Firegirl

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.