{"id":15042,"date":"2024-03-13T20:45:16","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T20:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/questions\/skidmore-patricia-2018-marjorie-her-war-years-a-british-home-child-in-canada-dundurn-press-isbn-978-1-45-974166-9\/"},"modified":"2024-03-13T20:45:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T20:45:16","slug":"skidmore-patricia-2018-marjorie-her-war-years-a-british-home-child-in-canada-dundurn-press-isbn-978-1-45-974166-9","status":"publish","type":"questions","link":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/questions\/skidmore-patricia-2018-marjorie-her-war-years-a-british-home-child-in-canada-dundurn-press-isbn-978-1-45-974166-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Skidmore, Patricia. (2018). Marjorie: Her War Years, A British Home Child in Canada. Dundurn Press. ISBN: 978 1 45 974166 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Write a book review on the book: Skidmore, Patricia. (2018). Marjorie: Her War Years, A British Home Child in Canada. Dundurn Press. ISBN: 978 1 45 974166 9 <\/p>\n

Book reviews are expected to be between 1250 and 1500 words in length (no more; no less).<\/p>\n

When writing a book review, begin by highlighting key insights (i.e,. important or interesting aspects) of the book. If theoretical approaches or a research method is used in the book, they should also be included. Near the end of the review, authors should set out the intentions of the author when he\/she wrote the book and any limitations that they found with the book, and provide suggestions for improvement. (If you feel that the book was well written and that there were no identifiable problems, then this could also be discussed in the review.) The type of academic audience that would be interested in reading this book should also be identified. <\/p>\n

Please note that book reviews should not be chapter-by-chapter summaries of each of the individual chapters within the book. In other words, you do not want to write, \u201cIn Chapter 1, this happened \u2026. In Chapter 2, this happened\u2026..In Chapter 3, this happened\u2026and so on. (Marks will be lost if reviews are done in this manner.) Instead, you should be identifying themes within the book.<\/p>\n

Do not include a title page, page numbers, or your student ID#. Book reviews should be publication-ready. Title pages, numbering and student ID\u2019s are not required if your paper is published. <\/p>\n

For this assignment, make sure you begin your book review with the full name of the book and publishing information (city of publication and press name) followed by the reviewer\u2019s name and institution. (Note: The University name is MacEwan University, not Grant MacEwan College or Grant MacEwan University.) Punctuation is also important.<\/p>\n

Given that you are writing about the contents of the book, referencing full bibliographic information from the book is not necessary. (In other words, do not include a Bibliography or Reference Page at the end of your paper.) However, if you are using quotes from the book, or identifying a particularly important point that is made in the book, reference the information by inserting the page number (i.e., p. 36) or the page numbers (i.e., pp. 35-37).  <\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
Use this as an example of a published book review: <\/span>Lancy, David.  <\/span>(2008). 
\n<\/span>The Anthropology of Childhood: Cherubs, Chattel, Changelings.<\/u> New
\nYork: Cambridge University Press.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewed by: Pinar Kocak,
\nUniversity of Lethbridge<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

David
\nLancy\u2019s book, \u201cThe Anthropology of Childhood\u201d, is a synthesis of literature
\nfrom ethnographic, historical, and other sources such as primate studies and
\narcheology which deal with issues pertaining to children and childhood. In his synthesis,
\nLancy deliberately avoids esoteric theoretical formulations. Instead, he weaves
\ntogether parallel anthropological perspectives on childhood to present a
\nbalanced, inclusive selection of anthropological research. Perspectives vary
\nfrom those who argue that childhood is a time of culture, language, and skill
\nacquisition (nurture) to those who argue that childhood is essentially a
\nbiological phenomenon (nature). In doing so, Lancy questions the ethnocentric
\nlens through which researchers with Euro-American values tend to view children
\nfrom other societies and historical eras. To differentiate among childhood
\nexperiences across cultures and time, Lancy introduces and utilizes two tools
\nthroughout his book: (1) classifying children into three distinct categories; and
\n(2) comparing two distinct societal hierarchies. The book is seamlessly
\norganized into chapters that also neatly tie into the economy as an underlying
\ntheme. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lancy
\ndefines childhood as that \u201cperiod when our offspring are too young to fend for
\nthemselves completely and require active nurturing\u201d and explains how children
\nare essentially viewed by their respective societies and cultures as: (1)
\ndesired, precious and priceless cherubs (a relatively rare and recent view);
\n(2) desired but commodified chattel; or (3) undesired, inconvenient and
\nunwanted changelings. Further, through rich illustrative examples, Lancy
\nexplains how childhood, influenced primarily by the environment and the
\nmaterial circumstances in which it occurs, is not fixed but rather changes over
\ntime and space. One example Lancy provides is the relatively recent shift in
\nthe way children are defined in Western societies from that of chattel, in which
\nparents expect an economic return for the effort they put into raising their
\nchildren; to the current view of children as emotionally priceless yet
\neconomically worthless cherubs, where parents no longer expect an economic
\nreturn from their children\u2019s work and instead may actually incur a loss (p. 108).
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially,
\nLancy\u2019s cherubs are those children who live primarily in developed, modern,
\nWestern countries where fertility and infant mortality are limited; and whose
\nchildhood begins in infancy (and at times prior to birth) and extends into or
\nbeyond the college years. Cherubs are those children who are \u201cinvested with
\ntremendous inherent worth;\u201d whose wellbeing, needs and desires are valued over
\nthose of other family members; who are assumed to require intellectual
\nstimulation from birth onward and are thus afforded the right and need to play
\nand be intellectually stimulated (pp. 370-372). Cherubs are those children who
\nmore than likely have \u201cselfless mothers who lavish attention and instruction on
\ntheir young well into adolescence\u201d (p. 371). 
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nopposite of cherubs are Lancy\u2019s other two categories: changelings and chattel.
\nChangelings are typically children who live in agrarian, traditional,
\ndeveloping countries where fertility and infant mortality are high and where
\nsome children are abandoned or disposed of if they suffer from a birth defect
\nor they (especially girls) are seen as surplus. In such societies, childhood is
\nrelatively short. The child is welcomed by its kin only \u201cas a bearer of its
\nparents\u2019 (and extended family\u2019s) genes and as a contributor to the household
\neconomy\u201d (chattel) once it passes through \u201cthe gauntlet of birth trauma,
\nillness, and deliberate termination\u201d (p. 13). <\/span><\/p>\n

