CCBC-Net Archives
Illuminating Effects of Historical Fiction
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 08:39:53 -0500
Several people have commented on the potential power of historical fiction to help chidren and young adults understand the impact of historical events on average people; or to understand what it was like to be living at a certain time, under conditions that may be very different from those today--or with which we can draw chilling parallels.
Meg Rothstein has already mentioned Mildred Taylor, whose books about the Logan family are so affecting and powerful. Lois Lowry's Number the Stars has also been mentioned. I think of Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light, which also tackles that tricky area we've mentioned of fictionalizing an actual person--Donnelly expands on what was actually known about Grace Brown, the murder victim in the both the novel and real life, by creating a fictional body of letters that illuminates something true about the limited choices a woman in Grace's situation--unwed and pregnant-?ced at that time. She uses the real Grace's story as a springboard to create a marvelous work of fiction, and the fictionalized Grace, along with the protagonist, Mattie, and other female characters in the novel, together convey an even larger truth about the realities of life for women across class bounds.
One of the thing a novel like A Northern Light--that draws on a real character and events--sparks in me is interest in finding out more about the "facts" behind the story. And I'm curious how often this is something that younger readers are drawn to. Do books based on real events or characters prompt them to find out more--to read beyond the story?
Many children develop a fascination for reading about the Holocaust, for example. Can anyone comment on what they observe with regard to the reading and research patterns of these kids? Do they naturally seek out non-fiction, or even facts on the internet--to complement their fiction reading if they are intrigued? Can you think of other examples where a work of fiction sparks readers to find out more on their own?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 19 May 2004 08:39:53 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 08:39:53 -0500
Several people have commented on the potential power of historical fiction to help chidren and young adults understand the impact of historical events on average people; or to understand what it was like to be living at a certain time, under conditions that may be very different from those today--or with which we can draw chilling parallels.
Meg Rothstein has already mentioned Mildred Taylor, whose books about the Logan family are so affecting and powerful. Lois Lowry's Number the Stars has also been mentioned. I think of Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light, which also tackles that tricky area we've mentioned of fictionalizing an actual person--Donnelly expands on what was actually known about Grace Brown, the murder victim in the both the novel and real life, by creating a fictional body of letters that illuminates something true about the limited choices a woman in Grace's situation--unwed and pregnant-?ced at that time. She uses the real Grace's story as a springboard to create a marvelous work of fiction, and the fictionalized Grace, along with the protagonist, Mattie, and other female characters in the novel, together convey an even larger truth about the realities of life for women across class bounds.
One of the thing a novel like A Northern Light--that draws on a real character and events--sparks in me is interest in finding out more about the "facts" behind the story. And I'm curious how often this is something that younger readers are drawn to. Do books based on real events or characters prompt them to find out more--to read beyond the story?
Many children develop a fascination for reading about the Holocaust, for example. Can anyone comment on what they observe with regard to the reading and research patterns of these kids? Do they naturally seek out non-fiction, or even facts on the internet--to complement their fiction reading if they are intrigued? Can you think of other examples where a work of fiction sparks readers to find out more on their own?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 19 May 2004 08:39:53 AM CDT
