Posts Tagged diverse mg

WNDMG Author Interview with Raj Tawney on his book All-Mixed Up

WNDMG Author Interview

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Raj Tawney today. Raj’s book is titled All Mixed Up  (Paw Prints Publishing), which was published November 26, 2024.

I absolutely love the description of this novel, a story about finding yourself and pride in your identity- and this sounds like a book every young reader needs!

I encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their classrooms and libraries.

About All Mixed Up:

Description taken from online:

New York Times essayist, Raj Tawney, delivers a gripping story of a multi-ethnic American boy who forges a complex friendship with a Pakistani immigrant in the wake of 9/11. It’s 2002–less than one year after the September 11th attacks– and sixth-grader Kamal Rao is tackling a brave new world of challenges, including figuring out who he really is and how he fits in. Even with New York City in its backyard, the suburban town where he lives is anything but open-minded. That means Kamal – frequently picked on and feeling ostracized — usually spends his time alone, making mud pies in the backyard or cooking recipes with his mom and grandma from his family’s three cultures. Then, one day, a Pakistani immigrant named Jaz arrives at school, entering Kamal’s life and challenging his sluggish movement through the world. As the two boys forge a friendship over their love of exploring the outdoors and eating good food, the newcomer begins to show Kamal how being “different” isn’t a bad thing at all. For the first time, a fire is lit within Kamal – but what will happen when questions of Jaz’s origins and his intentions begin to come into question at school and in their town? Will Kamal– now on the cusp of discovering who he really is and who he wants to be — risk his own safety and his family’s trust help his new friend, someone he barely knows at all?

Based on the author’s personal life experiences, an insightful middle-grade novel from a fresh voice in children’s fiction that will be felt long after the last page.

Interview with Raj:

I loved getting to talk to Raj about his new book and I think you will enjoy meeting him as well.

SSS: What a description! This book sounds SO important, and I personally can really relate to how the world changed after 9-11 as an immigrant myself. What inspired you to write a book based in 2002?

 

RT: Thanks so much, Shifa. It means a lot that you personally relate, as difficult a time as it was for all of us in 2001. I think something that’s always bothered me is that we rarely view that period from the perspective of people of color or immigrants. I remember being 14-15 years-old in 2001/2002, in New York, and witnessing fear-mongering at the hands adults, the media, and bullies are school, as well as harassment and anti-Muslim (or anyone who appeared “foreign”) sentiment. As scary as that period was, there were also moments of just being a young person who was still interested in music, movies, and laughing at silly things. I wanted to go back and examine that period as I saw and felt it, but I made the lead character, Kamal, a sixth grader because that period in a young person’s life is even more wide-open and exploratory. There’s still this feeling of being a kid but you know it’s not going to last much longer.

SSS: How do you think 9-11 still impacts the world today? How can historical novels help young readers understand history and how it shapes the future?

RT: I think 9-11 made some Americans feel cynical for a long, long time. Maybe that cynicism is still lingering in our society, which is why the ‘90s has been having a nostalgic surge lately. We tend to long for the days before all of the “bad stuff” happened. Alternatively, in the post-9-11 years, many of us took more of an active stance in wanting to change our world for the better. As dark as it may have seemed sometimes over the past two decades, there have been many beacons of progress. The same can be said during the WWII and Vietnam eras. I think young readers can look to any tumultuous era and find light. I’m constantly searching for a light through all of the negativity. It’s there if we keep our eyes and ears wide open.

SSS: I love reading books with multi-cultural themes. How has your cultural background impacted the main character’s cultural descriptions?

RT: I’m glad you love multi-cultural themes! Kamal, the lead character, is a mixed boy of Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian descent, just like me. My middle name is Kamal, which I also share with my dad and brother. Kamal, in the book, is directly influenced by my life, my family, our history, our food, my unique perspective on the world, and the compassion I believe I have for others. Though he is fictional at the end of the day, Kamal is definitely a version of my younger self. Growing up, I often felt lonely and like an outsider, but as time progressed, I’ve found that being mixed is actually an advantage and a superpower. I wanted to give young readers – especially boys who need more positive boyhood/friendship stories – more opportunities to see multi-cultural characters, whether or not they themselves are such. We’re part of a growing trend in America and it was essential that I capture the cultural complexities, and beauty, that come with being mixed.

