Inspiration or Cheating
November 6 2023 Day Six
I have a confession to make. In fifth grade, I made up - whole cloth - a book, wrote a book report on the fake book, and won an award for it. Sister Candace, if you’re still with us, I’m sorry.
These were the days before a quick internet search could have crumbled my deception, and certainly no fifth grader would be so bold to do such a thing. We were given a list of books, or pick one of our own. I didn’t plan on making it up, I just procrastinated long enough to be forced to pull one out of my, well, you know where.
I had already begun writing some stories and loved science fiction - by that time Asimov and Bradbury were staples on my reading list. So my made up book was simple, astronauts going to Mars and fighting Martians. A little bit of Edgar Rice Burroughs, a little bit of Arthur C. Clarke. Some quick drawings and a made up name, I forgot who my alias was, and up onto the wall in the corridor outside our classroom it went.
Imagine my surprise when Sister Candace handed out awards and parents got to walk past my Blue Ribbon during Open House Day. For some reason, my parents never actually asked me about that book. Maybe they knew. Maybe they were as terrified as I was.
Anyway, I mention this because all this week, Little Bean has been working on her own first book report. She selected Ron Roy’s A to Z Mysteries: Falcon’s Feathers. Classic stuff. We both read the book and she worked out the illustrations and the writing. Then I edited, trying to find balance between what her teacher would obviously see as her writer dad’s input vs. letting Little Bean spell a couple words wrong.
She’s a good reader, but could use some work on comprehension so we’re still taking it slow.
In case you’re wondering, I did tell her about my fifth grade book report.
“You made it up, a whole book?” she asked.
“Well, technically I’ve made up lots of books and even got some of them published.”
“Yeah, but you weren’t supposed to.”
“No, and it’s a different time now. If you try that now, it would be easy to find out.”
We haven’t said much more about it since then. Is making up a whole book cheating? I mean, it’s actually more work that just reading an already written book isn’t it? The kid has a pretty active imagination, so maybe, just maybe I need to keep a close eye on future reports. You never know where her imagination might lead her.
I love it -- it is something I would have done ... and still do. Ah, larcenous joys!
I applaud you for telling Little Bean that you made up the book. I don't think many parents would have that kind of courage, or trust in their children, but I think your candor will work in your favor. It shows her you're not perfect, and maybe it will help her continue to be honest with you, too.