Posts Tagged middle-grade readers

DEAR STUDENT ~ An Interview with Elly Swartz

By on October 14, 2021   /   Author Interviews  

Welcome to my interview with middle grade author Elly Swartz and our sneak peek into her next release DEAR STUDENT – Autumn, a girl with social anxiety and a pet guinea pig named Spud, becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper.

THE BOOK

DEAR STUDENT by Elly Swartz

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: February 15, 2022

When Autumn becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper she is faced with a dilemma–can she give fair advice to everyone, including her friends, while keeping her identity a secret?

Starting Middle School is rough for Autumn after her one and only BFF moves to California. Uncertain and anxious, she struggles to connect with her new classmates. The two potential friends she meets could not be more different: bold Logan who has big ideas and quiet Cooper who’s a bit mysterious. But Autumn has a dilemma: what do you do when the new friends you make don’t like each other?

When Autumn is picked to be the secret voice of the Dear Student letters in the Hillview newspaper, she finds herself smack in the middle of a problem with Logan and Cooper on opposite sides. But before Autumn can figure out what to do, the unthinkable happens. Her secret identity as Dear Student is threatened. Now, it’s time for Autumn to find her voice, her courage, and follow her heart, even when it’s divided.

“A story that shines with honesty and heart.”—PADMA VENKATRAMAN, Walter Award–winning author of The Bridge

THE INTERVIEW🎙️

Hi Elly! It’s wonderful to have you join us. I’m sure our readers are as excited as I am to learn more about Autumn. (And she has a pet guinea pig!💗)

What would Dear Student’s best life quote or hashtag(s) be?

#BraveLikeMe

#GoodWeird

#FearlessFred

Hmm . . . interesting.

Now, Autumn suffers with social anxiety. Such a poignant topic for the times we’re living in. How will this look to the reader at the opening of the novel?

Autumn tucks in as a way of dealing with her social anxiety. She tucks into the pets she loves, her sister Pickle, and staying connected with Prisha, her bff who moved away. Her social anxiety heightens with new friends and new situations. We see this manifest as the thoughts and worries that swim in her head, questioning everything she says and doubting her every action.

How does she grow with and through social anxiety toward the novel’s end?

Throughout the story, Autumn talks about Fearless Fred, “the part of each of us that fear can’t boss around.” (p. 10).

Yeah, now that’s awesome.

By the end of DEAR STUDENT, Autumn has discovered her Fearless Fred, found her voice, and the courage and strength to use it.

To ensure authenticity of Autumn’s social anxiety throughout her story, I worked with Dr. Kathleen Trainor, a therapist who specializes in anxiety in kids.

💚💚💚

Sounds like you did a lot of research for this story.

All of my books are the product of tons of research. I think it might be the lawyer in me. Authenticity and respect are at the cornerstone of my writing. And I am beyond grateful to the many people who shared their expertise and time with me. In Dear Student, the experts I consulted with were:

*a pediatric therapist who specializes in anxiety

*a person who specializes in iguanas and snakes (pregnant ones!)

*a congressman who sponsored the Humane Act bill that prevents the testing of cosmetics on animals and those in his office in charge of the bill

*a Peace Corps volunteer

*educators who kindly shared their Spanish translation skills and input with me

Wow! You definitely did your research.

AUTHOR INSIGHTS👀

Did you know from the start that Autumn was going to write a school advice column and how did you approach creating that setting?

When I first envisioned this book, it was Autumn’s mom who was the secret advice columnist. But as the heart of this story crystalized, it was clear that Autumn needed to own her voice. And the secret voice allowed her to do that.

Why will readers relate to Autumn?

I think we are all a bit like Autumn.

We all have those moments when step into a room and wonder if we fit. If we’re saying the right words, wearing the right clothes, doing the right things. Moments where we wonder if we belong.

I also believe readers, like Autumn, have moments where we find ourselves stuck between friends. Knowing that no matter what we do, no matter which decision we make, one of those friends is not going to be happy.

In the end, I truly think readers will connect with Autumn’s heart.

What can parents, teachers, and guardians take from Autumn’s story to help a child/student they know suffering with social anxiety?

I want them to know their child or student is not alone. We are all working on something. We all have moments where we feel anxious. Where we wonder if our voice matters.

I want them to know that it does matter. That they matter.

STORY CHARM✨

Love your use of a ‘special’ animal friend as Autumn’s alter-voice throughout the novel. Tells us more, please!