SSS: The subject of friendship is so important in Middle Grade. How does Kamal’s new friendship help him find himself?

 

RT: The new kid, Jaz, a Pakistani immigrant, is much freer and sillier than Kamal and helps bring out the positivity that is aching to get out. I think that’s what a good friend does. They support the best qualities of you and want you to succeed. Though the story becomes complicated, Kamal finds self-worth thanks to his new friendship with Jaz.

 

Link to preorder here.

Writing Process:

SSS: When did you start writing this book?

RT: I don’t even remember. I’ve been working on it for so many years in my head and in notebooks. But I began writing it over three years ago now. It’s been quite a journey.

 

SSS: How is the process of writing a middle grade novel different from writing journalistically? How is it similar?

RT: It’s completely different. In journalism, it’s all about facts and getting straight to the point, though I always try to find ways to be creative and stylish. In fiction, especially in Middle Grade, you can take the story wherever you want! But the biggest challenge from writing for a young reader audience. I had to brush up on some of my classic favorite authors, like David A. Adler, Judy Blume, and Jean Craighead George, as well as revisit some newer favorites, like Jerry Spinelli, Amina Luqman-Dawson, and Lance Rubin, to understand how crucial it is to capture a young person’s sensibility. I had to remember what it was like to be in sixth grade, with all of the daydreaming, humor, and insecurities that come with age, and spend time in that mindset. It was fun but also quite challenging.

SSS: Any advice for fellow authors?

 

RT: No matter how ridiculous  an idea sounds, give it a shot and see where it takes you. You can always hit DELETE. And believe in yourself. Nobody will believe in you more than you, seriously.

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Any more books from you we can look forward to in the future?

 

RT: I’m currently working on a manuscript for a YA novel while also pushing All Mixed Up as far as I possibly can. I’m excited to visit schools, libraries, bookstores, and conferences throughout the fall and next year. I want so badly for this book to reach and connect with young readers. I’m going to give it my all.

Thank you so much Raj for answering my questions! I hope everyone picks up a copy of your beautiful book.

About Raj Tawney:

Raj Tawney is a writer and journalist whose work largely reflects his multiracial American upbringing. Born to an Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian American family, Tawney has explored his identity and family history through personal essays published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and other outlets throughout the country. His debut memoir Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience (Empire State Editions/Fordham University Press) has received critical acclaim and was recently awarded the Bronze Medal at the 2024 Living Now Book Award for Inspirational Memoir. His Middle Grade novel All Mixed Up (Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor) is already receiving praise before its pub date on October 28, 2024, National Immigrants Day.

Links to social media:

Website: rajtawney.com

 

WNDMG Wednesday – Guest Post by Jorrel Brinkley

We Need Diverse MG Logo hands holding reading globe with stars and spirals floating around
We Need Diverse MG Logo hands holding reading globe with stars and spirals floating around

Illustration by: Aixa Perez-Prado

WNDMG Wednesday Guest Post by Jorrel Brinkely

We Need DIverse MG is delighted to host a new author this week.  Jorrel reached out to WNDMG a few months ago with an idea for connecting his work as an author and school psychologist to the importance of diverse representation in middle-grade fiction, and we were excited to be able to feature a fresh voice on this always-timely topic. Thanks for your post, Jorrel!

My Journey, by Jorrel Brinkley

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to write a blog post this month for “From the Mixed-Up Files… of Middle-Grade Authors.” Having written a middle-grade novel and working as a school psychologist, I’d like to take this time to talk a little bit about the importance of diverse books and early literacy in reaching children in high-needs elementary schools.

Stereotypes and Microaggressions

As a teenager and in my adult years, I’ve been on the receiving end of various stereotypes and microaggressions:

“Do you rap or play basketball?”

“Imagining you riding a horse is like imagining Tupac riding a horse.”

“You look like someone I saw on a ‘Most Wanted’ billboard.”

I would say, “C’mon guys, read a book!” But given the small amount of prominent diverse books available when I was a kid, I guess I’m not surprised. I’m not disparaging any of those books, but we definitely needed more.

The White Default

Growing up, I can recall only a few books that I read in school featuring Black authors or characters. More often than not, the ones I read featured historical figures (e.g. think days of slavery or around the Civil Rights era) or were African folktales. Important for sure, but not always relatable. Most of the books that I’ve read centered around White characters. I remember that while I was writing my debut book, Gus & Major: Obedience School, I had an idea for another story. As I imagined what the cover of that book might look like, I realized that I had envisioned a White protagonist. Why was that? In my head, I saw a main character that fit with most of who I’ve seen my entire life in books, TV shows, and movies.

