Power, Voice and Subjectivity in Literature for Young Readers

by Maria Nikolajeva

This book considers one of the most controversial aspects of children’s and young adult its use as an instrument of power. Children in contemporary Western society are oppressed and powerless, yet they are allowed, in fiction written by adults for the enlightenment and enjoyment of children, to become strong, brave, rich, powerful, and independent -- on certain conditions and for a limited time. Though the best children’s literature offers readers the potential to challenge the authority of adults, many authors use artistic means such as the narrative voice and the subject position to manipulate the child reader. Looking at key works from the eighteenth century to the present, Nikolajeva explores topics such as genre, gender, crossvocalization, species, and picturebook images. Contemporary power theories including social and cultural studies, carnival theory, feminism, postcolonial and queer studies, and narratology are also considered, in order to demonstrate how a balance is maintained between the two opposite inherent goals of children’s to empower and to educate the child.

Genres: Literary Criticism, Nonfiction, Childrens, Criticism

218 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2009

About the author

Maria Nikolajeva is an academic hailing from Russia, whose chief focus is on literary theory and the study of children's books.

"I was born in Russia, and I moved to Sweden in 1981.

Until 2008 I was a Professor of Comparative Literature at Stockholm University, Sweden. Now I am a Professor and Chair at the University of Cambridge, UK, which is about the highest an academic can get.

... Some highlights (of my career) include a Fulbright Grant at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a Fellowship at the International Youth Library in Munich and H. W. Donner Visiting Chair at Åbo Akademi. In 2006 I was also made Honorary Professor at the University of Worcester, UK. In 1993-97 I was President of the International Research Society for Children's Literature. However, the crown of my success is the International Brothers Grimm Award 2005 from the Osaka Institute for Children's Literature, given for a life-time achievement in children's literature research.

I have written and edited twenty scholarly books and about three hundred articles and reviews. I have also published two young adult novels, two picturebooks, a cookbook and a memoir. My current research project is on literary cognitivism.

I have been a visiting lecturer all over the world: Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and South Africa.

I am married to Staffan Skott, who is a Swedish writer and journalist. We have five children and ten grandchildren.

My current hobbies are gardening, pottery, star gazing, papermaking and miniature making, and I also enjoy cooking and eating a good meal. Believe it or not, but I do read for pleasure sometimes. My favorite book is Winnie-the-Pooh. Recently, I have been re-reading classics, such as Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, Cervantes's Don Quixote and Melville's Moby-Dick."

- from Academia.edu

Reviews

[yue ☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

respectfully you cannot hold as equivalent depictions of 'oriental' societies by white children's authors and asian children's authors.. the 'othering readers' and identification fallacy section is very good and interesting, though, and i didn't know this was the book where aetonormativity as a concept emerged

[Neda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well the first and most important idea about this book is that it's so informative. I really enjoyed it & learnt a lot indeed.
Another point is that I was amazed at the numerous & different examples that Professor Nikolajeva provides for supporting her claims. It's important to get to know different aspects of children's literature in its context.
It's just a pity that I've not read most of the novels that she talks about..
I've listed them all.. Gosh I have a lot to read :)
Thanks Prof. Maria :)

[EvaLovesYA · Rating 3 out of 5]

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