Whirligig by Paul Fleischman

Fleischman, P. (1998) Whirligig. New York: Holt. ISBN: 0805055827

Plot Summary:Brent Bishop is a typical high school student who is just as preoccupied with popularity and girls as any other high school boy. When he is invited to a party, he is humiliated by getting publicly rejected by the girl he likes. Having had a couple of drinks, he leaves and is horribly angry about the whole situation. On his drive home, he begins to wonder if his life is worth living. With thoughts of suicide on his mind, he lets go of the steering wheel and ends up in a fatal accident. Although he has no injuries, Brent has taken the life of a young woman. After he knows nothing will ever bring her back, he agrees to the mother’s wish which is to build a whirligig in the four corners of the United States: California, Washington, Maine, and Florida. As he travels to each state and builds his creations, he comes a step closer to repentance. Readers will also see how his whirligigs affect other people who encounter his woodwork.

Critical Evaluation:The alternating of stories from Brent’s life to the other characters that were affected by the whirligig was a bit confusing at first. But once readers understand how the author is constructing the plot, the story becomes even more interesting. I was amazed to see how a simple act of kindness could alter somebody’s life so drastically. The story was different from any other I have ever read. Just the title captured my attention. The author does a good job at developing the character’s emotions throughout his travels from state to state. Each story was quite simple, but had a very interesting way of connecting to the whirligigs. But that might have been the author’s intentions. I would recommend this book to anyone who has felt guilt or felt the need to seek a way to repent for any wrongdoing.

Information about the Author: Paul Fleischman has a poet and writer who has won the Newbery Medal for his book Joyful Noise. He lives in Pacific Grove, California.

Annotation:After Brent Bishop gets into a car accident and kills a girl, he makes amends with her family by building whirligigs in honor of her and places them around the United States.

Genre: Travel and death

Curriculum Ties: United States Geography, health education

Booktalking Ideas:Discuss the definition of a whirligig. Explain how Brent Bishop constructs them in hopes of bringing some peace to the mother of the girl he killed.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 6th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: : Drunk driving

Reason for Inclusion: The writer is an award-winning author. Fleishchman won the Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise and a Newbery Honor for Graven Images.