“This Boy Looks Like Me!”

It is important for children to not only see characters or authors who look like them but are also relatable. There can be much encouragement and hope for children when they read a book and realize they are not alone. It also gives them an idea of what they could be besides the stereotypical representations found in media. On a personal level, my three year old son was looking at a picture book. He is half-black, half-Latino. As he perused the pictures, he looked up with excitement and said, “This boy looks like me! And this is you, Daddy!”

Lacking Early Literacy Skills

As I mentioned earlier, not only am I an author, but I am also a school psychologist working in a high-needs elementary school. Most of the evaluations that I conduct with students deal with reading difficulties. Many times, I’ve found that the students I’ve tested do not have a learning disability. Rather, they simply lack the early literacy skills that are usually acquired before entering Kindergarten. Now, there are a multitude of factors that play into this, but that’s a discussion for another time. As they go through school, what I’ve typically seen is that they lack foundational reading skills. These skills build on each other every year as the curriculum becomes more challenging. The issue is that by the time the students are in their middle grade years, many have been unable to overcome the ever-increasing gap; that is their expected performance and their actual performance. Mix in a grade retention or two, and we have a serious problem. The students are over-age and seem to have lost interest in school, especially in reading. They do not see its importance; many have told me that reading is too hard. On top of that, when you place a book in front of them with characters that do not look like them or with an unrelatable story, reading it is the last thing they want to do. And let’s face it, smartphones and social media are stiff competition.

Enter diverse middle grade books.

Relatability in Diverse Books

Admittedly, my debut book features animal characters, BUT I was very intentional in writing a story that the students at my school and similar schools would find relatable. Why? In my experience, the children I’ve worked with are more interested in stories with diverse characters or those with similar experiences. They also seem to be more invested in the outcome of certain characters. In addition, when they can empathize with the author, that is a bonus. Not only are children interested in the story, but they are more willing to read other books by said author.

BookCoverWebImage_500x800

Each year at my school, I typically mentor a group of fifth-grade boys in which we discuss music and think about the messages conveyed in songs. When I ask them about their favorite rappers and why they listen to their music, I’m often told that they can relate to some of the rappers’ struggles. They feel like they’re not alone and that there’s hope that they can make it past their own personal struggles too. Without examining the veracity of some rappers’ statements, it’s important that we don’t miss that gold nugget. These boys connected with artists that looked like them, talked like them, and had relatable stories. I can almost guarantee that they would read a book written by their favorite rapper!

((For more articles on why representation matters, check out our WNDMG Wednesday archives))

Making Connections

What does this have to do with diverse middle grade books, Jorrel? I’m glad you asked. It’s all about making connections. Making connections with children through diverse books can help them process their emotions, provide language to what they are experiencing, and may even provide a framework for overcoming various challenges.

How do you attract students who don’t find curling up with a good book on a rainy day as exhilarating as you do? Give them diverse authors and/or characters and a relatable, compelling story. What if they are a struggling reader? Well, if they’re sitting and engaging with the book, that’s half the battle! It’s easier to target some of those foundational reading skills when interest and motivation are high.

On a few occasions, I’ve read part of my book, Gus & Major: Obedience School, to a group of third graders at my school. In it, I touch on topics such as fatherlessness, behavioral problems, and forgiveness. Most of the story is drawn from my time working with children. The students were immediately able to relate to the story and characters, saying things like, “So-and-so does that in my class all the time,” or “I used to act like him in the beginning of the year.”

I’m grateful that there is an increasing number of diverse books being published. What messages do we want to send to our children? How do we ignite a love of reading in children lacking basic reading skills and maintain their interest? Let’s expand their imaginations to what else is out there, and let’s introduce them to more diverse voices early.

About Jorrel Brinkley

Jorrel Brinkley is a school psychologist and the author of his debut chapter book Gus & Major: Obedience School. He has worked with elementary school-aged children from a variety of backgrounds for over 15 years. His goal is to engage children’s imagination through entertaining, relatable, and thoughtful stories. When he is not writing, he is spending time with his wife and two boys.

Connect with Jorrel

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