Description
Book SynopsisEven though we instruct our children not to lie, the truth is that lying is a fundamental part of children's developmentsocially, cognitively, emotionally, morally. Lying can sometimes be more compassionate than telling the truth, even more ethical. Reading specific children's books can instruct child readers how to be guided by an etiquette of lying, to know when to tell the truth and when to lie. Equally important, these stories can help prevent them from being prey to those liars who are intent on taking advantage of them. Becoming a critical reader requires that one learn how to lie judiciously as well as to see through others' lies. When humans first began to speak, we began to lie. When we began to lie, we started telling stories. This is the paradox, that in order to tell truthful stories, we must be good liars. Novels about child-artists showcased here illustrate how the protagonist embraces this paradox, accepting the stigma that a writer is a liar who tells the trut
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Chapter One: The Whole Truth About Lying
Chapter Two: Children and Lying
Chapter Three: Is Fiction a Pack of Lies?
Chapter Four: Liars in Children’s and Young Adult Literature
Chapter Five: Unreliable Narrators
Chapter Six: Lying and the Künstlerroman, Part One
Chapter Seven: Lying and the Künstlerroman, Part Two
Conclusion
