Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction
authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction
and expository nonfiction with an essay by Nancy Churnin.
Thank you, Nancy.
It’s a thrill for me to see a child get to the end of the
book, turn to the back matter, and gasp when they learn it’s true.
I’m a fan of every genre. But I write narrative nonfiction because I
believe true stories empower kids by shining a light on what’s possible and
attainable.
As kids
read A Queen to the Rescue, the Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of
Hadassah, they discover that a brave woman in her seventies really did save
11,000 people during the Holocaust.
In Dear
Mr. Dickens, they learn about an astonishing woman who challenged
Charles Dickens to face his prejudices and do better. Readers realize that if people
of the past have done great things, they can too.
To build
and maintain the trust of young readers, it’s important for nonfiction writers
to tell the truth. If children find information that’s incorrect or made up,
they may question the rest. Break their trust, and everything you write or say
may become suspect.
Getting facts right for people who lived long ago can be challenging. For A Queen to
the Rescue, I gathered information about Henrietta Szold from adult biographies,
correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, With museum exhibits, and papers
held by the Jewish Women’s Archive.
With so
much information available, I initially struggled to find the thread that
pulled my story together. Then, in an aha! moment, I found it. Henrietta—a girl
that admired the Biblical queen who saved her people by standing up to a
powerful king—grew into a woman who stood up to powerful forces to save all who
needed her help.
For Dear Mr. Dickens, I faced a very different challenge. After reading
a brief mention of Eliza Davis in an article about Charles Dickens, I wanted to
know more. But I kept hitting walls at the start of my research journey.
I was able
to find short quotes from the letters, but not the full correspondence. With
the help of my local librarian, I discovered that there were only two places in
the U.S. with a complete set of the letters in an out-of-print book (Charles
Dickens and His Jewish Characters, edited by Cumberland Clark, Chiswick
Press, 1918). Luckily, one of those places was less than an hour away at the
University of North Texas in Denton!
The
librarian at UNT suggested I get in touch with the professor who had donated
the book to the rare book collection. That was the breakthrough.
J. Don Vann
and his wife Dolores Vann were renowned Dickens scholars. They provided me with
copies of the letters, invited me to their home for a long talk over tea,
included me at a meeting of the Dickens Society in Denton, and introduced me to
Dickens scholars Murray Baumgarten at UC Santa Cruz and David Paroissien at
University of Massachusetts in Amherst and Buckingham University in England. These
experts guided me and provided feedback throughout my writing journey. Professor
Baumgarten also directed me to a rare, original photograph of Eliza Davis,
which we included in the back matter of my book.
I’m extremely proud that every word in Dear Mr. Dickens is sourced to the
letters, and to words from Dickens’ own books. The Charles Dickens Museum in
London was so impressed with the scholarly vetting that they are featuring my
book in their current Oliver Twist exhibit, will offer it in their gift
shop, and are hosting me as part of their educational outreach to students.
I wrote
about both these women, Henrietta Szold and Eliza Davis, because their courage filled
me with hope for what we can all accomplish if we stand up for justice.
I made sure
every detail is true, so that young readers will know it is possible to change
the world for the better—and be inspired to do it.
Nancy
Churnin is the
award-winning author of ten picture books about people who persevered to
achieve their dreams and make the world a better place. Among her awards:
Junior Library Guild, South Asia Book Award, multiple Social Studies Notables,
multiple Silver Eurekas, multiple A Mighty Girl lists, Sydney Taylor Notable,
Towner Award nominee, Sakura Medal finalist, Notable Book for a Global Society,
and Anne Izard Storytellers Choice Award. Nancy lives in North Texas.
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6 Responses
Such a wonderful interview, Nancy! I am proud to be your friend. Your stories empower readers to do good and find their purposes and passions. Thank you.
“I made sure every detail is true, so that young readers will know it is possible to change the world for the better—and be inspired to do it.”
Inspiring words! Sharing on Twitter with writer friends.
Thank you for sharing your process.I like "true stories empower kids by shining a light on what’s possible and attainable." In our current age of Disinformation, it's crucial to tell true stories.
What a brilliant piece! Nancy is such a treasure for everyone who loves narrative nonfiction.
Loved reading about why Nancy Churning writes narrative nonfiction. Inspiring!
Wonderful post, Nancy! I always love reading your books, because you take extra effort to make sure that your words reveal facts – and facts matter. Especially when telling stories about people doing great things. I love that you said young readers realize "that if people of the past have done great things, they can too."