The American Homefront of World War II in Literature for Children: An Evaluative Comparison of Series and Autobiographical Fiction

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Last Modified
  • February 28, 2019
Creator
  • Britto, Kathleen
    • Affiliation: School of Information and Library Science
Abstract
  • This study describes a content analysis of two types of literature for children with an American World War II Homefront setting: autobiographical fiction and the historical fiction series. The analysis was performed to gain an understanding of the stylistic, historical and ideological differences between the two types of fiction. Eight historical fiction series books and five autobiographical books were studied. The range of intended reading audience of these books is approximately seven to eleven years old. All books were published between 1986 and 2001. Autobiographical works by Avi were found to include a high level of period slang and to provide extensive characterization through dialogue. The subject of anti-Japanese racism was examined by only three books. The Dear America series was found to include exciting events, as well as inappropriately modern language and contemporary political viewpoints. The American Girls Collection was found to avoid death and destruction and to enforce the authority of adults. Only one book, an autobiographical work by Hahn, included the death of a central character's immediate family member. Overall, the autobiographical works were found to provide a more complete understanding of the historical and emotional aspects of childhood in America during World War II.
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  • In Copyright
Advisor
  • Sturm, Brian
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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  • 58 p.
Access right
  • Open access
Date uploaded
  • December 10, 2010

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