Biographical+YA+Lit

Biographical Young Adult Lit:
They're All About Clarity


 *  ** The Thing Was: **

 **Biographies are the hybrids of literature**. They're drawing on (generally) well researched piles of information, often from multiple sources. But then again, they also telling a narrative. They're baffling, really. Why couldn't the author simply choose a straight fictional narrative or a broad, nonfiction piece that focuses on several sources?

 ** The Thing Is: ** **Authors can pull some pretty rad literary tricks using a biography.** Its the perfect vehicle to convey a message about a specific historical figure and time period while managing to engage the reader for over hundreds of pages. At the end of the day, the biography is all about bringing clarity to that message. Don't believe me? Consider the fact that... ||



//Adolf Hitler: Part Time Artist////Subject of __The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler__//  ***The source and type of information used adds to the literary qualities and storytelling.** This means biographical authors can't use a one-size-fits-all story arc for all figures. To make the information understandable about a figure such as Adolf Hitler, a very guarded and reviled individual, an author may have to emphasize more broad ranging facts. On the flip side are people like Charles and Emma Darwin, who maintained a strong correspondence between each other and with others, as well as detailed notes about their day to day life. Their story lends itself to being more personal since the biographer has lots of personal detail to draw on.

***Part of the author's job in effectively presenting their message involves managing expectations.** In James Giblin’s //The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler// book, there is little confusion that the author shares no sympathy for his subject, titling the book’s first chapter “The Most Dangerous Dictator” (1).

//Charles Darwin: Naturalist, Family Man////Subject of __Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith__// ***Putting a lot of dense information in the format of a story is just a great way to keep people's attention.** Betty Carter and Richard F. Abrahamson wrote in their 1991 book that young adult nonfiction information can be organized into a format for readers based on topical outlines, chronological order, simple to complex, and encyclopedically among others (106-112). The story focuses on dynamic characters while the chronology makes events feel relateable.

***Biographies try to give their readers a sense of who the subject was by imitating their subject, within certain limits.** Except for Gilbin's book on Hitler. In that case, he doesn't want readers empathizing with the subject. Everyone else though, imbeds a little part of their subject in the book.



//Mark Twain: Author, Humorist// //Subject of __The Trouble Begins At 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West__// **Biographies** really are a great format to read in, especially for young adults not too familiar with the historical context of certain events. If you're looking for a couple of great young adult reads, why not check out...

//**The Trouble Begins At 8: A Life Of Mark Twain In The Wild, Wild West** by Sid Fleischman// //**Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap Of Faith** by Deborah Heiligman// //**The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler** by James Cross Giblin// Page by Andrew Crivilare