Weetzie Bat is the debut novel of Francesca Lia Block, published by HarperCollins in 1989. It inaugurated her Dangerous Angels series for young adults. The narrative follows the adventures of the eponymous character Weetzie and her best friend Dirk, as well as their friends and relations. After being granted three wishes by a genie, Weetzie discovers that there are unexpected ramifications. The story is set in an almost dream-like, heightened version of Los Angeles, aptly referred to as "Shangri-L.A.", in an indefinite time period evoking both the 1980s punk craze and the sophisticated glamor of 1950s Hollywood. Block describes issues such as blended families, premarital sex, homosexuality, and AIDS. Characters Weetzie Bat The central character of the book. Daughter of Brandy-Lynn and Charlie Bat, best friend of Dirk, lover of My Secret-Agent Lover Man, mother of Cherokee. When first seen, she is skinny, unusual girl with a bleach-blonde flat-top hair cut, a love of Native American culture, and a quirky sense of style. When presented with a magic lamp, she makes three life-altering wishes, none of which turn out as she expects them to. Dirk The best friend of Weetzie Bat. Grandson of Fifi, lover of Duck, and possible father to Cherokee. He has blue eyes and, when first introduced, a black Mohawk, which later morphs into a ducktail. He drives a 1955 red Pontiac named Jerry, after Jerry Lewis. Like Weetzie, Dirk tends to have poor taste in men. My Secret-Agent Lover Man A green-eyed filmmaker who rides a motorcycle. He appears in Weetzie’s life after her three wishes. Duck A short, blonde, freckly male surfer. Also a possible father to Cherokee. Slinkster Dog Weetzie’s dog. Go Go Girl My Secret-Agent Lover Man buys Go Go Girl as a mate for Slinkster Dog so that Weetzie will stop wishing for children as she can raise the dogs' puppies. Cherokee Weetzie’s daughter. Witch Baby The daughter of My Secret-Agent Lover Man and Vixanne (also known as "the Lanka"). She was originally called Lily, but the name didn't take; everyone just called her by her nickname, Witch Baby. Grandma Fifi Dirk’s grandmother Charlie Bat Weetzie’s father. Valentine JahLove, Ping Chong, and Raphael Chong JahLove Valentine is a tall Rastafarian. Ping Chong is a tiny Chinese woman working as a fashion designer in L.A. (Shangri-L.A). They have a son named Raphael. Reception Weetzie Bat won the 2009 Phoenix Award from the Children's