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Monday, May 23, 2011
Firegirl eNotes Synopsis
Tony Abbott's Firegirl was published in 2008 by Little Brown. It is a children’s story about Tom Bender and how he navigates his way around Jessica, a disfigured burn victim. He struggles to deal with her presence in his neighborhood and class, which changes all aspects of his life. The novel is told in first person and this immediacy connects the reader’s empathy to Tom and to Jessica.
At St. Catherine’s School, Mrs. Tracy prepares the students for Jessica, who has moved to town in order to take advantage of special medical attention. Despite the preparations for Jessica, the teacher is unable to offset her shocking appearance. Most of the students avoid looking at her altogether. Mrs. Tracy arranges to have Jessica sit between Jeff, Tom’s best friend, and Tom. Jeff moves his desk away. Tom stays in place and struggles to appear normal even if he feels frightened inside.
The students begin to come up with stories about how Jessica was burned in a fire. True to the nature of rumors, the stories grow. After school one day, Tom learns the real story about Jessica when the teacher asks him to deliver homework to her. From this point Tom begins an uneasy friendship with Jessica.
Tom describes himself as the sweaty, chubby kid. He feels that nobody really notices him. This accounts for his sensitivity as he interacts with Jessica. Their awkward friendship begins to gain depth until Jessica’s family must leave down to have access to another hospital in a different city. Tom is changed forever for having known her albeit for a short period of time.
Tom does his best in a tough situation. His struggle to be fair and good is what makes the story compelling. He is not extraordinary; he is rather ordinary. The changes in his character are not extreme one way or another, but he does change. His self-examination and introspection are steps toward adulthood. In that, Firegirl is a coming-of-age story that centers on how Tom views friendship and deals with acceptance: it is about what stirs inside when a person looks beyond the surface and seeks a genuine connection with another person.
Tony Abbott's Firegirl was published in 2008 by Little Brown. It is a children’s story about Tom Bender and how he navigates his way around Jessica, a disfigured burn victim. He struggles to deal with her presence in his neighborhood and class, which changes all aspects of his life. The novel is told in first person and this immediacy connects the reader’s empathy to Tom and to Jessica.
At St. Catherine’s School, Mrs. Tracy prepares the students for Jessica, who has moved to town in order to take advantage of special medical attention. Despite the preparations for Jessica, the teacher is unable to offset her shocking appearance. Most of the students avoid looking at her altogether. Mrs. Tracy arranges to have Jessica sit between Jeff, Tom’s best friend, and Tom. Jeff moves his desk away. Tom stays in place and struggles to appear normal even if he feels frightened inside.
The students begin to come up with stories about how Jessica was burned in a fire. True to the nature of rumors, the stories grow. After school one day, Tom learns the real story about Jessica when the teacher asks him to deliver homework to her. From this point Tom begins an uneasy friendship with Jessica.
Tom describes himself as the sweaty, chubby kid. He feels that nobody really notices him. This accounts for his sensitivity as he interacts with Jessica. Their awkward friendship begins to gain depth until Jessica’s family must leave down to have access to another hospital in a different city. Tom is changed forever for having known her albeit for a short period of time.
Tom does his best in a tough situation. His struggle to be fair and good is what makes the story compelling. He is not extraordinary; he is rather ordinary. The changes in his character are not extreme one way or another, but he does change. His self-examination and introspection are steps toward adulthood. In that, Firegirl is a coming-of-age story that centers on how Tom views friendship and deals with acceptance: it is about what stirs inside when a person looks beyond the surface and seeks a genuine connection with another person.
FIREGIRL
by Tony Abbott
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316011703
ISBN-13: 9780316011709
Ages 8-12
160 pages
Tom Bender's homeroom teacher at St. Catherine's School tries to prepare him and his fellow classmates for the addition of a special student. No amount of explanation can prepare them for the shocking appearance of Jessica Feeney, a burn victim who has moved to their town to receive special medical attention. Her face looks like a mask, her hands and arms are disfigured, and thick stockings cover her burned legs. Most of the children in the class can't even bring themselves to look at her, much less talk to her. The teacher seats Jessica between Tom and his best friend Jeff. While Jeff slides his desk far away from Jessica, Tom does his best to act normally around her even though inside he's terrified.
Before Jessica entered Tom's class, his biggest concerns in life were trying to impress Courtney Zisky and getting to take a ride in Jeff's uncle's Cobra. Jeff's homeroom class learned that they will have a class election for President just minutes before Jessica's arrival. Through the election process the reader learns more about the students in Tom's class. Tom has no intention of running for President, but he plans to nominate Courtney to get her attention. Of course no one is thinking about nominating Jessica.
Shortly after Jessica's arrival, rumors begin to circulate about how she was burned in a fire. The rumors get wilder and more far-fetched every day. Tom learns the truth about Jessica when the teacher asks him to deliver homework to her one day after school. He begins a tentative friendship with her that changes his outlook on life.
This powerful, emotional novel told in first person will touch readers' hearts. Some situations come only once in a person's lifetime, but they are enough to change that individual forever. Don't miss the opportunity to be moved by FIREGIRL.
--- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)
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