“A FAIRY TALE AS A LIE”: LYING, TRUTHTELLING, AND THE ART OF STORYTELLING IN CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

Abstract

The review is dedicated to the monograph “Lying, Truthtelling, and Storytelling in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Telling It Slant” by Anita Tarr, published in 2025 by Routledge. The book explores the interconnections between truth, lies, and the art of storytelling in children’s and young adult literature. The review outlines the structure and content of the monograph, highlighting its interdisciplinary approach that combines literary studies, psychology, and sociology. The book is intended for a broad audience: researchers, educators, child development specialists, and parents. In seven chapters, Tarr analyzes works of various genres featuring child protagonists who resort to lying. The monograph examines the causes and consequences of deception, as well as its role in personality develop- ment and creative self-expression. The author argues that lying is not a social deviation, but rather an essential element in the art of storytelling. The review characterizes the research approach and main ideas of the book and includes quotations that offer insight into its content and style. Anita Tarr’s monograph is interpreted as a significant contribution to the study of children’s and young adult literature, with a focus on its ethical and artistic dimensions.