Why does Giovanna prefer fiction to nonfiction in the novel, The Lying Life of Adults?

Giovanna's obsession with reading, inspired by her parents' affection for novels and academia, symbolizes her craving for knowledge. Though Giovanna stops working hard in school, she finds solace in fiction. Spending hours reading, Giovanna feels better able to understand herself and the world around her. Whenever anyone complements her intellect, she attributes her cleverness to her reading habit, hesitant to admit her craving for truth.