Spud!Firstly, share with our readers a little about Spud. 😊

Aw, I love Spud. Spud’s real name is Ajax. And he’s my son’s guinea pig (pictured to the left). I babysat for him while my son moved out west and fell in love with this giant baked potato of a guinea pig and knew I wanted readers to meet him. He is actually a rescue and currently 6 years old!

He’s adorable!

What do you hope young readers will take away from reading Autumn’s book journey?

I hope readers know their voice matters. That strength and bravery can look a lot of different ways. And that true friends will always be there. As Autumn says, “We don’t have to think the same or believe the same things to be friends. But we do always have to be kind to each other. And respectful of each other.” (p. 255-56).

Autumn is a wise girl.

I also hope readers discover that the most fearless thing they can do is be themselves.

WRITER’S CORNER📑

Author visits – Would you share some advice for our teachers, librarians, and homeschoolers on how to prepare students for an in-person verse a virtual author visit?

I love visiting schools – in person or virtually. And, for me, the preparation for my visits is the same. The best visits are when students have read one (or all : ) of my books. It gives us a foundation and very special connection to build on.

What part of writing this story did you find most fun? Most challenging?

I loved writing the Dear Student letters. It brought me back to my middle school self, walking the halls, feeling all the feels. The excitement, the worry, the joy, the self-consciousness, the cliques, the doubt, and the crushes. It was fun to give advice. I hope it helps my readers as they navigate all the feels.

The most challenging part was writing the friend conflict. No spoilers, but there’s something that happens between Logan and Autumn that hurt my heart to write. It wasn’t how I envisioned the story going. But it was the path the story had to take for me to stay true to the characters.

Lastly, from your personal writing journey, what’s the most important parts of writing?

Aw. I love this question. I would say, stay true to your voice. Write what matters to your heart. And be kind to yourself.

📣📣📣

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM ELLY!📜

Whoopie Pies! There are recipes in the back of the book for Autumn’s Fearless Fred’s Whoopie Pies. And there are even allergy friendly recipes for readers like me who can’t have gluten or dairy.

And now that I’ve gotten you hungry for the book, I just wanted to tell you all the fun things that happen when you pre-order.

Special signed copies! 

If you pre-order DEAR STUDENT (pubs 2/15/22) from Eight Cousins, Wellesley Books, or The Brain Lair, your book will be signed to the reader of your choosing and you’ll receive a limited-edition bookmark!

Other prizes! 

If you pre-order from Eight Cousins, Wellesley Books, The Brain Lair, or anywhere books are sold, and send proof of purchase to dearstudentpreorder@gmail.com, you’ll be entered to win one of the three prizes below. Winners randomly chosen on 2/15/22. Good luck!

**        Happy Prize. A signed Brave Like Me poster

**        Dear Prize. Handwritten letters to you, your bookclub, your group of friends (up to 20), or your class from me in the style of Dear Student.

**       Virtual Prize. A free 30 minute virtual Q & A with me

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Elly SwartzElly Swartz loves writing for kids, Twizzlers, and anything with her family. She grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania, studied psychology at Boston University, and received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Elly Swartz is the author of 4 contemporary middle grade novels. Finding Perfect was selected as a 2019-2020 Iowa Children’s Choice Book, a Kentucky Blue Grass Master List Pick, honored as a Child Mind’s Institute Best Children’s Book About Mental Health, and a 2017 Global Read Aloud contender. Smart Cookie was a 2019 ILA/CBC Children’s Choice for grades 3 and 4 and educator Colby Sharp deemed Smart Cookie one of his favorite books for 2018. And in 2019, Becky Calzada, Coordinator Library Services, Leander ISD shared, “Readers of Give and Take will quickly become endeared with Maggie’s spirit and heart. Elly Swartz has written a book where the characters love fiercely, and family is forever.” Give and Take was Elly Swartz Booksnamed one of the best books of 2019 by Pernille Ripp and A Mighty Girl. And on 2/15/22 readers will meet Autumn in Dear Student (Delacorte/Penguin Random House). Autumn is a girl with social anxiety who becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper.

Connect with Elly at ellyswartz.com, on Twitter @ellyswartz, on Instagram @ellyswartzbooks ` or on her webseries #BooksintheKitchen with author Victoria J. Coe.

It’s been such a pleasure chatting with you! I can’t wait for Autumn’s story to be in the hands of young readers.

