads her wings and finds her pace. Witch Baby is the second book in her Dangerous Angels series and is her sophomore novel. You really need to have read Weetzie Bat for Witch Baby to make any sense.
Witch Baby is my favorite character in the whole crazy Bat family. She is a black sheep, an outsider, a loner. She doesn’t want to stick her head in the sand and forget about the troubles in the world, or pretend they don’t exist. She doesn’t try and use smoke and mirrors in the guise of drugs, alcohol, parties, etc to hide from the ugly truth of the world. She faces it head on. She puts it on display for everyone to see and forces other people to acknowledge the pain and suffering, the poisons and toxins, the ignorance and fear.
Between this gruff take on life and her various eccentricities which tend to alienate her from other people she lives a very lonely life for being in such a large family.
I always had a special place for Witch Baby ever since she was introduced in Weetzie Bat. Here we have a child that was dropped on their door stop and this loving/happy/glowing family's first reaction is to kick the baby out. She is an illegitimate love child (so is Cherokee, for all they know) and even her own father doesn't want her around. Then they decide to keep her but because the woman who seduced My Secret Agent Lover Man was an evil witch (he couldn't possibly have just f'd up and made a mistake, amirite? it's the woman's fault) they decided to predetermine this baby to follow in her mother's foot steps and name her Witch Baby. Great.
In just a few paragraphs everyone (even the baby Cherokee) start treating Witch Baby like a horrible witch child and so the child reacts accordingly. She is a monster of their creation, but because she is not cut from the same glowingly love, love, love cloth as everyone else in the family she becomes a more well rounded character. She sees the dark and she is not afraid of it. She wants to help her father create movies that show these dark things and the lessons to be found in them. She wants to acknowledge the times that we live in, but most importantly she wants to find a place to belong.
The book Witch Baby takes us on an adventure with her as we see LA through more realistic eyes and discover more back story on her and several of the other characters (but mainly the lovers Dirk and Duck). Through her camera she sees everything both from an in and outside perspective and is remarkably perceptive for a child her age. They never say it but I would guess she's in her tweens.
Again I think this is a book appropriate for more of a high school audience, but I think it is much better than Weetzie Bat. There is more depth, more rounded characters, more of an overall plot and a strong message. The ending wraps up very quickly into a ridiculously unrealistic bow, but that is the way of the magical books in the Dangerous Angels series. Highly recommended GLBT fiction. Witch Baby delivers hope, understanding, courage and love.
Witch Baby is my favorite character in the whole crazy Bat family. She is a black sheep, an outsider, a loner. She doesn’t want to stick her head in the sand and forget about the troubles in the world, or pretend they don’t exist. She doesn’t try and use smoke and mirrors in the guise of drugs, alcohol, parties, etc to hide from the ugly truth of the world. She faces it head on. She puts it on display for everyone to see and forces other people to acknowledge the pain and suffering, the poisons and toxins, the ignorance and fear.
Between this gruff take on life and her various eccentricities which tend to alienate her from other people she lives a very lonely life for being in such a large family.
I always had a special place for Witch Baby ever since she was introduced in Weetzie Bat. Here we have a child that was dropped on their door stop and this loving/happy/glowing family's first reaction is to kick the baby out. She is an illegitimate love child (so is Cherokee, for all they know) and even her own father doesn't want her around. Then they decide to keep her but because the woman who seduced My Secret Agent Lover Man was an evil witch (he couldn't possibly have just f'd up and made a mistake, amirite? it's the woman's fault) they decided to predetermine this baby to follow in her mother's foot steps and name her Witch Baby. Great.
In just a few paragraphs everyone (even the baby Cherokee) start treating Witch Baby like a horrible witch child and so the child reacts accordingly. She is a monster of their creation, but because she is not cut from the same glowingly love, love, love cloth as everyone else in the family she becomes a more well rounded character. She sees the dark and she is not afraid of it. She wants to help her father create movies that show these dark things and the lessons to be found in them. She wants to acknowledge the times that we live in, but most importantly she wants to find a place to belong.
The book Witch Baby takes us on an adventure with her as we see LA through more realistic eyes and discover more back story on her and several of the other characters (but mainly the lovers Dirk and Duck). Through her camera she sees everything both from an in and outside perspective and is remarkably perceptive for a child her age. They never say it but I would guess she's in her tweens.
Again I think this is a book appropriate for more of a high school audience, but I think it is much better than Weetzie Bat. There is more depth, more rounded characters, more of an overall plot and a strong message. The ending wraps up very quickly into a ridiculously unrealistic bow, but that is the way of the magical books in the Dangerous Angels series. Highly recommended GLBT fiction. Witch Baby delivers hope, understanding, courage and love.
erinlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
The Weetzie Bat books are so beautiful and poetic in their minimalism. I find myself looking at Los Angeles in a totally different way after reading them.
mhall's review against another edition
5.0
Witch Baby was the first of the Weetzie Bat series I read back in junior high. I have a soft spot for tangled, snarled hair that persists until this day, and a slight inferiority complex about both photography and playing the drums.
