BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abbott, T. (2006). Firegirl.
New York: Little, Brown and Company.
SUMMARY
Seventh grader Tom Bender is looking forward to a relatively
calm year at St. Catherine’s Catholic School. However, everything changes when
burn victim Jessica Feeney joins his class shortly after the school year
starts. Although she rarely speaks, Jessica teaches Tom valuable lessons about
friendship and what truly matters in life.
PLOT ANALYSIS
More often known for his fantasy series, author Tony Abbott
tries his hand at realistic fiction. He has created relatable characters many
readers can identify with: Jeff the self-absorbed, high-energy comic book
fanatic; Courtney the class cutie; and Tom—the Cobra-loving, Courtney-crushing
boy who tends to keep to himself.
Then there’s Jessica Feeney. The new girl at school, Jessica
leaves as quickly as she comes. However, in the short time she is at St.
Catherine’s, she manages to be the agent of change in Tom’s life.
While Abbott’s story lacks a dynamic plot, it certainly does
not leave out any internal conflict. Written in first person point of view with
Tom as the narrator, Firegirl readers
get to experience the internal changes that occur within a short amount of
time.
The change Tom experiences is measurable. He begins as an
immature adolescent who daydreams about saving his crush via superhero methods
and cruising around in a Cobra. After Jessica’s brief attendance at school, Tom
rethinks what is important: being kind and finding ways to help others.
The events Tom describes are plausible for a person in the
school setting. Abbott keeps everything believable while throwing in subtle
curveballs like the brevity of Jessica’s stay in New Haven. The hopeful ending
leaves Tom more mature and outgoing than in the beginning.
Along with the realistic plot is the sensible setting:
seventh-grade classroom at a Catholic school in New Haven, Connecticut. A few
details about Catholic school help explain the setting without overwhelming the
reader with cultural details.
Themes present in Firegirl
include growing up and maturing, accepting those who are different, and valuing
people for their character rather than their appearance. The intended audience
for this novel will relate to the characters in some way. Firegirl, while an enjoyable book, can also be used to teach
valuable lessons to readers at an awkward stage in their lives.
AWARDS &
RECOGNITION
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2007-08
YALSA Teen’s Top Ten 2007
Golden Kite Award, 2007
“In this poignant story, readers will recognize the
insecurities of junior high and discover that even by doing small acts of
kindness people stand to gain more than they lose.”
—Booklist, July
2006
“Prolific fantasy author Abbott has created a realistic wallflower
struggling to bloom. However, Tom's fantasies quickly become repetitive, and
several logical inconsistencies keep this from being totally successful,
despite its worthy messages.”
—Kirkus Review,
May 2006
CONNECTIONS
Related Book
Palacio,
R. J. (2012). Wonder. Alfred A.
Knopf.
Burn Unit Documentary
Read
about a burn unit in your state. Find out about victims who are served,
treatment options, and specialists who work there. Create a 5-10 minute
documentary videocast to share your findings.
Memory Box
The first semester
of seventh grade was an eventful one for Tom Bender. Collect 5-8 objects
related to the events in Firegirl.
Attach a 2-3 sentence reason for that object’s significance.
Vote for Me!
Mrs. Tracy’s class
conducts elections for class president. Create a Glogster poster campaigning
for one of the students in Tom’s class. Provide reasons that student should be
elected based on Tom’s descriptions throughout the book. Once your class has
completed their projects, take a vote on the most creative and convincing
poster.
