Children's Lit

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 29458

Another interesting debate!  As you all know, I'm in the "HP is 
mostly children's fiction so far" camp.  And I am FAR from being an 
expert on such matters.  But a few quick reactions:

David wrote:

> I have not previously entered this debate for two reasons.  First, 
I 
> think that much of it is about definitions.  Is childrens' 
literature 
> something which *only* children will enjoy? something written 
> *mainly* for children? Something which, whoever it is written for, 
is 
> *accessible* to children?  


As for the correct definition of "children's literature," I think 
this is a tough question.  Maybe it is easier if we narrow the debate 
to be "What is *good* children's literature."  Then, I think, perhaps 
author intent is less important, because an author who intends to 
write to children but chooses something that doesn't interest them 
will not have written good children's fiction.  So in my mind, 
accessibility becomes very important.  But I think David is correct 
that whether the work only appeals to children is not a good test 
because good children's fiction can and does appeal to adults.

In addition to what has been said so well already, there are two 
other qualities of HP that move it closer to chilren's fiction.

First, the writing style, particularly of the first three books.  I 
can't assess the "grade level" of the writing (although I am sure 
someone on the list could), but they struck me as written in a 
straightforward and simple way, accessible for children.  This is not 
a bad thing, as I don't do well with flowery prose myself.  However, 
that writing style makes it more accessible to children, and so makes 
me think of them as children's books.

Second, the "conflicts."  Most of the conflicts in HP, while 
entertaining, are really small potatoes to adults, who have seen how 
wrenching real life can be.  In GoF, for instance, a great deal of 
conflict time is spent with two characters not speaking to each 
other, who soon kiss and make up.  Interesting and entertaining, but 
hardly the sort of gutwrenching conflict often seen in "adult" 
drama.  

Also, to the extent characters have problems in HP, they sometimes 
don't experience "real life" consequences of their behavior.  Harry 
and Ron "make up" their divination homework, but never get caught or 
fail the class.  Harry meets with Krum near the forest contrary to 
Sirius' instructions, and nothing happens to him.  Hagrid "leaks" 
valuable information, and nothing happens to him.  Snape "leaks" that 
Lupin is a werewolf, and nothing happens to him.  Moody "bounces" 
Malfoy, and nothing happens to him.  These things don't bother me at 
all, but they strike me as evidence of fiction geared to children 
because we aren't left with uncomfortable loose ends.

Third, (and on the other hand), I think the complexity of the plot 
(particularly in PoA and GoF) nudge those books toward adult 
fiction.  Kids tend to miss the foreshadowing and other nuances that 
help the surprise endings work.  If future books continue to be 
written in the same fashion, we'll have 5 books with complex plotting 
and 2 books (PS/SS and CoS) with far less complex plotting, so we'll 
have an adult series overall, IMHO.

My bottom line:  I just don't think it denigrates HP to say that it 
is children's fiction, any more than it denigrates a doctor to say 
that she is a pediatrician.  In both cases, we an equally valuable 
skill set.

Finally, let me ask this.  Is there "good" children's fiction in 
which children are not the stars?  The children's fiction I have read 
that comes to mind features children as the protagonist, although 
there are often adult characters as well.  Charlie and the Chocolate 
Factory.  Island of the Blue Dolphin.  Everything by Beverly Cleary.  
Is there "good" adult fiction in which children are the protagonist?

Just wondering.

Cindy