Intersection: Pairing Fiction and Nonfiction

This Strange Wilderness meets Okay for Now

I am continually amazed at the fascinating intersection of events which on first glance appear to be unrelated.  Connections between fiction and nonfiction can happen in ways that I never would have predicted.

​This past year I served on the 2016 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Committee. One of the Honor Books selected by the Committee is This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon by Nancy Plain.
This outstanding example of nonfiction draws heavily on primary source documents, particularly  the journals of Audubon.  Plain seamlessly weaves in quotations from his journals into her narration to paint a compelling portrait of this American naturalist. Color plates of his work are reproduced in stunning detail. See the captivating image on the title facing page pictured below. The entire book is liberally sprinkled with full color examples of Audubon's work.  

Four years ago I served on the 2012 Odyssey Award committee.  This annual award is given to "the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States" and is jointly administered by ALSC and YALSA.

Okay for Now written by National Book Award finalist Gary D. Schmidt, narrated by Lincoln Hoppe and produced by Listening Library received an Earphones Award , was an Audies finalist and received an Odyssey Honor Award.
Hoppe attended the 2012 Odyssey Award presentation and chose to read a selection describing Doug Swieteck's first encounter with Aududon's art. 
He captures that exquisite moment when with Doug is overcome with awe for the image of a bird with a "round and terrified eye."

This was recorded with my phone, so it's certainly not the best sound production.  However, as I listened again I viewed the art from This Strange Wilderness and realized how perfectly Schmidt and Hoppe described my own reaction on viewing the works of Audubon. "I couldn't take my eyes off" them.