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Author Spotlight: Jenny Mattern

By on September 30, 2026   /   Author Interviews   /   Leave a comment

In today’s Author Spotlight, Sydney Dunlap chats with author Jenny Mattern about her highly acclaimed new middle-grade novel, Where the Light Shines In.

Jenny Mattern is a crafter of stories, a fledgling poet, and a cake-for-breakfast enthusiast who wishes she lived in a tiny cottage on a windswept cliff above the sea. Alas, she lives in the mountains in a landlocked state—lovely, yes, but much too far from the roar of the ocean for her liking.

All About the Book!

“If there’s one thing my thirteen years of life have taught me, it’s that having parents who love you doesn’t erase the somebody else who brought you into the world.”

Despite being adopted into a loving family, thirteen-year-old Gloria feels as if her life is a bit too much like the crossword puzzles she and her dad enjoy solving together: too many empty spaces and not enough clues.

For as long as she can remember, Gloria has studied the faces of random women in the hopes of finding her birth mother. But when she finally lands on the perfect candidate, it’s in a place she never could have expected–an obituary photo. Determined to learn more about this dead woman who looks just like her, Gloria embarks on a secret mission to fill in the gaps of her origin story.

At first, finding answers about her past feels exactly right. But as the lies Gloria tells keep piling up, and as each step toward her biological family takes her farther from the parents who have loved her forever, she starts to wonder if she’ll ever be able to fill her empty spaces. Because how can you feel truly whole when you’re shattering from the inside out?

Interview with Jenny Mattern

I absolutely loved Where the Light Shines In. The characters were so real and so relatable. What a beautifully-written, heartfelt story about a girl adopted into a loving family who seeks to find out the truth about her birth parents. What was the inspiration behind it?

Thank you so much! This story was inspired by my youngest daughter, who first joined our family as a 3-week-old foster baby. We later adopted her, and that “baby” turns 15 in a few months. I recently heard the term “adoption constellation,” which I prefer to what I’ve always called the “adoption triangle.” In its simplest form, adoption touches the lives of birth parents, adoptive parents, and—most of all—adoptees, who also happen to be the most powerless ones in the equation. However, it can have ripples far beyond these three. The experience of fostering and adopting opened my eyes to some of the emotional complexity at play within this constellation.

I am not adopted, and I would never claim to understand all the nuances that go along with that, but I began writing Where the Light Shines In with the goal of helping my daughter—and all adoptees—feel seen. Though this book is for anyone who enjoys character-driven, heartfelt middle grade, my main goal for this story is that it would help open lines of communication in adoptive families and beyond.

Craft

Kirkus calls it “a sensitive, introspective look at the complexities of being an adoptee” in its starred review. Congratulations! You do such a great job exploring Gloria’s journey to fill in the gaps in her history, and to show how one lie leads to another until she is in over her head. Please share a bit about your writing process. Are you a plotter or pantser?

I definitely fall on the pantser end of the continuum. In order to start writing, I need to have a good idea of who my main character is and at least a vague idea of the overall plot, but if I try to plan too much beyond that it makes me feel trapped.

You crafted a complex mystery that is sure to leave readers turning the pages quickly to see what happens next. What were the hardest and the easiest parts of writing this story?

Every single one of the characters in this story walked onto the page fully formed. That was by far the easiest part of writing! The hardest was probably tackling all the big feelings. Adoption is such a complicated issue and is always born of loss. I really wanted to do justice to that while avoiding a storyline that felt too heavy. Trying to authentically represent deep emotions and write scenes that are balanced with lighthearted moments ended up being far more difficult than I expected. Along with what it might be like to be adopted and on a quest to find one’s biological family, readers will also learn a bit about DNA. The scientific elements fit into the story seamlessly.

What was your research process, and how did you decide which facts to include?

Once I started researching DNA, it was hard to stop. It’s such a fascinating subject! I ended up learning a lot and tried to cram in as many interesting facts as I could without distracting from the overall storyline.

Characters

Gloria’s relationships with the other characters were nuanced and heartwarming. Do you have a favorite secondary character? Who and why?

Oh goodness. I love them all, but writing the scenes with Lottie and Gloria was my favorite part. I love Lottie’s spunk and sass, and her loyalty to Gloria is a beautiful part of who she is. It was so much fun to juxtapose these two characters’ very different personalities alongside one another.

Setting

I adored your description of the Pacific Northwest. It was so immersive and authentic. What is your connection to that area?

I grew up in the Seattle area—Kent, to be exact. I’ve also lived in Federal Way, Puyallup, and Port Orchard, and have/had family in Gig Harbor and Fox Island. Although I’ve resided in Montana for most of my adult life, my mom and much of her family still live in western Washington, so we visit a fair amount. As for Orcas Island, I grew up spending a week in that magical place every summer. It is one of those places that anchors itself in your soul.