Anyway, 20 years later, after I now know about Francesca Lia Block's struggles with an eating disorder, after I see the danger and weirdness of the positive racial stereotype characters in the book, I still can't help but love this book the most, because how could I not? With its sparkling fairy tale Los Angeles and sad girl with purple, tilty eyes?
How could a person not want this beautiful life?
Anyway, 20 years later, after I now know about Francesca Lia Block's struggles with an eating disorder, after I see the danger and weirdness of the positive racial stereotype characters in the book, I still can't help but love this book the most, because how could I not? With its sparkling fairy tale Los Angeles and sad girl with purple, tilty eyes?
“Under the twinkling trees was a table covered with Guatemalan fabric, roses in juice jars, wax rose candles from Tijuana and plates of food — Weetzie's Vegetable Love-Rice, My Secret Agent Lover Man's guacamole, Dirk's homemade pizza, Duck's fig and berry salad and Surfer Surprise Protein Punch, Brandy-Lynn's pink macaroni, Coyote's cornmeal cakes, Ping's mushu plum crepes and Valentine's Jamaican plantain pie. Witch Baby's stomach growled but she didn't leave her hiding place. Instead, she listened to the reggae, surf, soul and salsa, tugged at the snarl balls in her hair and snapped pictures of all the couples.”
How could a person not want this beautiful life?
storiwa's review against another edition
3.0
this was the first weetzie bat book i've read. maybe i would have liked it more if i'd read the first one first.
dandelionfluff's review against another edition
2.0
Francesca Lia Block definitely has a style all her own, that's for sure. I've read some of her poetry and other works, so I have some context for how she operates. But, while this one has that same Hollywood glitz and underlying dangerous magic, it's so rife with cultural appropriation. Referring to someone as a "blonde Indian," wearing white suede, feather headdresses, and moccasins… just stop. If she's not Native, she's not Native. There are other positive portrayals, I suppose, like Duck and Dirk's gay relationship, and having a conversation about Mexican immigrant families, but the frequency of white people wearing other cultures as slinkster-cool hip fashion is overwhelming. I just keep thinking, stop, okay, they're not your movie props or costumes, these thingsmean something to other people. When an individual from that culture invites you to join, that's one thing-- but I'm not seeing that happen, especially with Cherokee.
I know this was a ground-breaking series for many people, but sometimes, I just can't get onboard with it.
I know this was a ground-breaking series for many people, but sometimes, I just can't get onboard with it.
monasterymonochrome's review against another edition
3.0
This one didn't fully connect with me. I do appreciate Block's attempt here to counter Weetzie Bat's optimism with a more realistic response to the everyday tragedies of the world. For Witch Baby, the utopia her large blended family has created for themselves is oppressive and stifling. As a result of her mysterious origins, she doesn't feel like she fits in and, therefore, their world cannot shield her from the bleakness she sees beyond it and the frustration, confusion, and anger she feels within herself. In her eyes, Weetzie Bat's Shangri-L.A. becomes Los Diablos, and, as a result, the descriptions of the city here are much grittier and realistic than the frothy, fluorescent, ultra-heightened images depicted in the first book.
In some ways, it seems like Block is casting a critical eye on New Age extremism. Weetzie's vaguely "woo-woo" attempts at positivity largely fail to ease Witch Baby's worries, and there's an almost laugh-out-loud funny moment where Dirk and Duck are visiting Duck's family and he introduces his siblings, "Peace, Granola, Crystal, Chi, Aura, Tahini and the twins, Yin and Yang." Later, he reveals they are so named because his mother has spent her entire life hopping from spiritual movement to spiritual movement, barely getting her feet wet before moving on to the next big thing. It's obvious Block is poking fun at a certain type of woman with her characterization here. I mean, GRANOLA?!?
It's unfortunate she is so self-aware in this regard and not in others. The Native American appropriation still runs rampant in Cherokee, who sleeps in a teepee and conducts powwows with her crush, Raphael. The one Native American character, Coyote, is more fleshed-out here and actually gets to engage in a few touching moments with Witch Baby, but he only seems to show up to serve as a gentle, affirming guide for characters when they need one, which I feel only downplays and validates the appropriation more. On the other hand, I liked getting a bit more insight into Dirk and Duck's relationship, My Secret Agent Lover Man is made more interesting as a character through his inability, like Witch Baby, to fully shake off the darkness he sees in the world, and Angel Juan is a vibrant addition to the cast, even if he isn't around for long. Vixanne Wigg is still a cartoon villain, but I was amused by how she tries to pull a Hansel & Gretel on Witch Baby by luring her in with sweets.
Honestly, the biggest problem for me in this book is Witch Baby herself. Although her lack of belonging and jumbled self-identity are relatable, her behavior is more often than not exhaustingly obnoxious. I assume she's supposed to be at least a preteen here, but she behaves more like a toddler, acting out by biting, throwing tantrums, running away, and revealing information that isn't hers to reveal (I found the scene where she outs Duck to his mom to be painful and mortifying, even if it turned out well in the end). I suppose Block is using this immaturity to illustrate the fact that she feels so out of place she can't even adapt to normal human behavior, but it's not exactly a joy to stay inside such an obnoxious POV for so long. She does grow by the end, but I'm not sure the over-the-top finale where each of her family members lavishes praise upon her is exactly earned.
