AUTHOR ENDNOTES: How Revealing Should They Be?

I just finished Margaret Haddix Petersen’s compelling book, UPRISING which tells the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911. Petersen skillfully wove fictional characters and events with researched facts to tell a compelling and important piece of US history!

Then, in her author note, she surprised me by writing the following:

"Personally, when I’ve just read a historical novel that seemed completely real to me—as I hoped this book seemed completely real to you—I hate to then read an author’s note explaining, “Well, this was real, but this wasn’t; this event didn’t actually occur, but it could have; this character I completely made up.” Because then the story recedes back into distant history, and what seemed so alive and immediate and tangible is gone. (Margaret Petersen Haddix)

Haddix chooses not to reveal which parts of Uprising were real.  And now she's made me curious about how readers feel about this topic. Personally, I love author endnotes and I want to know the sort of info that Haddix doesn't. I don't think it changes the story for me. How about you?

1. When you read historical fiction, do you want to know which characters were real and which weren’t?

2. If you discover that a character was fictionalized or that the author rounded out some missing parts of the story with some imagined scenario, does the story lose some of its power over you?

3. What are the advantages and disadvantage of the reader knowing which parts really happened and which could have happened.

4. What kinds of info do you like to see in an Author’s Note?

Tuesday Teaser: UPRISING by Margaret Peterson Haddix

While visiting Chester Middle School in VA I was lucky to get in on the book fair.

Both a student and a staffer recommended Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix, (who BTW has a very cool website.  I especially like her info for students writing reports!)

So I bought UPRISING and am just getting started on what promises to be a heartbreaking historical read about the 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.

From the first page:
"Tell me about the fire."

Mr.s Livngston stares at the young woman standing before her-the young woman who has barged into her house univited, unannounced.  Mrs. Livingston is known for her kindness and charity; her friends say that Mrs. Livingston will listen to anyone who is troubled or lonely or sad. Even beggars in the street. Even women of ill repute.

But Ms. Livingston cannot hide her disgust at the sight of this young woman with the dark bobbed hair, her trim body swathed in a fine fur coat.

"You're one of the daughters," Mrs. Livingston finally says. "Harriet?"

Harriet nods. Slowly.

"Then you were there," Mrs. Livingston says. "You saw what happened."

"I was five years old," Harriet says. "All I remember is smoke and flames and people screaming. And being carried to safety."

"Yes, you got out safely," Mrs. Livingston says. "Unharmed."

"So did you."

While casting about on the internet for more info, I also discovered this book which is about the same fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911.  Fascinating how similar the covers are. 

But wait!  There's more. Another young adult novel.

And these for younger readers.

Of course, there is also non-fiction for adults. Wow! Most of these books were published in the last 5 -7 years. I'm guessing 9/11 has something to do with the resurgence of interest in a New York city high rise tragedy.

If you're a teacher who wants to explore the history of labor in America check out this site. 

And there are plenty of clips on You Tube related to this tragic piece of history as well. Wow! I could get caught up in this reading thread (if I didn't have a research adventure of my own to focus on!)