ReadWonder: January 2020

Lily's voice came quickly. I knew that she noticed things other didn't, that she saw magic in the mundane, and that her world was rich with imagery and metaphor. I also knew that she was reserved and cautious—which meant that though her voice came fast, her story didn't. With my first book, The Science of Breakable Things, my character felt much more straightforward. The story came easily because it felt like my character wanted to tell it. Lily made me work for her story, and I only figured it out through many, many wrong turns and revisions.

What do you think is her most admirable quality?

For someone who feels invisible, Lily makes a lot of bold decisions, all because she fiercely protects the people she loves.

Is there anything you wish she would have changed or done differently in her story?
Ha, there's one scene in particular, when she's very mad at a friend and decides to get revenge in a rather unconventional way. As an adult, I do not condone her actions. But I have to admit...the kid in me was kind of rooting for her.

How did you research Lily and the circumstances she found herself in?
I read so much folklore! Much of this story is based off Korean fairytales, and though I remembered some from my childhood, there were a lot of stories I'd never heard. I read every tiger-based folktale I could find, and the stories in WYTAT are a mish-mash of those—plus a bit of my own invention.

I also researched a lot about Korean history so I could fully understand the history of Lily's family and the experiences that would have shaped her grandmother's mindset. I was surprised (though perhaps I shouldn't have been) to find that learning the history helped me connect with my own grandmother, too. There were parts of my halmoni that I didn't fully understand before writing this book.

Do you and Lily share any similarities?

Lily worries about being invisible, and her sister dubs her a "QAG"—a Quiet Asian Girl. I've always been reserved, and as a kid I was quite shy. A lot of Lily's insecurity about that is very familiar to me.

What was the hardest scene to write about Lily?
The ending, for sure. But I won't give it away.

Who do you think was her biggest supporter and why?
Her grandmother—her halmoni. Halmoni has always seen through Lily's invisibility.

Why do you think some young people, like Lily, have such bonds with their grandparent when there is such an age difference?
I think the supportiveness is definitely a factor; grandparents can spoil their grandkids in ways that parents can't. And in my experience, I was always in awe of my halmoni. She has so many stories, both her own and the ones she's collected. As a kid, and even now, hearing her talk feels like hearing the stories of a thousand lifetimes, all rolled into one.

What do you think Lily is doing as the present time?

Well, I'm pretty sure her best friend promised her some adventures at their new school. I hope she's giving those kids a run for their money.

ReadWonder

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