I don't have any special knowledge here, but the 'magic isn't real' books felt to me like the same underlying message as Old Yeller and Bridge to Terabithia and all the 'problem' novels: The world is sad, and big problems exist, and you can't fix them. Parents die, friends die, pets die; you cannot save them. Alcoholism and bullying and poverty happen, and you cannot fix them. You can't even escape them: A Day No Pigs Would Die, and Save Queen of Sheba, and some others, had the message that all your efforts will not get you out of the socioeconomic slot you were born into.
They all felt like the main point was 'the world is grim and you should give up hope now'. I was reading enough later to not make the connection to WWII.
no subject
I don't have any special knowledge here, but the 'magic isn't real' books felt to me like the same underlying message as Old Yeller and Bridge to Terabithia and all the 'problem' novels: The world is sad, and big problems exist, and you can't fix them. Parents die, friends die, pets die; you cannot save them. Alcoholism and bullying and poverty happen, and you cannot fix them. You can't even escape them: A Day No Pigs Would Die, and Save Queen of Sheba, and some others, had the message that all your efforts will not get you out of the socioeconomic slot you were born into.
They all felt like the main point was 'the world is grim and you should give up hope now'.
I was reading enough later to not make the connection to WWII.