"Vanishing Act"

Lost

This photo shows a young, hopeful writer named Barbara Newhall Follett. After very early success, the pressure and expectations of being a prodigy stole this young girl's drive, and ultimately her existence. Barbara's story is the tale of child fame gone terribly wrong.

In “Vanishing Act” by Paul Collins, the reader is introduced to the enigmatic story of literary child prodigy Barbara Follett. After her introduction to the typewriter at age three, Barbara’s astonishing literary talents were unleashed. Miss Follett began working on her first novel at the age of eight, and became a published author shortly after her twelfth birthday. While reading the account of Barbara’s early success, it is logical for the reader to conclude that her extraordinary talent led her to a lifetime of work in the industry. This leads to the next question: why isn’t Barbara known globally today and celebrated as a gifted writer? Paul Collins answers these questions in his essay in conjunction with mentions of other forgotten child masterminds. With a vast majority of American society so engrossed in the world of fame and celebrity, Paul Collins uses young Barbara as an example of why these labels can be toxic. The author’s main purpose in writing this piece is not only to pay homage to a talent that deserves recognition, but also to warn against over-exposure of gifted children to fame. The general American public for whom Collins writes is in need of a reminder that children of celebrity status must be seen as vulnerable individuals to be treated with care, and not toys that can be played with and then discarded. As Paul Collins specializes in covering forgotten historical figures and literature, this essay is an example of his writing in its natural and well- practiced element. The story of a precocious child author turned struggling young adult is one that naturally elicits an emotional response. The pathos that Collins creates with his bleak and unhopeful telling of Barbara Follett’s older life adds to the overall moral of the story: child fame’s destructive consequences. For me as a reader, Collins’ purpose in writing this piece was definitely achieved. I have seen the same detrimental consequences that Barbara Follett experienced occur in prodigious actors and musicians of my own generation, and I believe that Collins is right to warn against the dangers of child prodigy.