A review by dandelionfluff
Witch Baby by Francesca Lia Block

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.