Friday from the Archives: “Weird Margaret” by Sarah Dessen in NCLR 1997
By Aija Everett, Intern
This Friday, let’s look back to an early issue of NCLR. The 1997 issue is comprised of a sort of call-and-response between art and literature. The featured writers were asked to respond to works of art in the North Carolina Museum of Art. Among these writers is Chapel Hill-based author, Sarah Dessen, with her short story “Weird Margaret.” Dessen, who studied under Doris Betts and Jill McCorkle at UNC Chapel Hill, is now a #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen young adult novels.
Her short story “Weird Margaret” follows a fifth-grader, Phoebe, as she navigates a new situation at home: her father’s new girlfriend (the title character) is moving in. A woman who wears “crystals around her neck, and purple clogs with yellow socks under a patchwork skirt.” A woman who seemingly never stops talking and makes creamy bean soup and bran muffins. Phoebe also learns to navigate her first schoolgirl crush and the inevitable disappointment that comes along with the loss of significant connections at such a young age.
This coming-of-age story was inspired by illustrations by storyteller and printmaker Louise Kessel. Kessel’s prints portray female figures in an almost spiritual and ceremonial light and features stars, fire, drums, and animal imagery. Dessen’s own rich imagery, combined with her relatable narration and natural dialogue inspires a sense of authenticity as we witness the world through Phoebe’s eyes.
Read this Dessen short story through the Gale Literature Resource Center, or visit our online store to purchase a copy of NCLR 1997 to read this and the other works inspired by works in the NC Museum of Art.
