Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye.
New York: Penguin Books, 1970.
Pecola Breedlove can't understand why people don't look at her the way that look at Shirley Temple or Maureen Peel, the new mulatto girl in school. Is it because she is poor? Is it because she doesn't have those pretty blue eyes? Pecola's friend Claudia knows why. But what can one girl do to change the fate of another?
Justification for Rejection:
Toni Morrison's Bluest Eye is a deeply moving and tragic tale of black history in the United States. In many ways, this is the perfect YA novel. It is told through the eyes of Claudia, who is nine years old at the time of the events. She struggles with not only personal identity issues, but racial identity issues. Although Claudia is the narrator, the protagonist of the novel is Pecola Breedlove, also a young girl, who sees the world around her through the eyes of white influence. She loves Shirley Temple, and prays to have the same lovely blue eyes. Her family, the Breedloves, are viewed as the ugliest black family in town. They are poor and downtrodden, and the family reaches its lowest point when Pecola's father rapes and impregnates her. The most esteemed members of the community are those with the lightest skin, and which closely mimic white social ideals. Claudia's development throughout the novel is one of deep personal reflection in direct contrast to the world around her.
The reason I must reject this title for nomination is its overall complexity. It switches between narrators, times, places, and perspectives. There is intricate word play associated with many of its themes. This book may be appropriate when used in conjunction with classroom study or a guided group discussion, I don't think a young adult should attempt to tackle this one on their own.
Genre: Challenged/Censored; Realistic/Edgy; Historical
No comments:
Post a Comment