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Author Interview: J.E. Thomas, writer of the AI Incident

By on July 11, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

photo JE ThomasWe’re excited to welcome J.E. Thomas back to the blog. We so enjoyed her previous interview when Control Freaks released, and we’re looking forward to telling everyone about her newest book, The AI Incident.

Like her first book, this one is super funny and has standout characters, plus it’s a heartwarming story of Malcolm finding love and family. I love the publisher’s description of the book:

“The Wild Robot meets Restart when Colorado’s unluckiest foster kid battles a rogue AI robot at school.”

Doesn’t that make you eager to read more?

So, here’s another chance to spend time with the author.

J.E., thank you so much for agreeing to answer more questions for us.

Thank you so much for inviting me back!

First of all, I’m sure readers would love to know: What made you choose to write a novel about AI?

I’ve been a science fiction fan for as long as I can remember. For that reason, I never thought developing autonomous AI programs was an impossible feat. Instead, it was simply a technological advance that simply took a while to create.

Now that autonomous AI programs are here, I wanted to envision what happened next. Would the characteristics that make us human keep pace with technology, or would the line blur? Would we act based on the foreshadowing the sci-fi greats presented, or would we be caught unaware?

Exploring those concepts is so much fun. That said, I’ve read studies about today’s tweens reading less for pleasure and feeling high levels of anxiety and isolation, so even while I addressed some of the headier issues associated with AI, I wanted to do so in a hopeful way.

I should note that AI also has a presence in my debut novel, Control Freaks. In that case, it appears as a program called DougApp that scans the internet for information and writes papers based on prompts for one of the main characters’ stepbrother. Interestingly, I developed that manuscript a few years before ChatGPT hit the main stage.

That’s fascinating you were ahead of the curve with DougApp. Sometimes it’s hard to believe AI has come so far. I’m glad we have authors like you who are using their own creativity to come up with story ideas.

Speaking of that, how did you come up with the characters for this story?

Characters arrive without much fanfare in my imagination. One minute, I’m happily slurping ice cream; the next, my brain is packed with fictional people like Malcolm Montgomery, the unluckiest kid in Colorado foster care, and FRANCIS, a rogue AI computer.

I’ve had this process for as long as I can remember. I just accept it now, lol.

Once I had the skeleton concepts for Malcom, Tank, FRANCIS, Mrs. Bettye, and others, I started investigating their backstories.

Loneliness is a major theme in The AI Incident, so I did a lot of research about how loneliness presents in people from different backgrounds. For instance, how does it affect the way they walk, talk, or even breathe? How does it affect the way they view the world? And, importantly for all of the human characters in The AI Incident, how does loneliness affect their ability to open themselves to new, and potentially life-altering, situations?

You really went into detail on the research, and it shows in how realistic the characters seem. In addition to helping readers understand loneliness and be more understanding of others, what else do you hope readers will learn from this book?

There are two big lessons I hope readers take from The AI Incident. The first is that it’s important to question information. Just because a computer program says something—for instance, that the sky is purple—doesn’t mean that’s so. Computers can bring information to us instantaneously, but it’s important for us to ensure that it’s true. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that several AI programs have disclaimers now that say something along the lines of “AI can make mistakes. Please verify information before using it.” I think that’s a very good heads-up.

The other lesson is that there’s value in making human friendships and connections. It’s certainly faster and easier to respond “Okay” when an AI program says, “Let’s be friends,” but there’s still a lot to be said for taking the time and making the effort to have bonds with other human beings.

Do you have any thoughts about the future of AI?

I have so many thoughts! I’d love to share them… But I’m incorporating them in my next book.

Can’t wait to find out what they are and to read about the characters who’ll show them to us.

Did you have an interesting or fun experiences while writing or researching the book?Cover of book, AI Incident

One of the most interesting experiences I had was a long interview with a retired social services caseworker. This person spent decades working with foster children in Colorado, and she shared incredible stories about her time managing care plans for hundreds of children.

I learned so much about how being untethered from a family impacts not only the children, but also the biological parents or guardians, foster parents, adoptive parents, and the adults in the foster care system who support them all.

Yes, it does. My sister was a caseworker, so I’ve heard some of those stories firsthand.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself as you wrote this book?

