1. What draws you to write for young people?
A lot of the themes I wanted to write about centered on identity and looking back, that middle school era was the time in my own life when I was most intensely impacted by those sorts of questions. So naturally, I thought middle grade readers would be a great audience for this kind of story. Also, I used to teach middle school and my own kids are in middle school and I like fart jokes so... it was an easy choice for me.
2. Stand Up, Yumi Chung! brings on YouTube and comedy as part of its story — how do you keep in touch with kid culture to include in your work?
For whatever reason, I find myself in the company of kids age 8-12 a lot. Like I mentioned before, I used to teach middle school kids, and now I have tweens of my own in the house. It's like I was destined to tell stories about this awkward stage my whole life! The kinds of conversations I overhear in my minivan, the movies I love the most (Pixar's Turning Red, anyone?), and even the books that stay with me are all about that period in life when everything is changing- from bodies, to friend groups, to social media feeds, to the greater world outside and it's such an exciting time.
3. What is/are your message(s) for your readers and the world that you aim share in your work?
More than anything, my book is about self-acceptance. Loving yourself, as you are. There are so many voices in the world that are telling us that we aren't there yet: we need another filter, another accomplishment, better clothes or friends, but my book is all about celebrating the wholeness of who we are, right now- with all the imperfections and failures! We are all works-in-progress and we need to remember that. I want my readers to feel like they've been given a warm hug by the end.
4. What is next for you?
My next book comes out in the summer of 2023 and I'm so excited about it. I worked on it for a long time and it's most definitely the story of my heart. It's a friendship story about two best friends who are growing apart and don't know how to let go. It's also about dance teams, social anxiety, K-pop, competing friend groups, secrets and epic betrayals! I explore the concept of people-pleasing and boundaries in toxic friendships, too. So it deals with some serious things, while being a fun fast paced adventure filled with lots of laughs. Also, the main character of this story is Yumi's cousin so we get to hear how she's doing also. I can't wait for you all to read it.
5. Any message for teachers who want to use your book in their classrooms?
I hope that my book allows kids to have honest conversations in your classrooms. Right now especially, I feel like a lot of kids are still adjusting to social life after a few years of being shut in and I've heard from so many young readers who related to Yumi's struggle with making and connecting with friends. There are so many cool improv activities I learned while researching for this book and I think it'd be so fun to do them with students! Sometimes we need to be jolted out of our own heads and improv comedy is such a magical way to do that, you literally can't overthink things because it moves so fast and everyone has to participate. I think it'd be a great way to team-build as you read the book.
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