CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] The Hidden Adult
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: monicaedinger at gmail.com <monicaedinger>
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:46:28 +0000
What I so appreciate about this book is the careful and meticulous way Perry unpacks and examines the six books and helps readers like me see what he calls the "shadow text" that second hidden text, lurking -- so to speak-- in the background. He writes, "...my plan was to read and think about the six texts as intensively as I could, trying to pay close attention to any and all of the details I noticed in my reading. In doing this, of course, I was operating in terms of reading and interpretive practices I have learned as a reader and scholar." (7) The six texts are strikingly different yet Perry is able to tease out the shadow text each possesses and show common characteristics leading to a definition of children's literature as its own genre. Surprisingly, the story that fascinated me most was not as would be expected, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, but THE PURPLE JAR, a story I had never come across before. At first glance it seemed a typical Victorian cautionary tale, but Perry's presentation of it, thinking about it, and more made for a completely fascinating reconsideration for me.
It has been months since I read THE HIDDEN CHILD and I admit that I may not have read as carefully as I should have some of the more scholarly parts, but it has stuck with me nonetheless. For those open to thinking hard about this world of children's books, I think it is well-worth reading. I hope others who have read it will also chime in!
Monica
Received on Sun 19 Jul 2009 10:46:28 AM CDT
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:46:28 +0000
What I so appreciate about this book is the careful and meticulous way Perry unpacks and examines the six books and helps readers like me see what he calls the "shadow text" that second hidden text, lurking -- so to speak-- in the background. He writes, "...my plan was to read and think about the six texts as intensively as I could, trying to pay close attention to any and all of the details I noticed in my reading. In doing this, of course, I was operating in terms of reading and interpretive practices I have learned as a reader and scholar." (7) The six texts are strikingly different yet Perry is able to tease out the shadow text each possesses and show common characteristics leading to a definition of children's literature as its own genre. Surprisingly, the story that fascinated me most was not as would be expected, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, but THE PURPLE JAR, a story I had never come across before. At first glance it seemed a typical Victorian cautionary tale, but Perry's presentation of it, thinking about it, and more made for a completely fascinating reconsideration for me.
It has been months since I read THE HIDDEN CHILD and I admit that I may not have read as carefully as I should have some of the more scholarly parts, but it has stuck with me nonetheless. For those open to thinking hard about this world of children's books, I think it is well-worth reading. I hope others who have read it will also chime in!
Monica
Received on Sun 19 Jul 2009 10:46:28 AM CDT
