http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2010/02/historical-fiction-and-the-newbery-award.html A Community for Curious Minds who love History, its Odd Stories, and Good Reads Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2010/02/historical-fiction-and-the-newbery-award.html/comment-page-1#comment-8889 Matt Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:48:08 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3998#comment-8889 Truth is stranger than fiction, is that not what you always hear in the news!? People love a good story, especially if they can actually believe it is happening or parts of it did happen in human history. Instead of escaping reality with a fantasy novel, historical fiction allows you to escape just enough but still think in the back of your mind WOW this is pretty believable! Truth is stranger than fiction, is that not what you always hear in the news!? People love a good story, especially if they can actually believe it is happening or parts of it did happen in human history. Instead of escaping reality with a fantasy novel, historical fiction allows you to escape just enough but still think in the back of your mind WOW this is pretty believable!

]]> http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2010/02/historical-fiction-and-the-newbery-award.html/comment-page-1#comment-8308 Tweets that mention Historical Fiction and the Newbery Award -- Topsy.com Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:44:38 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3998#comment-8308 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Holly Tucker and J. L. Bell, Raymond Smith. Raymond Smith said: RT @history_geek: From the Wonders & Marvels archives: Historical Fiction and the Newbery Award http://ow.ly/3J77p [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Holly Tucker and J. L. Bell, Raymond Smith. Raymond Smith said: RT @history_geek: From the Wonders & Marvels archives: Historical Fiction and the Newbery Award http://ow.ly/3J77p [...]

]]> http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2010/02/historical-fiction-and-the-newbery-award.html/comment-page-1#comment-8307 J. L. Bell Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:26:34 +0000 http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/?p=3998#comment-8307 I think the Newbery committees reward historical fiction for the same reason that the Academy Awards go disproportionately to historical dramas: our culture sees certain storytelling modes as more serious, deep, and award-worthy than others. Fantasy, adventure, and humor tend to lose prestige points, even if they dominate at the cash register/box office. Stories set in the real world, especially the past; sad and serious stories; and stories of character rather than action tend to get more respect. The Newbery and children’s literature in general are actually more open to rewarding humor and fantasy than adult literary awards, but they still reflect the culture’s values. I think the Newbery committees reward historical fiction for the same reason that the Academy Awards go disproportionately to historical dramas: our culture sees certain storytelling modes as more serious, deep, and award-worthy than others. Fantasy, adventure, and humor tend to lose prestige points, even if they dominate at the cash register/box office. Stories set in the real world, especially the past; sad and serious stories; and stories of character rather than action tend to get more respect. The Newbery and children’s literature in general are actually more open to rewarding humor and fantasy than adult literary awards, but they still reflect the culture’s values.

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