Narrative Nonfiction: A Writer Reflects on Writing Real Stories

American Federation of Teachers. 555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001. Tel: 202-879-4400; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.aft.org/newspubs/periodicals/ae

N

5

Nonfiction; Career Development; Science Education History; Authors; Narration; Reflection; Story Telling; Innovation; Magnets; Intellectual History

0148-432X

More than a decade has passed since "American Educator" featured the work of Joy Hakim, a writer whose nonfictional accounts of history and science have long fascinated students and teachers alike. With the advent of the Common Core State Standards, and their strong emphasis on nonfiction, Hakim's accounts may prove useful to educators seeking worthwhile content that both expands students' background knowledge and sparks their imagination. The following article introduces Hakim to those unfamiliar with her work (and also reacquaints those who are fans). She recounts her journey from newspaper reporter to children's book author, while sharing her thoughts on the importance of narrative nonfiction in student learning. Throughout her career, Hakim has written stories rich in detail about figures such as Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Nicolaus Copernicus, Sir Isaac Newton, and many others. In the sidebar "Field Days for Farady and Maxwell," we give a glimpse of how she takes readers on a journey back in time by excerpting a chapter from her latest publication, "Reading Science Stories," an e-book available on Amazon.com. This particular chapter tells the story of Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell, whose efforts laid the foundation for "an electromagnetic revolution," as Hakim eloquently writes.

As Provided

2016

EJ1094211