An Inside Look with Rebecca Caprara
*Season #SIX (Summer 2019)
How did you come to know Collin?
Collin, like so many characters I write, came to me almost fully formed. I’d been tinkering with the idea of a book about a child of hoarders, and one day I woke up and heard his voice. As soon I began jotting poems in my notebook, this sensitive, anxious, kindhearted kid emerged. He’s an amalgamation of many people, myself included.
What do you think is his most admirable quality?
At first, Collin believes that being prepared is paramount. By memorizing the chapters in his Worst-Case Scenario handbook, he thinks he will be ready for anything, and able to prevent disaster from striking again. I love that Collin wants to protect the people he cares for. But between bullies at school and hardships at home, he quickly realizes that not everything in life comes with an easy escape plan or set of instructions.
As the book progresses, Collin learns that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is to reach out and ask for help. Some people might mistake this for weakness, when in fact, it takes tremendous strength to be honest with yourself and those around you. It takes courage to admit when things are not okay. To me, this openness and vulnerability are his most admirable qualities. Thankfully, Collin has a group of tremendously supportive friends and adults in his life, who are there for him when he needs them most.
What do you think he can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what he went through?
I hope that children who may be experiencing similar situations at home will see that they are not alone, and that there are people and resources available to help them. Most of all, I hope that Collin’s story helps build empathy, raise awareness, and reduce the stigma around hoarding disorder and other mental health issues.
On a slightly different note, I hope this novel-in-verse format helps open kids’ eyes to the potential and power of poetry. I think verse novels can be fantastic gateways into the world of poetry and I would be over the moon if this book inspired children and young adults to read more widely, or write poems of their own.
How did you research Collin and the circumstances he found himself in?
A lot of research went into this story. Along with my own personal experiences, I drew inspiration and information from many sources including the first-hand accounts of Tracy Schroeder, Jessie Sholl, and Kimberly Rae Miller, as well as the work of the following doctors: David F. Tolin, Gail Steketee, Randy O. Frost, Michael A. Tompkins, Suzanne A. Chabaud, Tamara L. Hartl, Fugen Neziroglu, and Katherine Donnelly. Additional information was provided by the American Psychiatric Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the International OCD Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health, and the World Health Organization.
What was the hardest scene to write about him?
The hardest scenes to write are often the most important, powerful, or pivotal scenes in a book. I cried several times while drafting and revising this story, and I still cry when I read the final poem of the book (though the final poem tears are happy tears). Some of the imagery of Collin’s home is very vivid—pests, mold, insects, etc.—and may be jarring or upsetting to some readers. I did not shy away from the realities of compulsive hoarding because I felt it was important to create an honest picture of what some families face. It’s very hard for me emotionally to write scenes in which a child feels unsafe or neglected, but I always try to balance heavier scenes or subject matter with moments of hope. Humor also adds much needed levity and helps create balance in a middle grade novel.
Who do you think was his biggest supporter and why?
Before she passed away, Collin’s mother was certainly one of his biggest supporters. She loved him deeply, listened to him, cared for him, laughed with him, and helped him manage his anxiety. Collin has many other supporters, too—Liam, Georgia, Sharon, Aunt Lydia, Ms. Treehorn, his counselor, and more. And of course, his father.
What do you think Collin is doing as the present time?
I bet he’s swimming or playing mini golf with his dad, goofing around with Liam, spending time with Georgia, and exploring the beauty of his natural surroundings. Mostly, I hope he’s happy and safe, and knows that he is loved.
Anything else to add?
According to recent studies, compulsive hoarding disorder affects between 2% and 6% of the population, and is characterized by excessive accumulation of and difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their value. Some researchers believe the actual numbers are higher, as hoarding often remains unreported, unrecognized, and untreated. In America alone, approximately six to nineteen million people cope with severe hoarding tendencies. Many of those impacted are children like Collin, who must learn to navigate daily risk of physical and psychological harm.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of hoarding, there are organizations available to help. You can find resources, support groups, and access to trained health professionals through Children of Hoarders (www.childrenofhoarders.com), Minor and Youth Children of Hoarding Parents (www.mycohp.com), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org; NAMI HelpLine: 800-950-6264).
SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)
Interview #122 with Tamara Bundy (Author of Pixie Pushes On)
Interview #123 with Lindsay Lackey (Author of All the Impossible Things)
Interview #124 with Tae Keller (Author of When You Trap a Tiger)
Interview #125 with Jamie Sumner (Author of Roll With It)
Interview #126 with Hena Khan (Author of More to the Story)
Interview #127 with Phil Bildner (Author of A High-Five for Glenn Burke)
Interview #128 with Leslie Connor (Author of A Home for Goddesses and Dogs)
Interview#129 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Queen Bee and Me)
Interview #130 with Jody J. Little (Author of Worse Than Weird)
Interview #131 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Things You Can't Say)
Interview #132 with Kaela Noel (Author of Coo)
Interview #133 with Rebecca Stead (Author of The List of Things That Will Not Change)
Interview #134 with Gae Polisner (Author of Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me)
Interview #135 with Emily Blejwas (Author of Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened)
Interview #136 with Joy McCullough (Author of A Field Guide to Getting Lost)
Interview #137 with Kim Baker (Author of the Water Bears)
Interview #138 with Erin Entrada Kelly (Author of We Dream of Space)
Interview #139 with Jess Redman (Author of Quintessence)
Interview #140 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Every Missing Piece)
Interview #141 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Brave Like That)
Interview #158 with Rebecca Ansari (Author of The In-Between)
Interview #159 with John David Anderson (Author of One Last Shot)
Interview #160 with Tracy Holczer (Author of Brave in the Woods)
Interview #161 with James Bird (Author of The Brave)
Interview #162 with Marcella Pixley (Author of Trowbridge Road)
Interview #163 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Halfway to Harmony)
Interview #164 with Alan Gratz (Author of Ground Zero)
Interview #165 with Lisa Fipps (Author of Starfish)
Interview #166 with Ann Braden (Author of Flight of the Puffin)
Interview #167 with Kimberly Willis Holt (Author of The Ambassador of NoWhere Texas)
Interview #168 with Elana K. Arnold (Author of The House That Wasn't There)
Interview #169 with Erin Soderberg (Author of The Great Peach Experiment)
Interview #170 with Donna Gephart (Author of Abby, Tried, and True)
Interview #171 with M. Evan Wolkenstein (Author of Turtle Boy)
Interview #172 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Bea is for Blended)
Interview #173 with Jess Redman (Author of The Adventure is Now)
Interview #174 with David Levithan (Author of The Mysterious Disappearance of Aiden)
Interview #175 with Chris Grabenstein (Author of The Smartest Kid in the Universe)
Interview #176 with Ali Standish (Author of The Mending Summer)
Interview #177 with Holly Goldberg Sloan (Author of The Elephant in the Room)
Interview #178 with Jeff Zentner (Author of In the Wild Light)
SEASON #ELEVEN (Fall/Winter 2021)
Interview #179 with Katherine Applegate (Author of Willow)
Interview #180 with Padma Venkatraman (Author of Born Behind Bars)
Interview #181 with R.J. Palacio (Author of Pony)
Interview #182 with Kyle Lukoff (Author of Too Bright to See)
Interview #183 with Barbara Dee (Author of Violets are Blue)
Interview #184 with Anne Ursu (Author of The Troubled Girls of Dragonmir Academy)
Interview #185 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of We Could Be Heroes)
Interview #186 with Jasmine Warga (Author of Shape of Thunder)
Interview #187 with Joseph Bruchac (Author of Rez Dogs)
Interview #188 with Kathryn Erskine (Author of Lily's Promise)
Interview #189 with Elly Swartz (Author of Dear Student)
Interview #190 with Heather Clark (Author of Lemon Drop Falls)
Interview #191 with Veera Hiranandani (Author of How to Find What You're Not Looking For)
Interview #192 with Elizabeth Eulberg (Author of The Best Worst Summer)
Interview #193 with Cathy Carr (Author of 365 Days to Alaska)
Interview #194 with Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard (Authors of REAL)
Interview #195 with Gillian McDunn (Author of These Lucky Stars)
Interview #196 with Alyssa Colman (Author of The Gilded Girl)
Interview #197 with E.L. Chen (Author of The Comeback)
Interview #198 with J.M.M. Nuanez (Author of Birdie and Me)
SEASON #TWELVE (Winter 2022)
Interview #199 with Jamie Sumner (Author of One Kid's Trash)
Interview #200 with Chad Lucas (Author of Thanks a Lot, Universe)
Interview #201 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Where We Used to Roam)
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