Share with Elly your thoughts about her book or maybe even an experience you know of about social anxiety.

As always, thank you for reading!

💙

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Instagram Kids

By on October 4, 2021   /   Articles  

Breeding Followers

Facebook took a page out of marketing genius and book packager Edward Stratemeyer’s book and tried to use it. Back at the turn of the century and up until his untimely death in 1930, Edward was the inventive creator of many series for middle-grade readers, including the Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys, and The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. Edward realized that if he released several volumes at once, called a ‘breeder set’, that he would “hook” readers from the beginning of the series. Once a reader was caught up in the stories, they couldn’t wait for the next volumes to be released.

Facebook Inc., which owns Instagram, was attempting to do the same with preteens. Instagram Kids would introduce children under the age of 13 to the social media platform. Although Instagram Kids would be ad-free and require parental permission to sign up, the reality is Facebook, through its Instagram outlet, is trying to “breed” followers and future marketing opportunities.

Facebook announced plans for the app in May of this year. No sooner did word get out than the fight against the effort to capitalize on young children began. Attorney Generals from 44 states and territories urged the company to reconsider.

Instagram/Buzzfeed

Headlines

The headlines screamed probably as much as parents, educators, and anyone involved in childhood welfare did since the announcement of the attempt to reach out to this new “market.” Kids.

This week the headlines reflected the pushback to this initiative.

“Facebook hits pause on Instagram app amid growing scrutiny“- The Washington Post

“Facebook’s Effort to Attract Preteens Goes Beyond Instagram Kids, Documents Show“-Wall Street Journal

“Facebook is Delaying ‘Instagram Kids’ Amid Criticism“-The New York Times

According to the Wall Street Journal, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri offered this during an interview on NBC’s “Today” show; “I still firmly believe that it’s a good thing to build a version of Instagram that’s safe for tweens, but we want to take the time to talk to parents and researchers and safety experts and get to more consensus about how to move forward.”

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has been presenting an investigative series, The Facebook Files, with an in-depth exploration of the impact of Facebook and Instagram on users. On September 14, the series presented an article with the title, “Facebook knows Instagram is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show.”

Facebook Internal Research

To the credit of Facebook Inc., the company has conducted studies for the last three years on the impact of their platforms on the millions of teens who frequent the sites. The Facebook team’s research revealed that Instagram is harmful to a huge portion of teenage users. The investigative reporters unveiled a slide presentation, obtained from a whistleblower, from March 2020 which was posted on Facebook’s internal message board. “Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse,” the researchers said. “Comparisons on Instagram can change how young women view and describe themselves.”

Another slide the WSJ investigative journalists discovered from 2019 stated, “We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls.” Another slide offered, “Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression.”

But, despite the fact that Facebook Inc.’s own research was identifying these concerns, the company was continuing to move forward toward creating Instagram Kids for tweens.

“Instagram is well-positioned to resonate and win with young people,” stated one of the slides posted internally at Facebook Inc. Another presentation slide said: “There is a path to growth if Instagram can continue their trajectory.”

“Shake with fear”

Marcia Rutherford, Central Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Education, shared, “While I love technology and teaching with technology, I can tell you that kids using Instagram should make everyone shake with fear. While serving as a principal of middle schoolers, who were kind and loving and thoughtful and smart, I suspended and expelled more children- 6th, 7th, and 8th because of content posted on Instagram than for any other reason. Fistfights were a far second. The anonymity allows children to forget their rules and ways they were raised and bully, malign and shame others as well as remove inhibitions allowing them to send and forward photos that should never be shared. So much good can come from online formats, but the dark underbelly is sickening.”

Senate Committee Hearing

On September 30, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security convened a hearing titled “Protecting Kids Online: Facebook, Instagram, and Mental Health Harms.” Representing Facebook Inc was Antigone Davis, Director, Global Head of Safety.

Senator Blumenthal opened the hearing off by stating, “We are here today because Facebook, once again, is incapable of holding themselves accountable. We now have deep insight into Facebook’s efforts to recruit and exploit teens. Facebook researchers have been ringing the alarm for years. The question that haunts me is, how can we, or any parent,  trust Facebook.”

Senator Blumenthal went on to offer a quote from Facebook regarding teens’ usage of Instagram and Facebook “They have an addict’s narrative about their use-it can make them feel good, feel bad. They wish they could spend less time caring about it, but they can’t stop themselves.”