As is Block's MO, this is a quick, easy read and there are enough other characters surrounding Witch Baby that it was still enjoyable to spend more time in this world, even if our protagonist isn't especially likable most of the time. I'm still invested enough to continue my reread of the series, but I'll probably take a bit of a break before diving into the next book.
In some ways, it seems like Block is casting a critical eye on New Age extremism. Weetzie's vaguely "woo-woo" attempts at positivity largely fail to ease Witch Baby's worries, and there's an almost laugh-out-loud funny moment where Dirk and Duck are visiting Duck's family and he introduces his siblings, "Peace, Granola, Crystal, Chi, Aura, Tahini and the twins, Yin and Yang." Later, he reveals they are so named because his mother has spent her entire life hopping from spiritual movement to spiritual movement, barely getting her feet wet before moving on to the next big thing. It's obvious Block is poking fun at a certain type of woman with her characterization here. I mean, GRANOLA?!?
It's unfortunate she is so self-aware in this regard and not in others. The Native American appropriation still runs rampant in Cherokee, who sleeps in a teepee and conducts powwows with her crush, Raphael. The one Native American character, Coyote, is more fleshed-out here and actually gets to engage in a few touching moments with Witch Baby, but he only seems to show up to serve as a gentle, affirming guide for characters when they need one, which I feel only downplays and validates the appropriation more. On the other hand, I liked getting a bit more insight into Dirk and Duck's relationship, My Secret Agent Lover Man is made more interesting as a character through his inability, like Witch Baby, to fully shake off the darkness he sees in the world, and Angel Juan is a vibrant addition to the cast, even if he isn't around for long. Vixanne Wigg is still a cartoon villain, but I was amused by how she tries to pull a Hansel & Gretel on Witch Baby by luring her in with sweets.
Honestly, the biggest problem for me in this book is Witch Baby herself. Although her lack of belonging and jumbled self-identity are relatable, her behavior is more often than not exhaustingly obnoxious. I assume she's supposed to be at least a preteen here, but she behaves more like a toddler, acting out by biting, throwing tantrums, running away, and revealing information that isn't hers to reveal (I found the scene where she outs Duck to his mom to be painful and mortifying, even if it turned out well in the end). I suppose Block is using this immaturity to illustrate the fact that she feels so out of place she can't even adapt to normal human behavior, but it's not exactly a joy to stay inside such an obnoxious POV for so long. She does grow by the end, but I'm not sure the over-the-top finale where each of her family members lavishes praise upon her is exactly earned.
As is Block's MO, this is a quick, easy read and there are enough other characters surrounding Witch Baby that it was still enjoyable to spend more time in this world, even if our protagonist isn't especially likable most of the time. I'm still invested enough to continue my reread of the series, but I'll probably take a bit of a break before diving into the next book.
calistareads's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the first Weetzie Bat book. It was so stylish and this California surfer greaser vibe. It was one of the first books in the early 90s with gay characters for a young adult audience. Now that is so normal that it isn't much of a big deal, but respect for the groundbreaker.
This story follows Witch Baby, the daughter that was left on Weetzie and My Secret Agent Lover-Man's doorstep. They live in a house with several couples and Dirk and Duck are a gay couple. It's has a commune vibe. All the adults help to take care of Witch Baby, but she doesn't feel like she belongs and she stows away in the jeep of Dirk and Duck when they are on a weekend to Duck's parent's home and they don't know he's gay. Then she runs away looking for her mom. We find out Witch Baby is actually My Secret Agent Lover Man's daughter with another mother.
Witch Baby is experiencing alienation here and she is a drummer and a photographer and we don't know exactly how old she is here.
I didn't connect with this story nearly as much as the first one. It wasn't horrible, but I don't really remember a lot either. The story is really a Novella at about 80 pages. I thought Dirk and Duck could have had an interesting storyline if the story was focused there, but it wasn't. I think it's having the book be from a child's perspective. That's why it didn't work. That's it. That's the problem with this book. It really hobbled the story.
I do plan on going ahead with this series at some point. The next book is longer.
This story follows Witch Baby, the daughter that was left on Weetzie and My Secret Agent Lover-Man's doorstep. They live in a house with several couples and Dirk and Duck are a gay couple. It's has a commune vibe. All the adults help to take care of Witch Baby, but she doesn't feel like she belongs and she stows away in the jeep of Dirk and Duck when they are on a weekend to Duck's parent's home and they don't know he's gay. Then she runs away looking for her mom. We find out Witch Baby is actually My Secret Agent Lover Man's daughter with another mother.
Witch Baby is experiencing alienation here and she is a drummer and a photographer and we don't know exactly how old she is here.
I didn't connect with this story nearly as much as the first one. It wasn't horrible, but I don't really remember a lot either. The story is really a Novella at about 80 pages. I thought Dirk and Duck could have had an interesting storyline if the story was focused there, but it wasn't. I think it's having the book be from a child's perspective. That's why it didn't work. That's it. That's the problem with this book. It really hobbled the story.
I do plan on going ahead with this series at some point. The next book is longer.