As I mentioned, loneliness is one of the key themes in The AI Incident. While writing and editing this book, I allowed myself to explore memories of how I felt when I was deeply lonely. That’s how I realized the extent to which emotions seep into our thoughts, our dreams, our muscles and our bones. I gave many of those physical reactions to the book’s characters. I think I changed as much as they did by the story’s end.

Did you find this harder or easier to write than your previous book? And why?

I am extremely intimidated by a blank page. Writing the words “Chapter One” is very difficult for me. However, once I got started writing The AI Incident, I found the process of creating this book to be easier than creating my debut. I had more discipline. I had a writing schedule that I at least felt guilty about ignoring. I had more confidence, I guess. Also, I was paired with Levine Querido’s executive editor once again. This helped make revision my favorite part of creating this book.

We did ask you some questions about yourself last time, but if you don’t mind giving us another peek into your life, we have a few more.

Do you have any special childhood memories connected with books and/or writing?

I do! Both of these will definitely date me, but the first is reading under the blankets with a book illuminated by a flashlight when I was a kid. I was supposed to be sleeping, but I would get so immersed in whatever I was reading that I couldn’t bear to stop. I don’t hide under the covers these days, but I have been known to read through the night when I’m enraptured by a story.

The second is when I discovered that I didn’t have to be bound by the end credits of my favorite TV program, which was Star Trek. I would watch the reruns over and over after school. I watched them so much that I could recite the dialogue along with the actors.

At some point, I discovered that I could write fanfic featuring my take on these beloved characters. Not only did I enjoy that immensely, but my first published work was a Star Trek story.

Did you have any favorite subjects in elementary or middle school? And why did you like them?

I was definitely a fan of language arts in elementary and middle school. My imagination was like a wild pony trapped in a corral. When I had the opportunity to let it run free and create stories, I had a wonderful time.

What was your most difficult challenge during those years?

This may be surprising given that I incorporate science fiction in my work, but math and science were not easy for me. Physics was a disaster! I started college intending to become a veterinarian because I love animals, but I eventually had to admit that a job with deep roots in math and science wasn’t in the cards for me.

If you could be a fictional character from literature for one day, who would you be and why?

My answer to that question will change week to week, and likely hour by hour—but at this moment, I would swap places with Ryland Grace, the middle school teacher in Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary. I would be the character near the end of the book, though. The edge of your seat escapades in the middle of the book are wonderful to read, but I wouldn’t want to deal with them in real life. The end of the book—which I won’t reveal because … spoilers—is something I would like to experience.

I’m sure readers would love to know: What are you working on right now?

I am excited to say that I have three projects underway: a YA anthology of, no surprise, science fiction short stories; an adult sci-fi novel; and an audio drama, which is a format I’m very excited to explore.

Can’t wait to see these books come out! I’m sure everyone will be eagerly awaiting the releases.

Thanks ever so much for being with us today. We wish you much success and happiness on your writing journey.

ABOUT THE BOOK: THE AI INCIDENT

Malcolm Montgomery is the new kid at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School. In no time at all, he’s been slapped with the weird kid label. Is it because he’s a foster kid who’s been in nine homes? Or maybe because he burps when he gets nervous…which is often? Malcolm has a plan to finally get adopted by a forever family before it’s too late. But then on Visiting Professionals’ Day, his school invites Dr. Alphonse Hatch, president of Hatch-ED—one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence companies in the state—to give a presentation. Dr. Hatch brings his AI-powered robot, and events get set in motion that create…THE INCIDENT.

An irresistible MG novel about the role of AI in schools and in our lives…and what it means to be human.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.E. Thomas grew up near Colorado’s Front Range mountains. She spent her early summers stuffing grocery bags with books at the local library, reading feverishly, then repeating the process week after week. J.E. has bachelors’ degrees in Mass Communications and Political Science, as well as a master’s degree in Public Communications. Her first book, Control Freaks, was a People Magazine Summer Must-Read and a “Best of the Best” pick by the Black Caucus of the ALA.

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When You Reach Me Turns Sweet 16! An Interview with Rebecca Stead

By on July 10, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

MG author Rebecca Stead needs no introduction.

We’ve all read, and reread, and re-reread her Newbery-winning classic When You Reach Me—which was published in 2009 and has sold 1.5 million copies—as well as her bestselling booksLiar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, and The List of Things That Will Not Change. The two novels she co-authored with Wendy Maas, Bob, and The Lost Library, are familiar favorites as well.

