I'd never heard of Francesca Lia Block or her "Weetzie Bat" series before I read about some group of right-wing wackos in Wisconsin seeking permission to publically burn Baby Be-Bop. At that point I knew nothing of the book--only that I had to buy it and read it.

So how is the book? It's tender, and lyrical, and sweet--and yes, very frank in its handling of the teen protagonist's homosexuality. I'm glad there are books out there like this one for kids who may feel they are "the only one." The character Dirk is tormented and sad, but he is also surrounded by love, and I think this is a good and realistic (although threaded through with fantastical elements) depiction.

I want to thank the West Bend, Wisconsin hate group for bringing this work to the national spotlight. It resulted in my purchases a five-volume omnibus of Block's "Weetzie Bats" series, which I've found so far to be an interesting read. I encourage everyone to do what I do, and get their reading recommendations from banned book lists.

News story on the controversy: http://www.salon.com/books/feature/20... ( )

In Baby Bebop, Francesca Lia Block tells the story of Dirk’s struggle to come to terms with his sexuality and how his love for another boy affects every other love in his life. Baby Bebop continues block’s tell-tale poetic style, but with a darker tone that complements the torment expressed in Dirk’s narration. Unlike the incredibly whimsical Weetzie Bat, Block has decided to dig deep into descriptions in this novel, spending significantly more time relating readers to character insights and motivations, providing relevant settings that genuinely add to each scene, supporting a plot that is clear from the start and easy to follow. Dirk’s pain mixes the tempestuousness of youth with the wisdom of age, combining a sympathetic character with an overall message of self-acceptance. Highly recommended for any school or public library’s young adult fiction collection. ( )

'Baby Be-Bop' started out well, I enjoyed the reality of Dirk's struggle with his feelings for Pup. The second part of 'Baby Be-Bop' kind of confused me. With all the ghosts, jumping around from one person's POV to another... I got lost. I'm happy to say, though, that at the end Francesca Lia Block was able to pull it all back together for a beautiful ending. This is definitely a book to read.

My least favorite of the Weetzie Bat books. Stop at "Missing Angel Juan" it will leave you with a better impression of the series. ( )

Dirk slowly comes to terms with being gay with the help of stories his family tell him. Evocative, touching and easy-to-read. ( )