"Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys"

books:

	• Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys (Weetzie Bat) Francesca Lia Block HarperTeen, 1993 - 128 pages average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

poetic and dreamlike

A creative story about a girl named Cherokee. She's in a band but all of the members are having self image issues making them not sound so great. She goes to her friend Coyote for help and strength for he is magical. He helps her friends find inner strength but their power corrupts themselves and endangers their lives. She comes to Coyote for more help but he can't help, it is all up to Cherokee to save her friends lives. Francesca Lia block is one of my most favorite writers for her style is so unique and poetic and this story is a good example of that.

Heartfelt

Francesca Lia Block's books aren't exactly set in the most idyllic atmosphere. Her books are set in New York City or Los Angeles, and sex and drugs are always undertones of the story. But somehow, Block's description of the big city seems to suggest a completely different atmosphere, one of nature and beauty. That and the awesome characters of the stories penetrate the harshness and business that potentially resides in these cities otherwise. Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, for all it's drugs, sex, and disturbed emotions, remains the most heartfelt book I have read this summer. But it must be noted that if you want to read this, you'd better read Weetzie Bat and Witch Baby first. Those two will give you a sufficient introduction to the characters. I think there's another book in between Witch Baby and CGG, but I haven't read it :). This, I think, is a book for the Francesca Lia Block fan to cherish.

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Slinkster Cool

In my opinion, this is the darkest of the Weetzie Bat books, mainly on account of Cherokee's will to be happy and the more powerful will to help the people she loves. In the process, she becomes overwhelmed, and a hypnotic magic causes the band she's in to shoot too high, landing them in a mess of fans, drugs, sex, and of course, Rock 'n' Roll.

The imagery is glamorous and tasty, beautifully written, with plenty of culture to fufil the senses -- as all her books are.

This was probably my favorite of the Weetzie Bat books, and marks high on my list of favorite Francesca Lia Block books.

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"Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys" - my review

This being the fifth book I've read by Francesca Lia Block, I thoroughly enjoyed it as I do with all of Block's books I've read. Although, "Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys" was definitely a little more on the depressing side compared to her other books.

"Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys" is about how Cherokee, With Baby, Raphael, and Angel Juan have to live on their own while the adults are gone making a movie with My Secret Agent Lover Man. Coyote is supposed to take care of them, but he doesn't help much.

I really liked this book because of how it deals with the four young teenagers growing up and learning about some scary things the hard way. When the four start a band call the Goat Guys, the experience opens up a door full of drugs, alcohol, sex, fame, and love in all of the wrong places. This is where the depression comes in. It was hard to read about how these teenagers' lives just kept going down and down. Cherokee tried to help, but by giving everyone in the rooms gifts that Coyote helped her make, she only opens up the door of trouble even more. Throughout the book, Cherokee struggles to keep everyone together in the happy family they once were.

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not francesca's best work.

i'm a huge francesca lia block fan and i was actually rather disappointed by this book. it seemed like it was forced as opposed to flowing like the rest of her books... i also found witch baby rather forced, although i loved weetzie bat and baby bebop. i suppose everyone has their bad days, or weeks or however long, though.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

Once there was a slink-chunk,
slam-dunk band called The Goat Guys

Cherokee Bat danced and sang. Witch Baby, Cherokee's almost-sister, pounded the beat on her drums. Raphael played the guitar, and Angel Juan kept the rhythm on his bass. They made music that sparkled like fireworks, and audiences loved them.

But with success came power, and power was a dangerous thing. Cherokee and The Goat Guys were swept up in it-and soon it was threatening to destroy them.

Until Cherokee realized that it was up to her to save them all . . .

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