The House You Pass On the Way

THE HOUSE YOU PASS ON THE WAY
By: Jacqueline Woodson

Summary:
Staggerlee’s voice takes you through her 13-14 year old life as she discovers that her problems as a bi-racial child are only the beginning. After an intense afternoon with another girl, Hazel, Staggerlee confirms that she likes girls. She has trouble coming to terms with any type of status with this feeling, but is able to share her struggles with her cousin. The end of the novel leaves you open-ended, much like Staggerlee would be feeling at this point. She seems more resolved with her identity, but is clearly still working it out.

Teachability:
The story definitly lends itself to a class discussion, small group or individual read. The themes of small-town American prejudice, biracial struggles, and lesbianism are all done very well in this novel. It sets up a lot of background and takes a while to get into, but about half way through I could not put it down. I would definitely recommend this for any middle-grade level, and even into freshman year especially for students going through this journey.

The House You Pass on the Way

Reference: Woodson, Jacqueline. The House You Pass on the Way. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1997. 114p.

 In The House You Pass on the Way, Jacqueline Woodson brings to life a 14 year-old named Staggerlee who is going through a difficult time during her adolescence. Between making friends, fitting in with her family, and understanding who she is, Staggerlee narrates the story of her life, a story that seems to lack uniqueness and depth at the beginning.  But as we continue, we learn that she is not only biracial, but is a part of the only biracial family in her small town of Sweet Gum.   She has also recently discovered her attraction to girls, which has caused her to isolate herself amongst her classmates.  This all changes when her 14 year-old cousin, Trout, comes to stay with her family over the summer.  She has never met her adopted cousin because Staggerlee’s dad’s family was completely opposed to him marrying a white woman, and basically disowned him when he did.  But when his sister dies, they are forced to take notice of the important things in life, and the time they have wasted not living it to the fullest.  Throughout the summer, Trout and Staggerlee become very close as they discuss plans for high school, hardships at home, and the pressure to act and be a “normal” girl.  In the end, Staggerlee is optimistic about the future, even though she is not quite sure what is in store for her. 

This book really develops themes and ideas that any 8^th or 9^th grade student could relate to.  The transition from middle school to high school is a huge step, and the struggles and hopes associated with this transition are well represented in the novel.  Even though homosexuality and being biracial aren’t identities that most students can relate to, there is so much more to the story than that.  The struggle to discover who you are and where you fit into the world is the most significant  thing, and that is something students can really identify with.  The book does not have very difficult vocabulary and is about 100 pages long, so it would be a quick and eye-opening read that could elicit exciting conversations in the classroom. 

The Window

Dorris, Michael. The Window. New York: Hyperion for Children, 1997. Print.

           

The Window, written by Michael Dorris and published by Hyperion, tells a story about a mixed eleven year old girl named Rayona who is trying to discover who she is by figuring out where she comes from.  After her Native American mother is sent to rehab for alcoholism, she is forced to spend time with her African American father and meet his family, who is unexpectedly white.  She has never spent that much time with her father throughout her life, and is taken aback when she finds out that he is in fact white.  She soon discovers that his family is not what she expected but is pleasantly surprised by the realization.  As we follow Rayona on her journey of discovering where she comes from, it ignites the question of our own racial identity in each of us.  The theme of racial identity is huge in this book, as our narrator comes from three very different backgrounds, none of which she knows very much about at the beginning of the novel.  Because there are so many different races within the context, it is very relatable, even if the reader’s race is not represented in the text. 

            The teachability of this novel in a middle school setting is definitely conceivable.  The book is very short, under one hundred pages, and the vocabulary is not too difficult either.  Although alcoholism is a part of the novel, the concept is never discussed in explicit detail and it is not what the story is about.  Dorris uses just the right amount of “adult concepts” to make the novel intriguing to read, but not inappropriate.  The variety of races represented in the text is really beautiful and captivating to read, especially coming from someone who is mixed themselves.  Rayona’s character charms the reader as she slowly learns about her heritage and she invites the reader to think about their heritage as well.  I think that this novel can be enjoyed by both males and females while at the same time teaching you to appreciate where you come from.