Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. Children's books have always been didactic, since books expressly for children surfaced in the 17th century. They have been used to teach children to read and to entertain them and the temptation to teach lessons has often been irresistable. Fairy tales, Hans Brinker, Heidi, Uncle Remus, Pinocchio, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Rabbit - all reinforce the lessons adults want children to learn. Unselfishness, generosity, religion, truthfulness, obedience, and there's no place like home. And these are only the famous books. Many others taught these virtues as well as courage, responsibility, self-reliance, respect for adults, and patriotism.

 Today's children's books are no different, but now they teach sensitivity to racial minorities and to the disabled, suspicion of authority, multiculturalism, and in the case of this book, which was given this year's Newbery, anti-imperialism, suport for working people who "always share the same history of being kicked around by the rich," socialism, reliance on government, shame for America's history, and worship of Eleanor Roosevelt and by extension the Democratic party.

I'm not making that up. Read the book.

2012  No 24

Comments

[Kimberly Wold]

Oh, my word. I'm not up on all the various book awards but I will now put the Newbery in the category of "suspect".

[Mary]

I feel really bad about this tendency in the Newbery to become political, Kimberly. It has historically awarded its medal to the very finest books. No longer, I fear.