Description
The first three sections explore war's effect on children from the Children's Crusade through World War II, with a special emphasis on the Holocaust. Contributors in these sections pay close attention to the effects of war on the collective memory and consciousness of both children and authors, investigating how these experiences serve as fodder for fantasy and as a justification for the abundance of realism in children's books. The final section studies in detail children's books and stories from the world-renowned Cotsen Collection at Princeton University, including C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Dedicated to the memory of Mitzi Myers, Under Fire concludes with a personal essay by Myers, who considers the unexpected and long-reaching effects of children's literature on her own life.
Under Fire helps readers to understand why matters of life and death have always been at the heart of enduring works for children. Children's studies scholars and students and teachers of children's literature will appreciate this multifaceted and intriguing volume.
About the Author
Elizabeth Goodenough is a lecturer in English at the Residential College of the University of Michigan. Andrea Immel is the curator of Princeton University's Cotsen Children's Library.
Book Information
ISBN 9780814334041
Author Elizabeth Goodenough
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Wayne State University Press
Publisher Wayne State University Press
Weight(grams) 660g