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RE: How much do we tell the children? Q5 Is Truth any sort of guideline?
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From: Claudia Pearson <pearsoncrz_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:59:58 -0600
I agree with you Charles, "truth" is hard to define.
As a trial lawyer I knew that there were many "truths" in the courtroom: my client's "truth" was only one of them. Not just the opposing party, but opposing counsel, the judge, the jury members, and each witness each believed they knew the "truth" we sought.
There is indeed a history and context to each "truth" in a story. In books for young readers, there is the author's truth, the publisher's truth, the adult readers, reviewers and librarians' truths, and the young readers' truths. There are also cultural truths embedded in such stories.
One of the most interesting aspect of Eve Tal's book, A TRUTH TO TELL, is the comparisons she makes between novels written for an English speaking audience, and those written for a Hebrew speaking audience. Each offers an important "truth" shaped by the culture and political reality from which it emerges. Recognizing this aspect of stories for young readers is an important element of chosing a broad enough collection to encompass the various "truths" associated with especially difficult subjects.
Claudia Pearson coRA SCBWI SouthernBreeze pearsoncrz_at_earthlink.net www.LookAgainPress.com
Received on Sun 27 Nov 2011 05:59:58 PM CST
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:59:58 -0600
I agree with you Charles, "truth" is hard to define.
As a trial lawyer I knew that there were many "truths" in the courtroom: my client's "truth" was only one of them. Not just the opposing party, but opposing counsel, the judge, the jury members, and each witness each believed they knew the "truth" we sought.
There is indeed a history and context to each "truth" in a story. In books for young readers, there is the author's truth, the publisher's truth, the adult readers, reviewers and librarians' truths, and the young readers' truths. There are also cultural truths embedded in such stories.
One of the most interesting aspect of Eve Tal's book, A TRUTH TO TELL, is the comparisons she makes between novels written for an English speaking audience, and those written for a Hebrew speaking audience. Each offers an important "truth" shaped by the culture and political reality from which it emerges. Recognizing this aspect of stories for young readers is an important element of chosing a broad enough collection to encompass the various "truths" associated with especially difficult subjects.
Claudia Pearson coRA SCBWI SouthernBreeze pearsoncrz_at_earthlink.net www.LookAgainPress.com
Received on Sun 27 Nov 2011 05:59:58 PM CST