Fun fact: I wrote many of the scenes that take place there soon after my husband and I returned from our 20th wedding anniversary getaway, which we spent in a cottage near Obstruction Pass State Park. If you look at Google images from there, you will be transported to the setting of Amanda’s little cottage by the sea and might just catch a glimpse of Curtis and Rudy coming into the cove in their boat.

Takeaways

Shifting gears, what do you hope readers take away from this story?

When I read a book I love, it’s the feeling I had while reading it that stays with me. After a year or more has passed, I probably won’t be able to readily recall much of anything that happened plotwise. My hope for this book is that many readers will come away feeling a deep emotional connection to the characters and story. I know not every book is for every reader, and I certainly don’t expect everyone to love this story, but I hope there are people out there for whom Where the Light Shines In will be their hug-it-close-and-read-it-again-for-comfort book.

Writing Process

Where/when do you prefer to write?

I am very much a fits-and-spurts writer. For me, writing every day feels absolutely impossible, so my tendency is to obsess for short periods where I am bent over my laptop for hours at a time and then have long dry spells when I read a ton instead.

Influences

What are some current books that have influenced you as a kidlit writer?

Instead of naming specific books, I will tell you the middle grade authors who made me want to write for this age group: Kate DiCamillo (the absolute GOAT, in my opinion), Jacqueline West (her Books of Elsewhere series is what inspired me to actually put pen to paper for the first time), Gary D. Schmidt (who is a master of making his reader laugh and cry in the same paragraph), and Elizabeth Enright. Nobody would call Elizabeth Enright—who died in 1968—a current author, but her book series The Saturdays was hugely influential to me as an adult.

Other Works

Can you give us some insights into what you’ll be working on next?

I have a few projects in the works—all middle grade contemporary like Where the Light Shine In—but for now I’m soaking up all the debut year goodness.

And the Lightning Round:

Coffee or tea?

Both!

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset

Favorite place to travel:

The San Juan Islands in Washington state (which includes Orcas Island, an important setting in Where the Light Shines In)

Favorite dessert:

All of them, but I don’t want to see nuts in any dessert ever.

Superpower:

Resourcefulness

Favorite music:

Indie Folk, à la Noah Kahan or the Lumineers.

Favorite book from childhood:

On the Banks of Plum Creek

Thanks again, Jenny! It was so much fun to learn about you, your writing journey, and your amazing novel! Learn more about Jenny on her website and follow her on Instagram and Bluesky.

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STEM Tuesday — Computers–Questions to Ask Yourself About AI Use in the Classroom

By on September 29, 2026   /   Computers, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

AI in Schools Has a Cost: Impacts and Responses

by Kamilla Milligan and Alexandra Millarhouse

 

Are you being asked to incorporate AI into your work or classroom? How do you feel about that?

The push for AI seems to be everywhere these days, including in many classrooms. As educators, parents, and creatives, we have concerns.

What does it mean for students? For our future?

We wanted to offer you some of the research we have gathered about AI use in the classroom. We believe that it is important to take into account all of the issues with AI when considering how you can contribute to the conversation in your own district.

While this post aimed at educators, we hope that this information serves anyone who is interested in learning more about the costs and impacts of AI on students and beyond.

AI Impacts in the Classroom

Let’s start with how AI affects students in the classroom. Research conducted by Abdulrahman (2024) identifies ten categories of potential negative impact from AI (see Table) while Ahmad et al. (2021) points out six risk areas. Some of these include:

  • Loss of human connection. Students report a reduction in connections with teachers and other students.
  • Reduced critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. Research has shown a link between AI use and cognitive decline in students. When machines generate solutions, students lose opportunities for learning and development of creative solutions. For example, there is a cost to using AI at any stage of the writing process.
  • Social knowledge and skill-building risks. AI use has been found to reduce interpersonal skills and tolerance for difference. Current AI models are sycophantic, agreeing with and supporting the logic of users. Those who use AI regularly show reduced ability to respect different perspectives, and increased rigidity in the rightness of their viewpoints.
  • Accuracy and functional risks. AI has significant errors in output and frequent hallucinations, including false information and research citations. 

The Big Picture of AI Impacts

In addition to classroom use, educators should be aware of the larger drawbacks of AI. The harms caused by widespread adoption of AI technologies* to our physical, social and economic environments are well documented, including: 

The Classroom Context: Pressures on Teachers

The push to adopt AI is creating practical and ethical challenges. While many want to take a thoughtful approach to adopting a brand-new technology, they may not have been given time or support to understand the full scale of AI’s potential impacts, let alone make independent choices about if or how it might belong in a classroom. As you look into AI, it’s crucial to understand the context within which AI is being rolled out. 

It’s also important to note that while AI is being pushed in some districts, it’s being paused in others, including NYC and Los Angeles, for many of the reasons noted below. 

Time savings/personalized learning. Educators face increased responsibilities: learning shortfalls and exacerbated gaps in learning; lower attention spans among students; and funding cuts that are deeply impacting school resources (as well as publishing). 

