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February 17, 2005
Postmodernism and Children’s Books
Postmodernist fiction – the type of fiction that calls attention to itself and the writing process a la James Joyce and Dave Eggers – is not what one would necessarily expect from a children’s writer. A groundbreaking work in this field was David Macaulay’s work of genius: the picture book Black and White. The book tells one story concurrently from four points of view. On the one hand, Macaulay is there saying, “Look – I could have told the story this way or this way or this way or this way, and see how different the story becomes!” On the other, his exploration of multiple points of view leads to a powerful climax in which storyteller and reader seem to come to the same conclusions all at once. Macaulay’s story becomes inextricably bound to its form, and the postmodern telling seems the best way for the author to say what he has to say.
Black and White broke ground that not many have ventured to sow. Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery winner, The Tale of Despereaux, has postmodern elements as the narrator speaks directly to the reader. In A Series of Unfortunate Events, writer David Handler has created an entire persona for his pseudonym and alter ego Lemony Snicket – a narrator who routinely suggests readers stop reading the book and occasionally points out better ways things could have turned out. Polly Horvath’s most recent book, The Pepins and Their Problems, features a narrator who asks readers for feedback and then incorporates it into a fairly traditional noodlehead story.
Now Rochester’s own Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park is entering the fray with her new book, Project Mulberry. The novel itself is reminiscent of E.L. Koningsburg. It’s the story of a girl and boy, best friends, working on a project to raise silkworms. It’s not as deep as some of Park’s other books, but it’s fun and interesting with snappy dialog. What sets it apart from other novels is that between chapters, Park includes conversations between herself and her fictional narrator and main character, Julia. In the first of these interludes, Park – or, more precisely, Julia – invites the reader to skip the segments altogether. And the reader truly can skip them and find a completely realized story, which begs the question: why are they there? It seems like postmodernism for postmoderism’s sake.
The thing about postmodernism is that it’s sort of annoying. It takes the reader out of the story, making readers think of things in ways we aren’t accustomed to. Most of us come to a book to experience a story, not, generally, to think about how that story was written. Sometimes, though, these postmodern elements help the author tell a story or tell it better, as was undoubtedly the case with Black and White. And sometimes they’re like plastic decorations on a birthday cake – pretty, but nothing you can actually eat. But that’s me. Does postmodernism have the same effect on kids? Park is, herself, a mother, and she’s a successful author who has gone on countless school visits; she was doing it even before the Newbery. In spite of Cornelia Funke’s assertion in Inkheart that people who love to read don’t think about authors, they do. I think this is particularly true of children. Young readers wonder how stories get created the same way they wonder about all kinds of things they encounter in this strange world. Given the chance, they’ll ask authors any number of questions about their craft and process. So perhaps children will find the postmodern elements just as attractive as the story itself. Either way, it’s wonderful to see Park experimenting, and the book is well worth reading.
And Linda Sue totally blogs.
Posted by adrienne at February 17, 2005 08:51 PM
Comments
Educational & informative. Are you trying to show that you're not just another pretty, quirky children's librarian.
Posted by: tonderdo at February 18, 2005 09:49 AM
DUH, I'm always educational and informative in addition to being funny and witty. And the picture of sweetness and light. And very fashionable.
Just saying.
Posted by: Adrienne at February 18, 2005 12:05 PM
And you have pretty hair and nice shoes, too!
Posted by: Sabrina at February 18, 2005 03:44 PM
That is so very true, Sabrina! 5 Star Award for you!
Posted by: Adrienne at February 18, 2005 04:49 PM
While I do like your shoes ,esp. those earth shoes in my size, I am also very grateful for this educational blog. I thought from the title that I was going to have to do major research to understand post-modernism, but you explained it so well that even I could understand without a library science degree. I decided that I like the postmodernist touch of the narrator speaking to the reader, especially in a recorded book. Josh & I recently listened to The Tale of Despereaux, and we marveled at how the narrator spoke directly to us "dear listener(s)".
Posted by: wplmom at February 18, 2005 10:31 PM