Answer: 1. I believe it is a non-fiction piece because of the use of personification. For example Lucy the whale ask questions and has understandable dialogue. This would not be possible in real life.
2. That you should be happy with the uniqueness that you are born with, and not try to be like other people. You will never be anyone other than yourself; so when you try to achieve what others have, it can lead you to unhappiness as shown by Lucy the whale.
Scientific American is the longest persistently distributed magazine in the U.S. Ithas been bringing its perusers one of a kind experiences about advancements in science and innovation for over 170 years.