63 pages • 2 hours read
Paul FleischmanA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
In Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, 17-year-old Brent Bishop, who struggles with fitting in and social pressure, inadvertently causes a fatal car accident and, as part of restitution, is tasked with building whirligigs in four corners of the United States to honor the victim, Lea Zamora. Brent's cross-country journey becomes one of self-discovery, transformation, and atonement. This book contains themes of guilt and redemption following a tragic accident.
Readers and critics praise Paul Fleischman’s Whirligig for its richly woven narrative and thought-provoking themes of redemption and interconnectedness. The novel's unique storytelling structure, using different perspectives, is lauded but can be challenging for some. Characters are well-developed, though the pacing may feel slow to some readers. Overall, it's a compelling read for thoughtful audiences.
Readers who enjoy introspective, coming-of-age stories will find Whirligig by Paul Fleischman captivating. Similar in spirit to Holes by Louis Sachar and Crash by Jerry Spinelli, it appeals to middle and high school students who are interested in themes of redemption, personal growth, and interconnected lives.
Lexile Level
760LLife/Time: Birth
Children's Literature
Education
Realistic Fiction
Education
Grief / Death