In the Fiction Picture Book category, there was a strange result. The award was given to "Me...Jane" by Patrick McDonnell. According to the write up cybils.com, "Me...Jane" is a touching glimpse into the life of a young Jane Goodall as a curious girl with a love of nature, and books, and a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee. A unique combination of dreamy watercolor vignettes and nature-inspired vintage engravings complement a simple and evocative text. Every element of the book's design, from its album-like cover and heavy yellowed pages to the inclusion of photographs and Goodall's own childhood drawings, helps create a picture book that feels like a relative's cherished scrapbook. Readers of all ages will take inspiration from a young girl who so fully follows her dreams.
But am I mistaken? Isn't this book a Non-Fiction Picture Book? Apparently it was orginally nominated in the NFPB category and then was switched to Fiction.
Don't get me wrong. I love love love this book and have blogged about it in the past. However, I believe it should have won for Non-Fiction. Otherwise it takes the award away from a real Fiction book.
Writers Weigh In! Do you think this book is Fiction or Non-Fiction? How do you feel about this award given to "Me...Jane"? Anyone have any answers as to why?
Looking forward to hearing your opinions and getting a discussion going on.
I haven't read it, so I don't know if it's fiction or non. Maybe it's fictionalized non-fiction? :)
ReplyDeleteIt depends on how much it diverges from her actual life.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book yet, but I will. I love Patrick McDonnell.
ReplyDeleteHe lives around the corner from me. My boyfriend worked with him on the board book of "Hug Time". He said he's a SUPER nice guy.
DeleteIf it's a made up story, even if it's about a real person, and a real event, but totally a FICTIONAL story, then it's FICTION. There is a book: MY UNCLE EMILY about Emily Dickenson, told to, I think Jane Yolen, by Emily Dickenson's nephew, told through his voice, but TOTALLY didn't happen... it's FICTION. I think that is what some are calling fictionalized non-fiction. In most libraries it's still put in FICTION unless it's totally true. And yes there has been some controversy over these stories, and where they belong... but fiction (lie) non-fiction (truth)...
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT discussion question!!!
Its not about a certain event. It is about what Jane was like as a child. Therefore, not quite sure how that would NOT be true. Please...people who read the book...let me know what you think!
DeleteGreat question Marcie. I still have to read it.
ReplyDeleteMarcie, the book is based on a true character, and even though the events might not have happened exactly the way they were portrayed in the book, it's still based on a true story. I would call that non-fiction!
ReplyDeleteTo me, fiction is a story that has no basis in fact, or, is based on very little fact, and most of the storyline is made up of non-fictional characters.
That's my take on it!
Actually, I have to politely disagree with Jarm. The tendency with children's nonfiction today is research, research, research and stick to the facts, which you can document through letters, journals, videos, etc. Unless dialog actually happened, you can't make up dialog. Unless you know what a character was thinking, you can't attribute thoughts. It's not enough to be based on a true story or involve real people. The book must be historically accurate. Even if a story is based on a true event, like Pipaluk and the Whales, which I recently reviewed,it's fiction unless it is 100% true. As for Me Jane, I have no idea, but I'd be interested to hear why it's now considered fiction.
ReplyDeleteMe...Jane basically is about what Jane Goodall was like as a child. I hardly think that is made up. Her stuffed monkey, Jubilee, who is featured as her pal in the book was even part of her real childhood. The book is about her "character" as a child. I doubt it is fictional.
ReplyDeleteThe publisher categorizes the book as "juvenile non-fiction." It is an account based on her childhood, her toy chimp Jubilee, her love of nature, and becoming a naturalist. I believe it is narrative non-fiction. And if there's such a fine line with picture book biographies being categorized as NF or F, then the Cybils might want to create a PB Biography award (after all, there are enough published each year to warrant it), because, yes, the win for this book in fiction was not entirely appropriate. I also LOVE this book (I own it) but I believe it should have won in NF, not fiction.
ReplyDeleteI love the book too (and own it) and also agree 100% with what Tara said.
ReplyDeleteI would characterize this as Historical Fiction. It's a beautiful book, really a testament to destiny in a way. (Full disclosure - I just recorded the audiobook version for Hachette). Perhaps the Cybils actually need to create a Historical Fiction category for picture books?
DeleteThis is a great discussion! I have not read the book, but if the publisher is categorizing the book as non-fiction then that's how it should be evaluated. It sounds like the Cybils might need some new categories as others have suggested.
ReplyDelete