CCBC-Net Archives
Religion in fiction
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: JOAN ATKINSON <Jatkinso>
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2004 21:02:06 -0600
I've recently reread Katherine Paterson's Jip and find in it the same kind of treatment of religion as in Gilly Hopkins, i.e. true religion leads to actions of love and caring and standing your ground when convictions are threatened. To Jip the Quaker family offer food, shelter, potential escape and moral courage. Through the character of Teacher, who turns out to be Lyddie, we are shown the extra step a teacher practicing her convictions will take to help a faltering student.
Han Nolan is another author who develops religious themes throughout her fiction. In Send Me Down a Miracle the protagonist is torn between the convictions of her preacher father and the vision of her friend who has seen Jesus sitting in the room with her. More recently Nolan has created in When We Were Saints a male protagonist who is searching for faith, especially because of the convictions of a girl who entrances him, one who is eventually seen as mentally unstable, or is she?
The binding power of religious faith and its potential for exclusiveness is the subject of several moving YA novels. Most recently is True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff and before that Haddix' Leaving Fishers. The disillusionment that comes when people of faith don't live up to their own professions of it are seen in these and other novels like Cynthia Rylant's A Fine White Dust.
The link of religion and sexuality is seen in the collection of short stories, I Believe in Water. Virginia Euwer Wolff's story of three pregnant teenagers whose faith is sometimes a challenge and sometimes a solace is very poignant. I'm reminded of John Steinbeck's portrayal of the preacher in The Grapes of Wrath, whose temptation is strongest after he's preached a fiery sermon. Afterward he usually finds himself in the grass with a willing female even though his conviction is that he shouldn't be there.
A positive father/daughter, preacher/daughter portrayal is Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie. Opal accepts outsiders, whether human or animal, warts and all, a trait that comes at least partially from the faith and wisdom of her father.
Patty Campbell has compiled a bibliography on issues of faith in young adult fiction. I can't seem to find the citation just now. Perhaps Patty or someone else will help.
Joan Atkinson Joan L. Atkinson Associate Professor School of Library and Information Studies The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 3548752 e-mail: jatkinso at slis.ua.edu Phone: 20548F10 or 2054822 FAX: 20548746
Received on Sun 21 Nov 2004 09:02:06 PM CST
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2004 21:02:06 -0600
I've recently reread Katherine Paterson's Jip and find in it the same kind of treatment of religion as in Gilly Hopkins, i.e. true religion leads to actions of love and caring and standing your ground when convictions are threatened. To Jip the Quaker family offer food, shelter, potential escape and moral courage. Through the character of Teacher, who turns out to be Lyddie, we are shown the extra step a teacher practicing her convictions will take to help a faltering student.
Han Nolan is another author who develops religious themes throughout her fiction. In Send Me Down a Miracle the protagonist is torn between the convictions of her preacher father and the vision of her friend who has seen Jesus sitting in the room with her. More recently Nolan has created in When We Were Saints a male protagonist who is searching for faith, especially because of the convictions of a girl who entrances him, one who is eventually seen as mentally unstable, or is she?
The binding power of religious faith and its potential for exclusiveness is the subject of several moving YA novels. Most recently is True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff and before that Haddix' Leaving Fishers. The disillusionment that comes when people of faith don't live up to their own professions of it are seen in these and other novels like Cynthia Rylant's A Fine White Dust.
The link of religion and sexuality is seen in the collection of short stories, I Believe in Water. Virginia Euwer Wolff's story of three pregnant teenagers whose faith is sometimes a challenge and sometimes a solace is very poignant. I'm reminded of John Steinbeck's portrayal of the preacher in The Grapes of Wrath, whose temptation is strongest after he's preached a fiery sermon. Afterward he usually finds himself in the grass with a willing female even though his conviction is that he shouldn't be there.
A positive father/daughter, preacher/daughter portrayal is Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie. Opal accepts outsiders, whether human or animal, warts and all, a trait that comes at least partially from the faith and wisdom of her father.
Patty Campbell has compiled a bibliography on issues of faith in young adult fiction. I can't seem to find the citation just now. Perhaps Patty or someone else will help.
Joan Atkinson Joan L. Atkinson Associate Professor School of Library and Information Studies The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 3548752 e-mail: jatkinso at slis.ua.edu Phone: 20548F10 or 2054822 FAX: 20548746
Received on Sun 21 Nov 2004 09:02:06 PM CST
