The chapters are longer, and so there are less of them, and maybe this contributes, or maybe it's that this book feels much more contained to a very specific sequence of events rather than freewheeling indiscriminately through time. In my edition of Dangerous Angels, this book is longer than the first two in the series, but it somehow feels much shorter. I'm already halfway through Missing Angel Juan and so far it's my favorite, so that review is coming very soon!. I liked this one almost as much as the other Dangerous Angels books, although I remain partial to Weetzie Bat.
The important thing, though, is that the adults are always there when they're really needed, and Coyote comes through in the end. I can't say I'm surprised by the lack of supervision from Coyote throughout the book because Weetzie and the others are a lenient bunch whose parenting philosophy seems to be let them make their own mistakes.
Of course, the kids learn their lessons the hard way, but in the end they are stronger and better able to care for themselves and each other. Packed into this tiny novel are messages and lessons about growing up, first love, sexual awakening, drug use, and environmental awareness. Cherokee asks for help from Coyote to make gifts for all of her band mates, and it turns out the gifts have more power than the kids are prepared to handle. Of course, Block's signature magical realism comes into play, this time in the form of Coyote's Native American mysticism. Pretty soon, they start to get famous, but all the fame goes to their heads and they live the fast-paced, self-destructive rock star lifestyle for a while. The four teens form a band called The Goat Guys and start playing in clubs. He kind of just lets them do whatever unless they come to him asking for help. Cherokee, Raphael, Witch Baby, and Angel Juan are staying by themselves while their parents are away filming a movie, with Coyote as the mostly absent parental stand-in. Cherokee, Raphael, Witch Baby, and Angel Juan are staying by themselves while their parents are away filming a movie, with Coyote as the Disclaimer: I'm currently reading through Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books, but I'm reviewing each book individually because they are very much independent stories with their own separate conclusions.Ĭherokee Bat focuses on the kids of the Bat household as teenagers, and for that reason it feels more like actual YA than the other books leading up to it. Cherokee Bat focuses on the kids of the Bat household as teenagers, and for that reason it feels more like actual YA than the other books leading up to it. scene that Block loves to evoke.moreĭisclaimer: I'm currently reading through Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books, but I'm reviewing each book individually because they are very much independent stories with their own separate conclusions. Still, it is incredibly cringe-worthy to see some of the stereotypical treatment of POC and to have the very, VERY (almost translucent) white Cherokee Bat sleep in a tepee, wear head dresses, and moccasins like a blonde "Indian Princess." But I think, in the end, that imagery is sort of a leftover from the hippie-dippie L.A. This book was written in the 90s, before knowledge of cultural appropriation was a relatively well known concept, so it helps to forgive Block for using a nebulous "Native American" mysticism to move the story along. I think it's probably best to look at this volume as a fable or a fairy tale. This volume kicks the fairy tale up a notch in its exploration of coming of age and sexuality, all centered around the mystical magic Cherokee and her sister, Witch Baby, along with their friends Raphael and Angel Juan, conjure up to create a whirlwind rock band on the L.A.
BONETOWN INDIAN SERIES
This book was written in the 90s, before knowledge of cultural appropriation was The Weetzie Bat series is just so California.
The Weetzie Bat series is just so California.
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