Setting

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Brent Bishop resides in a luxurious home in modern-day Chicago. His father has steadily climbed the corporate ladder, now able to fund the lifestyle his parents desire for Brent, which includes a private school, an upscale house, and luxury cars—all the "right" things to ensure happiness. Despite this, Brent feels an internal restlessness, dissatisfaction, and a sense of isolation that his father's wealth cannot alleviate.

Whirligig takes Brent from Chicago on a Greyhound bus, embarking on a journey across the United States, visiting places like Washington, California, Florida, and Maine.

During his travels, Brent encounters unpleasant and disagreeable people on the bus and in budget motels. However, he befriends someone at a youth hostel in San Diego who gifts him a copy of Two Years before the Mast. The sense of community shared by the hostel's transient residents appeals to Brent, prompting him to view his fellow travelers in a new light. The bumpy bus rides across the country provide him with ample time for introspection and self-discovery.

Expert Q&A

Where did Jenny and her grandmother go in Chapter 8 of Whirligig?

In Chapter 8, Jenny drives her grandmother around San Diego, visiting sentimental landmarks from her grandmother's past. They stop at her grandmother's sister's former home, her old neighborhood, and the house where Jenny's mother grew up. They also pass by a former family stationary store and her grandmother's old apartment. The journey concludes at a two-story house with a whirligig shaped like a whale, which brings her grandmother joy.

Where do the characters encounter the whirligigs and what is their symbolic importance?

The characters encounter whirligigs in Weeksboro, Maine; Miami, Florida; Bellevue, Washington; and San Diego, California. Each location offers a unique symbolic interpretation: in Maine, it symbolizes unseen forces and thoughts; in Florida, camaraderie and group dynamics; in Washington, a balanced life with rest and practice; and in California, the importance of laughter and joy. These diverse reactions highlight the subjective nature of individual perspectives and experiences.

In Paul Fleischman's Whirligig, where is Brent's starting point and destination?

Brent's journey in Paul Fleischman's Whirligig begins in Chicago, where he lives with his family. After causing the death of Lea Zamora in a car accident, he embarks on a mission to atone by building whirligigs at four corners of the United States. His destinations are Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; Tampa Bay, Florida; and Weeksboro, Maine. Through this journey, Brent learns important life lessons and fulfills a request to honor Lea's memory.

What is the time of year in the story 'Whirligig'?

The story unfolds over various times of the year. The accident occurs in May, followed by Brent's hearings and meetings in subsequent weeks. His journey to place the whirligigs begins in early July and concludes three weeks later. Alexandra and Steph are inspired during Christmas break, the street sweeper reflects in March, and Jenny and her grandmother visit in summer, as does a young Korean boy in Washington.

Literary Qualities

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Fleischman employs a first-person narrative and an unconventional plot structure. Unexpectedly, readers find themselves immersed in the story of two young girls in Maine and a ritual one girl has devised to bring a special boy into her best friend's life. The girls sit beneath the whirligig crafted and installed by Brent, the last of the four he created. The narrative then shifts backward in time, revealing four different stories about people's interactions with the whirligigs.

The whirligigs in the tale symbolize Brent's life, which spins and twists in chaotic disorder. Order is eventually restored as he meticulously crafts each whirligig and places it in its perfect location. These whirligigs begin to influence the lives of various individuals in each setting.

An economy of language is evident through the use of vivid metaphors, such as in "The Afterlife." "The headaches, like a wrecking ball working on his skull, came less often, replaced by the endless tolling in his mind of the word murderer." Another example appears in "Everybody Swing!" "He felt empty inside, like a chicken from the store with its plastic bag of organs removed."

There are a few instances of profanity, but they do not feel forced. Instead, they help the reader gain a deeper understanding of the situation and the characters.

Social Sensitivity

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Youths are at a stage in their lives where they are trying to understand who they are. What type of individuals do they aspire to be? How can they achieve that? How can they make their lives meaningful? They often reject the superficiality they observe in adults around them. Readers will encounter these same dilemmas in the main character of Whirligig. Through Brent's errors and quest for identity, they might gain fresh perspectives on themselves.

At times, young people may turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, or material possessions in their search for satisfaction and meaning. Readers will see that Brent initially sought answers in similar places but ultimately discovered them in unexpected ways. This might encourage readers to seek answers in different places as well.

They might feel rejected, isolated, or friendless, much like Brent. However, there are ways to rebuild their self-esteem, form friendships, become better friends, and find acceptance, just as Brent did.

For Further Reference

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Berman, Matt, and Marigny Dupuy. Children's Book Awards Annual (1998): 62. Lists the awards won by Fleischman.

Budin, Miriam Lang. School Library Journal (April 1998): 131. A favorable review of Whirligig, praising Fleischman's novel construction.

Candido, GraceAnne A. Booklist (1998). A positive and complimentary review of Whirligig, comparing Brent Bishop's journey to the journey in Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons (1994) and Uncle Ob's whirligigs in Cynthia Rylant's Missing May (1992).

"Fleischman, Paul." In Children's Books and Their Creators. Boston: Houghton, 1995, p. 245. An entry on Paul Fleischman by Cooki Slone.

"Fleischman, Paul." In Children's Literature Review, vol. 20. Detroit: Gale, 1990, pp. 63-70. Contains excerpts of reviews of Fleischman's work.

"Fleischman, Paul." In Fifth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1983, pp. 114-116. An autobiographical essay by Paul Fleischman.

Fleischman, Paul. Horn Book Magazine. (July-August 1989): pp. 442-451. The text of Fleischman's acceptance speech for the Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (1988).

"Paul Fleischman." In St. James Guide to Young Adult Writers, Detroit: St. James Press, 1999, pp. 285-286. A complimentary review praising Fleischman's poetic text, well-developed characters, and empathy for young adults.

"Fleischman, Paul." In Something about the Author, vol. 110. Detroit: Gale, 2000, pp. 89-93. This article includes biographical information about Fleischman, a list of his awards, a bibliography, and notes on several of his books.

Fleischman, Sid. Horn Book Magazine (July-August 1989): 452-455. The response of Sid Fleischman, Paul Fleischman's father, to Paul's Newbery Medal acceptance speech.

Kirkus Reviews (May 1, 1998). The reviewer compares Fleischman's writing to Rylant's work in Missing May (1992).

Shearin, John. Indiana Media Journal (1998): 15-18. An interview with Fleischman conducted in Indiana.

Vasilakis, Nancy. Review of Whirligig. Horn Book Magazine (July-August 1998): 487. The reviewer discusses the intricately structured novel and Fleischman's skill in connecting various characters to the evolution of his protagonist.

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