Memoir vs. Fiction
Plot summary
In Cures for Heartbreak, Margo Rabb writes a fictional account of a 15-year old girl whose mother dies just days after being diagnosed with melanoma; then her father falls, too. Using vignettes-many appeared elsewhere as short stories-Rabb helps us understand her fictional alter ego Mia, as well as Mia's deceased mother and grieving father.
Erin Vincent's Grief Girl is a memoir about a 14-year old girl whose parents are killed in a car accident- her mother dies instantly, while her father lingers before unexpectedly passing. Vincent takes a more linear approach, showing how her grief changes but never quite goes away.
Both books capture the powerful emotions of the author. Occasional strong language is included, especially as the protagonists rail against the unfairness of losing a parent.
These books provide an excellent opportunity for both reading and writing classes to discuss the distinctions between fiction and memoir-a popular topic among adults, too, with controversy surrounding James Frey's memoir A Million Little Pieces.
Possible discussion questions
- Read the first chapter of each book. Can you identify which one is the memoir and which one is fiction?
- Read the authors' backgrounds on their websites: What, if anything, does knowing this author history add to the book?
- Vincent's memoir has a lot of dialogue, though the author wrote the book nearly 20 years after the fact. How important is it that this dialogue be accurate?
- Why do you think Rabb decided to write her book as fiction instead of a memoir?
- Both characters refer to the five stages of grief ---denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Research what is meant by these and identify examples from each book, where each main character experiences the stages in coping with their grief.
Additional books
Grief Girl
Age Level: 14-16
Imagine that you're going through one of the hardest parts of your life—being a teenager—when your parents are killed in a horrific car crash. Now you, your 17-year-old sister, and your three-year-old brother are on your own. Imagine what that would be like. Then read this book and find out.