Rebecca’s books—which have been lauded as “mesmerizing” (The New York Times), “incandescent” (The Washington Post), and “superb” (The Wall Street Journal)—have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Fiction Award and Fiction Honor, and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize; shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, Waterstones Book Prize, Barnes & Noble Children’s Book Award; and named New York Times Notable Books for Children, NPR’s Books We Love, and a Time Top Ten of the Year.

Today, Rebecca stops by to chat about her long and storied career, her writing life, and When You Reach Me’s sparkly new cover (below), which was released on July 1 by Random House Children’s Books to commemorate the novel’s 16th  year in print.

And now, without further ado…

Rebecca Stead!

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Rebecca! I am beyond excited to have you here today and I know our readers are, too. Now, before we dive in, I want to congratulate you on When You Reach Me’s gorgeous new cover. Can you believe it’s been sixteen years since the book came out? (Rhetorical question, I know.) What prompted your publisher’s decision to update the cover?

RS: It’s wonderful to be here – thanks for the invitation. Ah, this new cover from R. Kikuo Johnson is such a delight. Covers are a real puzzle. I’m still in love with the original (by Sophie Blackall), but I think the blue and yellow font-driven paperback was a dish with too many cooks (I was one of them, and definitely throwing elbows.) One day, Barbara Marcus (formerly head of Random House Children’s Books) said she’d been thinking for a while about something different, and this time the process was magically easy. Everything felt right. The new cover has “story energy” and it’s so appealing. I love covers that yield more as you read the story. This one does that, too. 

MR: Since time travel plays an essential role in When You Reach Me, I thought we could do some time travel of our own; specifically, looking back on your impressive career, starting with the publication of your first novel, First Light (2008). How has your writing—and your life as a writer—changed since then? What’s stayed the same?

RS: What’s different: I have more writing friends and publishing-world knowledge. Writing a first book without book community can be a good thing – I was alone with my story for a long time, and oblivious to the publishing world in helpful ways. I didn’t know about “buzz” or starred reviews. I told my editor, Wendy Lamb, that I’d be coming to ALA in DC without realizing that I was supposed to be invited! (She was gracious, met me for coffee, and let me come to a party I wasn’t supposed to be at.) 

What’s not different: Writing. It’s not easier, and I expected it to be. I have absolutely learned things, and those things help in small ways: I no longer feel compelled to explain that my characters grab doorknobs before they leave rooms. But the big picture is the same – gathering material, shaping it over time and hoping it amounts to something. 

When You Reach Me: A Modern Classic

MR: As stated in the intro, When You Reach Me has received countless accolades and is considered a modern classic. Without making you blush or think I’m fawning (which I probably am), how does it feel to have written a book that’s so beloved by middle-grade readers? It must be pretty mind-blowing.

RS: It still feels surreal that a lot of people have read the book. Despite the time travel, When You Reach Me is a personal story, and so when someone tells me they connected with the book it feels like acceptance. I’ll never stop feeling grateful that it came together the way it did. I could easily have swerved or doubted, but I had genuine support from my agent, Faye Bender, from my editors, and from my other readers, my family and friends. So much support.

MR: Along these lines, I’m sure your fans have been begging for a sequel since the book was released. You must have considered it, right?

RS: I actually haven’t considered. I know when to leave something alone. (In fact, I have  never written a sequel. And I did try, once, for another book.) The most common thing I hear is that I should re-tell the story from Marcus’s point of view, which is fun to think about, but the truth is that I’m not as smart as Marcus is.

Readers of the World: Unite!

MR: Like you, I grew up in New York and attended an elementary school where I was lucky enough to sit on the windowsill, or under a table, with good book. What were your favorites in addition to A Wrinkle in Time? Also, how did your experience as a book-loving child impact your decision to become a writer?

RS: For me, there is no writing without reading. If I’m not reading, the desire to write abandons me within about eight hours. As a kid, I loved science fiction (Robert Heinlein’s Red Planet and Stranger in a Strange Land, Ursula LeGuin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, Ray Bradbury’s stories, Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books, and all the L’Engle, of course.) I loved contemporary stories that felt emotionally honest (too many to list! Judy Blume, Norma Klein, Louise Fitzhugh, Paula Danziger, Louise Meriwether); I loved stories about siblings (Half Magic, The Bobbsey Twins); I liked biographies (Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) but often lost interest after the “childhood” part. All of this reading kindled a secret longing to write, but a writer wasn’t what I “wanted to be” until I was in my thirties.

