What's in a Name

by Ellen Wittlinger

When the town's name is changed from Scrub Harbor to Folly Bay, not all its teen residents take the news welcomingly, in a story about friendships, crushes, rivalries, and secrets. Reprint.

Genres: Young Adult, Short Stories, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of 15 young adult novels including Parrotfish, Heart on My Sleeve, Love & Lies: Marisol's Story, Razzle, What's in a Name, and Hard Love (an American Library Association Michael L. Printz Honor Book, a Lambda Literary Award winner, and a Booklist Editors' Choice). She has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. A former children's librarian, she lives with her husband in western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Leann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to re-read this book. Someone gave it to me when I was in junior high (2002ish, probably, when it was new). It popped into my mind about a year ago and for the longest time I could not remember what it was called and couldn't find my old copy. Finally someone on Goodreads solved it for me - look at this amazingness with such little and incorrect information that I gave, ha.

I can definitely see why I loved this book so much. I identified strongly with a couple of the characters as a tween, and still some today. It tells the story of a town deciding whether to change its name through the eyes of high schoolers, each chapter in a different POV. There is so much going on in this book! Issues that are still so important to me today including race, gender, sexuality, income inequality, social justice, privilege, and so on. It's not surprising that this book stuck with me, because those were not themes I saw in a lot of the YA books I read at that age. I'm so happy YA has expanded since then.

There are definitely some places in which this feels too much like an "issues" book - surrounding race and sexuality, in particular - that have maybe not aged super well, but it was still strong overall. The one thing that definitely rubbed me the wrong way was the conversation around one character's coming out - it felt like a bit too much emphasis was placed on how it made those around him feel, instead of how it felt to him.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel concerns identity, not just of the kids in town, but if the town itself.
Adults in the town of Scrub Harbor want to change its name to Folly Bay, which is the basis for this YA novel about identity told in ten different first person chapters. Georgie lives above a dog groomer and her single mom is the art teacher at her high school. O’Neill is trying an experiment from his English teacher: be honest. So he comes out in a poem to his friend Christine the editor of the school literary magazine. Christine has had a crush on O’Neill since fourth grade. Ricardo was a popular student in his native Brazil, but as an exchange student, is shy about his English, but falls for Georgie. Nadia has lived in town for seven years, but as a Russian immigrant, is also embarrassed by her English. She has a crush on Nelson. Nelson is a black middle class boy who has a crush on Shaquanda who takes the long bus ride in from Boston each morning. Shaquanda needs to make it out of the ghetto at any cost, except her family. Adam has just moved from Vermont, where he was very popular and he is confused about his lack of activities and friends in Scrub Harbor. Quincy is O’Neill’s older brother and co- captain of the football team, he’s taken back by his brother’s coming out, but he’s still supportive. Gretchen is Quincy’s girlfriend and the daughter of the type- A realtor who is out to change the name of the town, but she’s less interested in being her mother’s spitting image.

[Deana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. I've already placed it on my Amazon Wish List.

The story unfolds in a very unique fashion, with each chapter being narrated by a different student. The town of Scrub Harbor is considering changing its name to Folly Bay, and families are on one side or the other of the debate, for various reasons. The main reason for the name change is that people believe the name "Scrub Harbor" is unattractive, and tourists will be more enticed to come to "Folly Bay". As the story unfolds, we learn that the town is not the only thing that stereotypes and first impressions are affecting. All of the narrators are very different from one another, and stereotypes and first impressions become very important as the story continues. By the end, many surprises are in store for all of the students - people aren't always who you think they are.

And... as usual, my horrible skill at describing things does this book no justice. I highly recommend it though.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wittlinger is an asset to the LGBT young adult market. This novel, written in chapters from each individual's first person perspective, has a strong premise and an excellent theme. However, the format made it necessary to continually review previous chapters in order to understand the peer group and their relationships to each other. This became tedious. The ten stories each have their own strengths and come together beautifully by the end. But it takes effort for the reader.

I have read this a second time, focusing on the text as a writer rather than a reader. The book gained more meaning for me. It was interesting to see some chapters written in past tense and others in present. All chapters were written from the first person point of view. I still had some problems with the title. Each chapter is written from an individual's perspective -- thus, the idea of each name. The overall enjoining theme is the changing of a town's name. While the overall feel of the book is interesting, the theme feels weak.

[Kristin Aker Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

These connected short stories could be read individually, but I read them in one sitting. They are each told from a different teen's point of view, addressing themes of love, identity, including sexual, and class. The voices are authentic, with a rare off-note, and varied. My favorite is "Ricardo," if you only want to read one. Whittlinger does a good job keeping twelve characters distinct and the reader turning pages.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has an inner story that mirrors that outer story - I love that. The title, What's in a Name, has to do with a group of people that want to change the name of a town and the way all of the people feel about - how political it becomes. Each chapter is told from the POV of a different teen. Each teen is so well defined and the chapters and what happens are all skillfully interwoven. A great book to study.

[Spencer]

I really enjoyed this book. Everyone should read what's in a name because I think it teaches us very valuable lessons. We see the effect of generalizing, racism and popularity. It also touches on issues many of us can relate to because we are all in a typical high school situation. There is a lot to be said about high school drama and What's in a Name says it well.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of the chapters in this novel is written from a different POV. Together, ten characters form a complete story. It was a great technique, particularly because each character had a diverse and distinct voice.

Favorite line:
"All I want to tell him is: I am the person I am because you are the person you are. I'd like him to know that." (page 56)

[Olean Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

-This book is about a town trying to change its name, which splits the town into the Follys and the Scrubs, or the rich and the poor. This book also shows that people can come together as friends to be proud of their town.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked Hard Love when I read it during my summer education courses, but this one just didn't do it for me. Each chapter is the story of a seperate character and, although some chapters were quite good, others just fell flat.

[elissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-done, but not as good as other Wittlinger books. Told from different points of view.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like everything by her. This isn't her best work, but as always it's a story that makes you think.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a big fan of Ellen Wittlinger when I was in high school, I remember being very disappointed with this book. It was a let-down from her other books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy young adult read. Set in a fictional suburb of Boston, this is an enjoyable book that students/reluctant readers in 8th grade and up can access and relate to independently.