Ms. Davis, of Facebook, faced tough questions from the Senate committee. All in all, the hearing did not go well for Facebook, and Ms. Davis didn’t directly address many of the questions. As an example,  in response to Mr. Blumenthal’s comments about the findings of the investigative report, Ms. Davis replied, “What’s lost in this report, is that more teen girls find Instagram helpful than not.”

The outcomes from the hearing included a commitment from lawmakers that the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 would be updated. The committee is also hoping that Facebook will self-govern in taking measures to address the problems with teenagers using their social media platforms.

Unfortunately, based on Ms. Davis’ toeing the line that the company’s internal research was misinterpreted, the committees’ hope may be just that. Hope.

If Facebook Inc would only take a page from Edward Stratemeyer’s book and figure out a way to breed young readers versus young followers…

 

 

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THE WOLF’S CURSE ~ Interview with Author Jessica Vitalis + #Giveaway

By on September 24, 2021   /   Author Interviews  

Welcome to my interview with author Jessica Vitalis, where we chat about her debut middle grade fantasy THE WOLF’S CURSE.

In what Booklist calls a “striking debut,” Vitalis’ novel is a vivid, literary tale focusing on family, friendship, belonging, and grief, wrapped up in the compelling narration of the sly, crafty Wolf. Fans of award-winning titles like “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” and “A Wish in the Dark” are sure to be captivated by “The Wolf’s Curse.”

One intriguing side note about Jessica before we begin. Jessica’s journey to publication is an inspiration to readers, to writers, and to anyone working towards reaching a goal. This is taken directly from her press release: “After 13 years writing, debut author Jessica Vitalis lands six-figure, two-book deal.” 👏👏👏

THE BOOK

THE WOLF’S CURSE by Jessica Vitalis

The Wolf is not bound by the same rules as you are.

The Great White Wolf is very, very old. And she is very, very tired. For hundreds of winters, she has searched for someone to take her place. But she is invisible to most people. In all those years, only three have seen her. One died young. One said no. One is still alive — a 12-year-old boy named Gauge. Everyone in the village thinks Gauge is a witch. He’s been in hiding half his life, all because he once saw the Wolf — and right after that, the Lord Mayor’s wife died. Now his only protector, his beloved grandpapá, is dead, too. The Wolf visits the boy again, this time with an offer. She can save him the pain of growing up. Now that he’s all alone in the world, it may be the only way to escape the bounty on his head. If only his grandpapá’s last words hadn’t been, “Stay away from the Wolf.”

“Thoughtful, creative, and engaging. … Accessible and intriguing worldbuilding, particularly around the Wolf’s backstory, will pique readers’ interests, as will larger questions about life, death, truth, and tradition.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A lyrical tale of loss and survival, tradition and belief, in which tension and secrets build like a towering wave. The Wolf’s Curse is a story of many layers. Young readers will treasure this beautiful debut and hold it close to their hearts.”  — Diane Magras, author of “The Mad Wolf’s Daughter”

 

THE INTERVIEW

Hi Jessica! It’s wonderful to have you drop by. I have to tell you that I’m so excited for this book! Care to give our readers a quick peek inside THE WOLF’S CURSE? Maybe five words to give us an inside view?

Macabre, sweet Grim Reaper retelling

🖤💀🖤💀🖤

CHARACTER

The boy Gauge’s beginnings surely tug at the heart. If you would, share a thought or two from his heart with our readers.

Hello, readers––I’m a boy of twelve winters who would like nothing more than to invite you into the living quarters behind my grandpapá’s shop; there, we can sit by his feet in front of the fire as he whittles and tells stories of his travels far and wide.

Oh wow! Now that sounds intriguing and peaceful, yet adventurous.

Tell us. What about Gauge makes him unique and relatable to young readers?

I think part of Gauge’s appeal is that, despite his young age, he already possesses an impressive skill set in terms of his carpentry and whittling. At the same time, he’s relatable because he’s uncertain about the world and his place in it; young readers will recognize his longing to live up to his grandpapá’s expectations and make the old man proud.

What do you hope young readers of Gauge’s story take with them about death and the process of grief?

Childhood can be a frustrating time; kids want to have agency but sometimes feel trapped or like they don’t have a say in their own lives. This is especially true of kids living with or experiencing trauma; without the foresight that age and maturity brings, it can feel like things will never change. My hope they’ll walk away from this story with the sense that no matter how bad things feel, there’s always room for hope and healing.