Story of Her Life

MR: As a follow-up, your first published story appeared in the P.S. 75 magazine, The Spicy Meatball. Do you remember what it was about? (As a frame of reference, my first story, “Behind the Lily Pond,” appeared in the City & Country School magazine and started: “Anna didn’t have a mother. Well, she did… before she died.”)

RS: That’s a great start! I do remember my story (title: “The Story”), which was about a girl who finds candy in the woods that allows her to understand what animals are saying. Coincidentally, my first book was about a girl who can understand what dogs are saying. The Spicy Meatball felt very special, thanks to our teachers at P.S. 75 and Teachers & Writers Collaborative, a group that really transformed my elementary school experience, along with a lot of other peoples’.

Easy Writer

MR: In one of your many (many!) glowing book reviews—this one in the Guardian, for Liar & Spy—you are praised for making writing look “easy.” What’s the secret to making writing seem effortless when in reality it’s hard, painstaking work?

RS: I don’t know why people say that about my writing – maybe it’s because I write short books? I do try to eliminate a lot of words while I revise. I’ll have my list of things to fix and also try to cut maybe 500 words a day. You can get a lot done with nothing but the delete key. I’m not a big “word count” person, but counting down is somehow satisfying. 

Rebecca’s Writing Routine

MR: While we’re on the subject of writing, what does your writing routine look like? Do have a specific time of day set aside for writing? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

RS: Ahem. I prefer “plunger” to pantser, it sounds more dignified. What I am not is a plotter.

I have a process but I wouldn’t call it a routine because my days vary and I (very) often don’t write at all. Mornings are definitely better. My first draft is pencil and paper, and it’s really more of an exploration of territory than a story. It’s a collection of scenes that are often repetitive. When I feel TOO repetitive and there’s no forward motion whatsoever, I type up what I have. Then I draw a map of whatever is in there, just notes in little squares that summarize each scene. While I’m doing that I take notes and make little to-do lists, nothing too intimidating. I make those changes, moving things and doing bits of writing here and there. Then I made a new map. This goes on for a long time.

Advice, Please

MR: One more writing question: what’s the best piece of advice you’d give to writers—aspiring and well-seasoned alike? Also, do you remember any of the writing advice you received from Frank McCourt when he was your creative writing teacher at Stuyvesant High School?

RS: I hope someone corrects me, but I don’t remember Frank McCourt teaching us anything about writing. What I remember is that he read to us, and what he read was very, very good. It was teaching by example, maybe. He wanted us to read our work aloud, but I couldn’t bear to do it and I wildly admired everyone who could. If no one wanted to read, he would quietly chant the word “Warriner’s” in a sing-song way (“Warriner’s Warriner’s, Warriner’s Warriner’s . . .”) which was a threat. If no one stood up, he would have to teach us grammar. Warriner’s was the name of our textbook. He once wrote at the end of a story I wrote that I had talent, and I definitely never forgot that. Ever. That’s mostly what you need to become a writer – a word of encouragement. 

My best advice is to treat writing as a discovery of your own process. Try different things and figure out what works for you. Always write toward yourself – what you know, or what you love, what makes you curious. Don’t reach for some idea that you hope others will approve of. Every one of us has memories, fantasies, and questions. Use those.

Anything Is Possible

MR: Changing gears, you’ve recently released your first picture book—Anything, illustrated by Gracey Zhang, about a father and daughter who move into a new home. What was it like for you to explore a new genre?

RS: It was great. I love new experiences. Picture books are different – there’s nowhere to hide. The editorial relationship is key here (and I had two wonderful editors, Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson), and revision was satisfying in a brand new way. The art (by Gracey Zhang) felt like a giant gift. I’d like to write more picture books, but it’s not something I can force. I have to start with a whole idea, rather than just a beginning.

 The Experiment: A Sneak Peak

MR: Your latest novel, The Experiment, which releases on September 16th,  is about a sixth grader whose family is from another planet. Can you give Mixed-Up Files readers a sneak peek?

RS: It’s about a kid who grows a tail, which is terrifying because he can no longer pass for human. His family gets called back to the mothership, where he discovers that his family’s “noble explorer” story might be a lie and that his crush likes someone else now. Meanwhile, his tail is growing a personality. I just said yes to plot for this one. And it’s also about a kid who lets go of the story that keeps his parents afloat. Which is hard because they’re good folks and he never stops loving them.

