1. How do you craft stories to keep young readers engaged? Simply by telling the truest story I can tell. That's true with a small “t". As a teacher in an alternative school for nearly 10 years and as a therapist working with child abuse and neglect families, I had a lot of inside information on kids who felt marginalized and who had been required to come up with a lot of creative survival skills; skills that were not always appreciated by mainstream educators or the parents of those kids. There aren't many students anywhere who haven't felt alone, unheard, diminished, at one time or another. When a student reads about characters who seem to feel the same way he or she does, there's a pretty good chance they'll keep reading. And even in the tough stories, humor reigns. If I can keep them laughing I can keep them reading. 2. What do you see as the role of young adult literature in building young readers? The role of young adult literature is providing stories the kids can relate to. All kids. Whether it's realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, you name it; if it tickles reader's imaginations they'll stay engaged. Most of the books my high school English teacher assigned us were written by people long dead and out of touch with my experience. So I didn't read. I copied my older brother's book reports. That probably stopped me from reading and believing that I could write for at least 10 years. When I got away from formal education and found books that I could relate to, I read voraciously and started to believe that I could write. Finding the right stories is all about tickling the reader's imagination. There is very little that is more important to one's education than engaging one's imagination. 3. What do you envision next in your own work and in the YA lit field? I envision finishing a nonfiction book that is at least two years past its deadline. Its purpose is to tell the real stories behind the characters in my novels.
4. Any messages for teachers using your books to engage young readers?
Sure. And it's the same message I would use for teachers using any books to engage readers. Know your students and match them with the books you believe will help them see they are not alone; see characters who feel the way they feel. And, if you're using my books there's a real good chance you can get a free Zoom.
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