A very important take-away.💚

Portraying the Grim Reaper as a Great White Wolf is clever. 🐺  Share how you capitalized on the darkness of a reaper contrasting with the ‘lightness’ of a white wolf to create such a wonderful character.

I’m glad she resonated with you! When I started writing the story, I didn’t have any sense of what kind of character she might turn out to be, so I was delighted when she revealed herself as something other than pure evil. That said, I knew before I started writing that she wouldn’t want to be doing her job––giving her a tangible and relatable personal goal helped create a nuanced and compelling character rather than a stereotypical Reaper. As to her coloring, I was troubled by the trope that Reapers are typically represented by black—this drove me to create a Great White Wolf, which doesn’t actually exist in nature (the closest thing is the Artic wolf, which are sometimes referred to as white wolves).

Interesting fact about wolves.🔍

If the Great White Wolf had a life (or death) quote, what would it be?

Follow your heart. It’s as true as any compass out there.

Which character from the book do you see yourself in most?

I’m 1/3 the Wolf’s snark, 1/3 Gauge’s sweetness, and 1/3 Roux’s practicality!

WRITER’S CORNER📝

You share in your press release how writing the Wolf as an omniscient narrator kind of just happened, evolved as you wrote and edited. How different was it writing in this POV for you? What pitfalls should writers who would like to try it for themselves look out for?

I was having so much fun writing that I didn’t worry about the POV as I drafted; it wasn’t until the revision process that I realized how big of a risk I’d taken. Writing an omniscient, first person, present tense narrator presented some unique challenges in that I needed an explanation for how and why the Wolf knew what was going on when she wasn’t around. The biggest challenge in writing an omniscient voice (especially one that often dips into close third) is to avoid head-hopping; that is, to only switch when you have a compelling reason and to clearly signal when you’re switching characters (usually by using their name at the beginning of the transition).

 Writers go from one idea to another, gathering them until they eventually take shape into a story. But there’s usually material that doesn’t make it into the final cut. Would you share one thing about the story that didn’t make it into the book, but the readers might find intriguing?

I threw out the entire first draft of this book—other than a Wolf, a boy, and a girl, the second draft shared almost no similarities with the first. In fact, Gauge was named Kipling and Roux was named Nyx, and instead of living in Gatineau, they lived in a non-descript country called Bantym. (Early readers said these names didn’t fit with the French-inspired feel of the rest of the story, hence the changes.)

READER’S NOOK📖

For our reading educators: what advice could you share for encouraging reluctant readers? For our reading writers: what writing or life advice has been the most valuable to you?

Educators already do such tremendous work, I’m not sure they need my advice. But if I had one thing to share, it would be to examine any preconceived notions of what reading might look like—picture books, comics, and graphic novels are all great as long as they foster a love of stories. For the writers out there, the advice that has been most valuable on my journey came from Chris Grabenstein, who reminded me that our first job is to entertain readers––if they aren’t engaged in the story, they won’t stick around.

Thank you!

Thank you for having me!

Oh gosh, you’re welcome. But honestly, thanks goes to you for sharing this beautiful story with the world. It’s been such a pleasure chatting with you, Jessica! Much congratulations to you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica VitalisJESSICA VITALIS is a Columbia MBA-wielding writer. After leaving home at 16, Vitalis explored several careers before turning her talents to middle grade literature. She brings her experience growing up in a non-traditional childhood to her stories, exploring themes such as death and grief, domestic violence, and socio-economic disparities. With a mission to write entertaining and thought-provoking literature, she often includes magic and fantastical settings. As an active volunteer in the kidlit community, she’s also passionate about using her privilege to lift up other voices. In addition to volunteering with We Need Diverse Books and Pitch Wars, she founded Magic in the Middle, a series of free monthly recorded book talks, to help educators introduce young readers to new stories. She was recently named a 2021 Canada Council of the Arts Grant Recipient. An American expat, she now lives in Canada with her husband and two precocious daughters. She loves traveling, sailing and scuba diving, but when she’s at home, she can usually be found reading a book or changing the batteries in her heated socks. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YouTube: MAGIC IN THE MIDDLE

GIVEAWAY

Enter to WIN one of five swag packs for THE WOLF’S CURSE! (US Only.) Ends October 4th. Winner announced via Twitter.

Packs contain: 1 bookmark, 1 postcard, 1 glass bottle w/printed letter from the author, 1 lollipop, & 1 feather

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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