To
\nstudy the value of children, Lancy compares societies in terms of two distinct
\nhierarchies. He refers to the hierarchy found in contemporary, Western
\nsocieties as a neontocracy. Children are the first social concern in a
\nneontocracy; followed by attention to institutions catering to children\u2019s
\nneeds; then parents, grandparents, and pets in that order (p. 11). In contrast,
\nLancy refers to the hierarchy in traditional, agrarian societies as a
\ngerontocracy in which society is dominated first and foremost by attention paid
\nto the ancestors; followed by elders, adults, adolescents, and lastly children
\n(p. 11). Through such comparisons, Lancy examines how a child\u2019s worth in a
\nsociety varies and is dependent on culture and economy. This encompasses the
\nfactors which come into play in deciding to bring a pregnancy to term as well
\nas factors which come into play in deciding to raise a child. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In
\naddition to exploring the biological, cultural, and economic basis of how
\nchildhood happens and how a child\u2019s worth is determined, Lancy also examines
\nhow children are raised; what is expected of them and their parents
\n(particularly mothers); when and how children make the transition into and out
\nof childhood; how and why play happens in childhood; and how, when, and why
\nchildren receive formal schooling and are expected to work. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lancy
\nconcludes by offering his interpretation of the literature reviewed throughout
\nthe book \u2013 tying everything ultimately to the economy. His conclusion reads in
\npart: <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The net result of our mindset is that the
\nmarketplace decides the fate of children. In poor countries, a food shortage
\nmeans many potentially sound children will suffer malnutrition and neglect.
\nDollars that could be sent overseas to vaccinate, educate, and feed these
\nchildren are, instead, spent at home on expensive technologies and caretakers
\nto keep alive children whose quality of life is non-existent. While sick, premature
\nbabies born to the well-off will survive through \u201cmiracles\u201d of modern medicine,
\nthe poor will lose their otherwise healthy children to preventable diseases (pp.
\n375-376). <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Replete
\nwith numerous references, illustrative examples, personal anecdotes and
\nphotographs, all detailing the interplay of biological and cultural forces that
\nshape childhood, Lancy\u2019s book accomplishes two goals. First, it offers a
\n\u201ccorrection to the ethnocentric lens that sees children only as precious,
\ninnocent, and preternaturally cute cherubs\u2026. [Making] the case for alternative
\nlenses whereby children may be viewed as unwanted, inconvenient changelings or
\nas desired but pragmatically commodified chattel\u201d (pp. 2-3). Second, the volume
\nhighlights the importance of considering children\u2019s relative value through the
\nhierarchy within which they live in order that it may lead to government
\ninterventions or changes aimed at increasing their value and hence their quality
\nof life. Lancy accomplishes these goals by inductively drawing out his themes
\nfrom select literature \u2013 noting patterns, identifying the underlying forces
\nthat shape them and contrasting dominant, contemporary views of childhood with
\nthe wider, older views of childhood to explain how and why changes in
\nchildhoods may occur. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s
\nintended readership, namely anthropologists of various theoretical frameworks
\nand \u201cteachers, fieldworkers, and policymakers who are laboring to improve the
\nlives of children not fortunate enough to have been born into a privileged
\nsociety,\u201d will find this book useful. I believe it is also an excellent
\nteaching and reference resource for post-secondary students of any discipline
\nfocusing on issues relating to childhood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although
\nLancy himself aims to synthesize various streams of anthropological work on
\nchildhood \u2013 in hopes that it will serve as a catalyst to promote greater
\ninteraction among researchers and possibly reconcile the nature versus nurture
\ndebate within anthropology \u2013 his book can serve as a multi-disciplinary
\nintroduction. I do wonder, however, if its reception across various disciplines
\nwill be affected by the degree to which the author depends on anthropology.
\nOther disciplines that may benefit from the book are sociology, law, education,
\nmedicine, history, archeology, philosophy, women\u2019s studies, and film studies,
\nto name a few. I found \u201cThe Anthropology of Childhood\u201d a pleasure to read,
\nbalanced, easy to follow, informative and engaging. I would recommend it to
\nanyone interested in the topic of childhood. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Word
\nCount:  <\/span>1254<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Write a book review on the book: Skidmore, Patricia. (2018). Marjorie: Her War Years, A British Home Child in Canada. Dundurn Press. ISBN: 978 1 45 974166 9 Book reviews are expected to be between 1250 and 1500 words in length (no more; no less). When writing a book review, begin by highlighting key insights […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"disciplines":[3],"paper_types":[],"tagged":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/15042"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/questions"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/15042\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"disciplines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/disciplines?post=15042"},{"taxonomy":"paper_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper_types?post=15042"},{"taxonomy":"tagged","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tagged?post=15042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}