MR: What are you working on now, Rebecca? Enquiring minds want to know…

RS: I’m doing a picture book workshop next month at Milkwood, Sophie Blackall’s retreat for people devoted to books for young people. High hopes!

Lightning Round!

MR: And finally, no MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Hmm. Last time I was asked this I said pretzels and tzatziki, so this time I’ll say dried apricots (or dried mango, new fave).

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

Superpower? Expert healer.

Time travel: fact or fiction? Fiction, and more please.

Favorite place on earth? New York City.

If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be? Can I pick people? If not, I’ll take a powerful motorboat, sunscreen and a nav system. I don’t love being alone.

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Rebecca—and happy 16th  birthday to When You Reach Me!

RS: Thank you!!!! This was so great.

 

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Diverse Middle Grade Reads for Summer Break

By on July 9, 2025   /   WNDMG  

Summer’s here! It may be hot outside, but your reader can stay cool and get lost in the pages of an exciting book. Here are some reads that will captivate your middle-graders over the break.

Malcolm Lives! The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers  by Ibram X. Kendi

As a youth, Malcolm endured violence, loss, hunger, foster care, racism, and being incarcerated. He emerged from it all to make a lasting impact. As a Black Muslim. As a family man. As a revolutionary. Malcolm’s life story shows the promise of every human being. Of you!

To trace Malcolm’s childhood and adult years, Kendi draws on Malcolm’s stirring oratory style, using repetition and rhetoric. Short, swift chapters echo Malcolm’s trademark fast walk. An abundance of never-before-published letters, notes, flyers, photos, extensive source notes, and more give young readers a front-row seat to his life.

 

 

 

J Vs. K by Kwame Alexander (Author) and Jerry Craft (Illustrator)

J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS). J loves to draw and his wordless stories are J-ENIUS! K loves to write and his stories are K-LASSIC!! Both J and K are determined to win the DAPS annual creative storytelling contest or at least get in the top five. And when they find out that they are both entering The Contest, it’s the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries the world has ever seen.

It’s artist vs. writer with plenty of shady double crosses as J and K plot their way to the top. This epic match-up from Newbery medal winners Kwame Alexander (The Crossover) and Jerry Craft (New Kid) celebrates comics, creativity, and the magic of collaboration.

 

 

Inside Out And Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Hà has only ever known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope—toward America.

This moving story of one girl’s year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four-starred reviews, including one from Kirkus, which proclaimed it “enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny.”

An author’s note explains how and why Thanhhà Lại translated her personal experiences into Hà’s story. This paperback edition also includes an interview with the author, an activity you can do with your family, tips on writing poetry, and discussion questions.

 

 

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay.

Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way. Includes an afterword by author Linda Sue Park and the real-life Salva Dut, on whom the novel is based, and who went on to found Water for South Sudan.

 

 

 

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

This summer, beware of sharks…

Brooklyn girl Kaylani McKinnon feels like a fish out of water. She’s spending the summer with family friends in their huge house on Martha’s Vineyard, and the vibe is definitely snooty. Still, there are beautiful beaches, lots of ice cream, and a town full of fascinating Black history. Plus a few kids her age who seem friendly.

Until the shocking death of a popular teenage boy rocks the community to its core. Was it a drowning? A shark attack? Or the unthinkable–murder?

Kaylani is determined to solve the mystery. But her investigation leads her to uncover shocking secrets that could change her own life as she knows it… if she survives.

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson makes her thrilling middle-grade debut with this heart-pounding mystery packed with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the end.

 

It’s All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango

A novel in verse in which, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion.

No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident.

After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before. Her body doesn’t move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back. If she can’t leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to?

In this moving novel from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion and discovers that the sum of a person’s achievements doesn’t amount to the whole of them.

 

Faiza Is a Fighter by Debasmita Dasgupta

Life in hilly northern India is not easy. Every day, Faiza has to scale the mountains to reach her school or to fetch water from the stream. Faiza doesn’t have many friends or relatives who believe in her, but her dream of being a world champion boxer and the support of her only parent, her dad, and her grandma keeps her going.

When her dad’s travel is delayed due to a landslide, she has to enter the boxing tournament without her coach and support system. Will she give up or forge out on her own? Sometimes your biggest cheerleader is the voice inside of you. Fight, Faiza, fight!

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