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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
A twelve-year-old boy cares for his mentally ill father.
Affiliation Notes
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Writing Disability in Australia
Type of disability Schizophrenia. Type of character Primary. Point of view First person (child's diary).
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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y
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road : Challenging the Mythology of Home in Children's Literature
15377459
2012
single work
criticism
'The myth of home is what distinguishes children’s literature from adult novels (Wolf 1990). Nodelman and Reimer (The Pleasures of Children’s Literature, 2003) write that while “the home/away/home pattern is the most common story line in children’s literature, adult fiction that deals with young people who leave home usually ends with the child choosing to stay away” (pp. 197–198). In a critical content analysis of recent award-winning middle reader novels from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, a new pattern was observed. This pattern, called a postmodern metaplot, begins with the child being abandoned, rather than the child leaving the home. The child’s journey is to construct a home within a postmodern milieu complete with competing truths and failed adults. Ultimately, the child’s postmodern journey ends with very modern ideal of the child leading the adults to a hopeful ending, a home. The article explores the changing roles of childhood and adulthood in children’s literature and questions if the mythology of home can be undone.'
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Elizabeth Fensham
2008
single work
column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , November vol. 52 no. 4 2008; (p. 8) -
Younger Readers
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of The Children's Book Council of Australia , November vol. 50 no. 4 2006; (p. 5-6) -
The Children's Book Council of Australia Judges' Report 2006
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , August vol. 50 no. 3 2006; (p. 8-14) -
Untitled
2005
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking about Books for Children , September vol. 20 no. 4 2005; (p. 34)
— Review of Helicopter Man 2005 single work children's fiction
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Untitled
2005
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking about Books for Children , September vol. 20 no. 4 2005; (p. 34)
— Review of Helicopter Man 2005 single work children's fiction -
First -Time Author has World in a Spin
2005
single work
column
— Appears in: The Age , 16 July 2005; (p. 7) -
The Children's Book Council of Australia Judges' Report 2006
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , August vol. 50 no. 3 2006; (p. 8-14) -
Younger Readers
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of The Children's Book Council of Australia , November vol. 50 no. 4 2006; (p. 5-6) -
Elizabeth Fensham
2008
single work
column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , November vol. 52 no. 4 2008; (p. 8) -
y
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road : Challenging the Mythology of Home in Children's Literature
15377459
2012
single work
criticism
'The myth of home is what distinguishes children’s literature from adult novels (Wolf 1990). Nodelman and Reimer (The Pleasures of Children’s Literature, 2003) write that while “the home/away/home pattern is the most common story line in children’s literature, adult fiction that deals with young people who leave home usually ends with the child choosing to stay away” (pp. 197–198). In a critical content analysis of recent award-winning middle reader novels from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, a new pattern was observed. This pattern, called a postmodern metaplot, begins with the child being abandoned, rather than the child leaving the home. The child’s journey is to construct a home within a postmodern milieu complete with competing truths and failed adults. Ultimately, the child’s postmodern journey ends with very modern ideal of the child leading the adults to a hopeful ending, a home. The article explores the changing roles of childhood and adulthood in children’s literature and questions if the mythology of home can be undone.'