Francesca, Baby

Wishing Star #5

by Joan L. Oppenheimer

Together Francesca and her sister manage to survive a mother who is rarely sober, a father who is seldom home. But resentment, anger, guilt, hopelessness still build up in Francesca. Even her new found love for Bix can't solve her problems. There has to be help somewhere. But where?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this book -- all the way thought because a quarter of the way in I almost threw it out the window. I related to the subject matter -- alcoholic in the family and the problems it causes -- and as I read on it stopped being so preachy as I was touched by Francesca's story. She was good hearted and looked after her younger sister, Mary-Kate. It touched me the efforts she went through to give Mary-Kate a decent birthday party and a good christmas-- all the while taking the brunt of adulthood neglected by her mother and having a boyfriend. Sixteen year old Francesca is angry, bitter, and feels a lot of resentment towards her mother, and wishes for a way out of her dilemma. Well, lets just say, changes do come. A quick read, Francesca Baby gives a much needed dose of hope to anybody.

[Dstarkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was in 5th grade my teacher gave me this “extra book” and I remember being so excited! Back in the 70’s RIF (reading is fundamental) program would come into schools of poverty and let students pick a free book to read. I had already chosen my book and my teacher handed me this book and said I think you’d really like this one too. What I didn’t know was this book was about a child of an alcoholic mother and I think she was telling me she knew my story and was hoping this book would give me hope I just read it again as an adult and I can’t tell you how much this teacher impact of my life. She took me to college with her when I was in fifth grade and told me that I could go to college and I could be the teacher I wanted to be and this book was just another thing that she had done to let me know that she understood my situation.