Revisiting "Angel Girl"

[resqgeek]

Back in October, I posted a review of a children's book entitled "Angel Girl". It was the story of survival during the Holocaust and an improbable love story. I *loved* the book and the romantic possibilities of the story, and couldn't wait for the full memoir to be published this winter.

Well, as it turns out, the story really was too good to be true. I've just discovered that this story was revealed to have been fictionalized back in December. The publication of the full memoir has been canceled and the author will have to return all money received from the publisher. Furthermore, the children's book has been recalled!

Here are some of the related articles:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6625043.html?rssid=192

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5409220.ece

http://www.delmio.com/tag/holocaust/

http://www.lernerbooks.com/angelgirl/

I am beyond disappointed. I wrote my review of the book (which was also submitted to Amazon.com for their Vine program) with the assumption that the inspiring elements of this story were true. Would I have found the story so powerful if I had known it was fiction? I don't know, but I do know that my initial reading of the story was strongly colored by the alleged "factual" underpinnings of the story. I feel cheated and deceived. Since I didn't pay for my copy of the book (which was sent to me free through the Amazon Vine program), I'm not out any money, but I wonder how many copies were sold based on my reviews. Hopefully not too many. If you bought the book based on my review, feel free to contact Lerner Books using the link above to get your money back.

Comments

[katekintail.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. I heard about that a few months back. I know sometimes it's a fine line between fiction and creative nonfiction, but to market something as a memoir when the major facts are completely false is just awful IMHO. This is also why I prefer reading fiction-- I know what I'm getting into and if done right, it feels real to me.

The story is still valid and full of possibilities, though. If it touched you, should it matter if it's not true? I've been in debates about this with my nonfiction writer coworkers and in my opinion, it all comes down to marketing and money-making. Stunning real life accounts are the "in thing" right now. In my opinion, it shows disrespect to readers.

It's cases like this and Frey's book that make me very skeptical about the whole genre. I read 'Ask Alice' a few years ago and thought it was interesting and sad but the whole time I kept worrying about being taken in by something pretending to be nonfiction. After I finished, I looked it up online and found that it was in fact not an actual diary/journal and felt good about not being duped, but we shouldn't have to worry about that as readers! We should just let out emotions and thoughts about a book run free, whether it's true or not. This whole situation is nothing but bad for everyone.

[(Anonymous)]

'Go Ask Alice' not 'Ask Alice'. Sorry. Jefferson Airplane would be disappointed with me. LOL

[kiptrix.livejournal.com]

I read about this falsification recently, and wondered where I had heard about the story before. So it was here, in your post! I can understand your being upset--we don't want to be deceived. I had read James Frey's book before the big storm about it. It actually didn't bother me that much when I learned of the "creative writing", because I think I take all memoirs with a grain of salt. I don't expect anyone to remember the past word for word; it's impossible. I guess the intent is what is more important to me. What's wrong with describing something as "based on a true story"? It's more honest.

[resqgeek]

The Children's book was, in fact, described as "based on a true story." Unfortunately, one of the most significant plot elements in the story turned out to have been made up.