Places of Childhood Fancy: Essays on Space and Speculation in Children's Book Series

This book explores the worlds of children's progressive fiction, from how they are created to how they affect readers. It moves between Oz, Wonderland, Redwall, and Fear Street, exploring series such as Nancy Drew, Inkheart, The Mortal Instruments, and the Miss Peregrine series. It questions whether these spaces are helping kids prepare to save the world or just helping them temporarily escape it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

Many of us grew up exploring fascinating worlds - in books, films, and, most importantly, our imaginations - places filled with mythological characters and magical landscapes where we had stunning experiences punctuated by the harmless pleasures that any child's mind can conjure. These worlds sometimes end up in our childhood fictions, which have in turn shaped countless imaginations and childhood adventures. The essays in this book attempt to comprehend the worlds of children's progressive fiction - from how they are created to how they affect readers.

This book explores what happens when speculative genres (fantasy, horror, and science fiction) and imaginative spaces collide headlong with the realities and surrealities of modern childhood. It moves back and forth between Oz, Wonderland, Redwall, and Fear Street, and explores series such as Nancy Drew, Inkheart, The Mortal Instruments, the Miss Peregrine series, and more. Many of these works feature children who must save the day - to stop the bad guy, kill the monster, complete the quest, and rescue adults - leading us to wonder if fantastic spaces in children's progressive fiction are really helping kids prepare to save the world rather than helping them temporarily escape it.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476686585