In that context, the mythical world of Weetzie Bat was very refreshing. When my sons were in high school, I was astounded by the number of idiotic and unnecessary restrictions imposed on people who were almost adult. In the real world, adults have responsibilities and children have restrictions. One of the strongest features of that world is the fact that in Weetzie's world, adults and children are expected to play by the same rules, basically the Golden Rule. The books are fables, presenting a world that doesn't and can't exist. I didn't then and don't now think they are about anything that really exists. I read and loved the Weetzie Bat books when they first came out.

Just for kicks, here's Cher in the feathers, on the horse: And I'm guessing that Indian American readers might have that same feeling of being yanked out of the story by the author's ignorance. But what about her editor? Doesn't her editor know the difference?īased on the excerpts of Editorial Reviews on the Amazon page, people think Pink Smog is 'intoxicating' and 'sparkles.' Obviously it does for some people, but for me-a Native reader-the 'Indian American' shatters anything I might call sparkly about the story. Indian American? Really?! Surely Block knows that 'Indian American' is commonly used to refer to Indians from India who live in the United States and identify as Indian and American! Sometimes she'd be an Indian American with feathers, straddling a horse, and sometimes she'd be a showgirl with feathers. Now, imagine me reading at the top of page 27, where Weetzie is talking about Cher: Imagine me on my couch, reading Pink Smog. I stumbled each time I had to read and write out the name of Weetzie's boyfriend, My Secret Agent Lover Man. It is easier to read than Weetzie Bat, which is filled with oddly named characters right away.

It is about Weetzie in junior high school in L.A. Published in 2012, it is billed as a prequel to Weetzie Bat. I started reading Pink Smog this evening.

Or, I should say, her MISportrayal of Native culture. A few days ago, I wrote about Francesca Lia Block's now-classic Weetzie Bat.Although I appreciate that the gay relationship in it was groundbreaking in 1989 when it was published, I can't-and won't-move past Block's portrayal of American Indians.

Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block