Many schools and school boards assume that AI addresses these systemic problems, for example, by providing time savings (such as in filling out report cards) or by personalizing assignments. This is not necessarily true.

The push for AI use can increase pressures on educators as they are assumed capable of taking on more responsibilities. Instead, they have to manage, review and edit AI products as well as deal with the unintended impacts in the classroom, along with the other, ongoing parts of their jobs.

Additionally, AI creates an even thinner overall system by committing limited resources to AI programs instead of addressing real resource needs since human learning requires interactions with humans, even if technology can play a role. 

“Future-proofing” students’ skills. Some argue that students must learn to use AI to be competitive in the job market. But this assumes a future where AI is ubiquitous. It also assumes that we can “future-proof” students’ skills using current technology. 

However, as one example, writing code was touted and prioritized a decade ago as the skill every student needed to succeed. Yet, as those students enter the job market, coding is now increasingly considered redundant as it is outsourced to AI. 

A future based in AI is also far from guaranteed. Currently (and foreseeably), AI is unsustainable economically and environmentally, and is running out of training materials required to continue to grow. 

"Is AI Profitable Yet?" No. Comparisons of expenses and revenue for major AI companies.

[from https://isaiprofitable.com/]

No matter what the future holds, students will need skills in reading, writing, scientific and math literacy, and critical thinking. 

No Single Solution

We recognize that each school, each classroom, each person is different. But no matter your context or circumstances, the most important thing is to educate yourself enough to make an intentional, researched plan so that you can help guide the conversation in your own area. Recognizing the complexity of this topic, we will leave you with questions rather than answers:

How can we continue to think and talk critically about this technology, and who benefits from its use and widespread rollout?

What choices do we have as individuals in our interactions with AI? What other options are possible, even with systemic pressures encouraging its use?

How can we have higher-level conversations about the root causes that are driving the push to implement AI?

What skills are needed to create a sustainable, equitable future for all on the planet? How is the use of AI building or destroying those skills in students? 

And ultimately, how do we develop informed citizens who are equipped to navigate a changing world, and are capable of understanding their choices and the impacts of those choices on each other and the planet? 

The world is changing. We all need to be problem-solvers, to have the full functioning of our brains, bodies, and humanity actively engaged in facing the challenges we’ll encounter over the coming decades. 

*AI encompasses a wide range of technologies and applications. This overview focuses on those more commonly used in classrooms and by the public, including generative AI, chatbots, use of AI by teachers to generate content or reports, and AI companions.

 

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Kamilla Milligan is a kidlit writer who explores themes of home, connection with nature, and cultural diversity in her stories. Kamilla has lived in Canada, the southern US, and Russia, and applies her PhD in education to her work in equity and human rights. Outside of reading, Kamilla enjoys gardening, fibre projects, and nature walks. Visit Kamilla online at kamillamilligan.com

Alexandra Millarhouse is a researcher, science communication professional, and writer focused on the intersection of nature, science, and self. Her nonfiction picture book, THE ANIMAL QUEENDOM, comes out in Jan 19, 2027 with Simon & Schuster. Living in Vermont, Alexandra is often tracking wildlife across a cemetery, or sitting by the water with a sketchbook. Visit Alexandra online at: foxandindigo.com

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Move Over Wine Tasting! It’s Time to Plan a Bookstore Crawl!

By on September 28, 2026   /   independent bookstores   /   Leave a comment

This summer, my family vacationed in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. We hiked, kayaked, and reveled in Mother Nature’s beauty – including the Apostle Island sea caves!

Yet, one of my greatest discoveries on that trip was not in nature – it was in a bookstore. I spotted Back Forty Books as we were driving through Two Harbors, MN, after a long day of hiking, and I convinced my husband to pump the breaks, turn around, and allow me “please just a few minutes, and I’ll keep my purchases to a reasonable level of books I promise!”

In a later post, I’ll share more about Back Forty Books and another soul-filling indie bookstore I visited on our trip. This story is about the magical map the owner handed me as I paid for my totally reasonable stack of books. Pictured below is the breath-catching marvel I carted to the car and immediately analyzed. Look at all of these stores! (Don’t worry, there is a list on the back of the map and you can grab a copy here!)2026 Roadmap Artwork

Every year, the Midwest Independent Bookseller’s Association publishes an independent bookstore map and offers customer incentives. For example, if you post a photo of yourself in front of one of the bookstores and tag MIBA and the bookstore, you are entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice.

Don’t live in the Midwest? No worries!

Indie Bound’s website shares lists of bookstores you can crawl in every state with a variety of celebrations during the month of April. Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 24, 2027.

So the next time you feel the urge to plan a craft hopping morning or a wine tasting afternoon, consider an all-day bookstore crawl. Your indie bookstore will thank you – and so will your family (because obviously you’ll buy books for them – a reasonable number of books!)

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