An Inside Look with E.L. Shen
*Season #SIX (Summer 2019)
How did you come to know Maxine?
Maxine is a combination of the person I was when I was twelve and the girl I wanted to be. I used to figure skate, but I wasn’t nearly as awesome at it as Maxine is. I also made a comeback list when I was a kid . . . let’s say the results were just as interesting as they are in the book (you’ll have to read to find out!). Once I started writing, Maxine really took on a life of her own. She is spunky, smart, vulnerable, stubborn, and determined, and I love how she’s flown on the ice and on the page.
What do you think is her most admirable quality?
Definitely her determination and passion! It takes a lot of grit to get on the ice every morning at 5 AM and then practice again after school. She really wants to fulfill her dreams even thought she understands that they may not all be possible.
Is there anything you wish Maxine would have changed or done differently in her story?
I wish she would have asked for help from her parents sooner when she was dealing with Alex’s bullying. At the same time, I understand the vulnerability that comes with telling your family scary or unhappy things. I’m glad Maxine eventually found her way through it!
What do you think she can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?
Maxine would want you to know that you always have a support system — your teachers, parents, friends, coaches, and neighbors (to name a few!) . . . even if you don’t talk to them every day, you can still lean on them when you’re in difficult situations. You are never alone.
How did you research Maxine and the circumstances she found himself in?
Regarding the bullying, a lot of that is unfortunately from personal experience. And in terms of figure skating, I remembered the moves from my skating days (and I also casually take lessons now!). I also asked one of my good friends who is a figure skating coach to read through the manuscript and make sure every detail was accurate.
What was the hardest scene to write about her?
Definitely when she and her parents have a heart-to-heart towards the end of the book. It was so tough because I felt so badly for her parents, who struggled to give Maxine the typical “American” life, and didn’t want to see her suffer. And I also wanted to hug poor Maxine who was just trying to be strong in the face of relentless bullying. The love that Maxine and her parents have for each other is the kind of love I hope all kids have with their families.
Who do you think was Maxine’s biggest supporter and why?
Her mom and dad! :)
What do you think she is doing as the present time?
Maxine is definitely still skating, eating tons of brownies, and hoping that one day, she’ll make it to the Olympics.
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment