An Inside Look with Natalie Lloyd
*Season #SIX (Summer 2019)
How did you come to know Olive?
I know I’m ready to tell a story when I can picture the character and setting coming together. Both of those elements settled into my heart quickly for Hummingbird. At first, I was a little surprised that Olive looked like me — by which I mean: she has the same physical disability that I do. We both share a brittle bone disease called osteogenesis imperfecta. Like Olive, I used a wheelchair or walker in school (and now, if I’m recovering from a broken bone). That’s only one part of her story though. I spent lots of time getting to know her personality. Olive describes herself as “whole constellations of wonders and weirdness and hope.” That made her fun to write!
When I realized her disability, like mine, would actually be a big part of the story, I spent some time thinking about how my disability defined (or didn’t define) my middle school experience. Every revision helped me peel back the layers of my heart a little bit more, and that helped me see Olive’s heart, too.
What do you think is her most admirable quality?
Even before she hears the story of the hummingbird, Olive has a knack for finding magic in her everyday world. She’s looking for the good in a day, and the good in people — and that’s a trait I see in young readers I meet, too. I also love that she’s a deeply caring individual. Her first impressions aren’t always accurate, but as her story goes on she really tries to get to know people for who they are and not just who she assumes they are.
Is there anything you wish she would have changed or done differently in her story?
There’s this little nudge inside me to keep my characters safe — no embarrassing moments, or tough times, or hard decisions. Sometimes I tend to lean in a little too hard to the magic and leave out the real life struggles. But there’s no story without the struggles. Olive asks some really hard questions in the book, and I love her for doing it. It made me braver about asking hard questions, too.
What do you think Olive can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?
First, Olive is starting a new school. She’s waiting so long to find her one, true best friend and kind of hopes it will just happen. But it takes some time. That can be a painful and lonely space, when you’re waiting to find your people. I hope readers who are in that same place know nothing is “wrong” with them if they haven’t found their friends yet. It just takes time. They’re out there!
Second, disability is an individual experience, and I can only speak to my own. But one element of Olive’s story that I would have related to as a young reader (and now!) Is that you sometimes have to push yourself into spaces that aren’t made for you. And that can be really uncomfortable. The school she attends was, in some ways, total wish fulfillment for me. It’s very accessible ... except for this old theater (the place she’s most excited about). Olive is advocating for herself there, kind of for the first time, and it gets uncomfortable for her. I’m grateful for the teachers and adults in my life who helped me learn to do that as I moved through the world. As a disabled reader, I also think it’s cool to see disabled characters in books living their lives, and doing their thing. Whether or not their disability is a source of conflict in the story, the representation matters to me.
Do you and Olive share any similarities?
I don’t know if this is the similarity you wanted me to unpack, but we both love Dolly Parton! (Who doesn’t, right?!) We love good stories, people, and animals. And we’re both a little quirky. Olive loves glitter and bedazzles her name on the back of her wheelchair in sequins. I didn’t do that with my chair. (I blew all my allowance money on Hello Kitty stationery — I could never save up for a Bedazzler.) But we both love sparkle. And we love people who aren't afraid to sparkle.
What was the hardest scene to write about her?
Without giving any spoilers, a chapter called “The Roar in Me” was the hardest chapter I’ve ever written in a book. It wasn’t hard because of structure. I think it all came together pretty quickly. But it was hard to write because Olive is in pain, and she’s embarrassed because people see that pain. It’s a moment of raw vulnerability that I’ve experienced, and it’s very difficult — in real life and on the page.
Who do you think was her biggest supporter and why?
I think Olive’s biggest supporters are her parents. Even when she’s pressing them for more freedom and independence, they’re still on her side. They want that for her as much as she does. But they’re all navigating this new world with the information they have, and that can be tough. Even then, they’re supporting her as she figures out how to live her best life. My parents were incredible this way, too. I was in middle school in the late 80’s/early 90s. And I’ve marveled at the fact that my parents had no internet or Facebook or anything like that to google stuff about my disability. Or about how to make a smooth school experience. They worked with my teachers, and me, to help me feel as safe and supported as possible in a classroom. I never realized the vast amount of work that went into that until I was an adult. But I am so grateful.
Why do you think some young people are able to embrace their true self, stand out from others, and celebrate their uniqueness; while others shy away from their differences and try to “blend” in?
That’s a great question! As a not-as-young person, I still feel pulled between both extremes! And I wonder if it’s because we’re always becoming. No matter how old we get, we’re always figuring out who we are. I’ll quote Emily Dickinson here (one of Olive’s favorite writers) and say “we dwell in possibility.”
Olive has this real back and forth in the book about blending in vs. standing out — and I remember feeling that. That still tracks for me. One of my favorite Dolly Parton quotes is, “it’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.” I think we’re all diamonds, always figuring out how to adjust our shine for the space we’re in. Whether young readers crave a spotlight or a backseat (or both!), my hope is that they feel safe being exactly who they are. That they don’t have to hide who they are. I love the way the kid lit community is determined to make books readers can see themselves inside. I think seeing ourselves in a book makes us all a little braver about the life we live - the stories we live - outside the pages.
What do you think Olive is doing at the present time?
I think Olive is headed home from school with Hatch and Coach Mo. She’s excited because Grace is coming over later (after a dog house delivery). They’re going to have a Blumebird Society Meeting and induct Dylan as an official member. After that, they’ll make brownies and watch a movie together. It’s Olive’s favorite kind of day - a joy-kaboom kind of day - because she’s with people she loves.
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/Spring 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)
Interview #202 with Rebecca Caprara (Author of Worst-Case Collin)
Interview #203 with Leslie Connor (Author of Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?)
Interview #204 with Caroline Gertler (Author of Many Points of Me)
Interview #205 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of Susie B. Won't Back Down)
Interview #206 with Shawn Peters (Author of The Unforgettable Logan Foster)
Interview #207 with Aisha Saeed (Author of Omar Rising)
Interview #208 with Adrianna Cuevas (Author of Cuba in my Pocket)
Interview #209 with Jennifer Swender (Author of Stuck)
Interview #210 with Brenda Woods (Author of When Winter Robeson Came)
Interview #211 with Danya Lorentz (Author of the Book Of a Feather)
Interview #212 with Saadia Faruqi (Author of Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero)
Interview #213 with Ellen Hopkins (Author of What About Will)
SEASON #THIRTEEN (Summer 2022)
Interview #214 with Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner (Authors of What About the Octopus)
Interview #215 with Lauren Wolk (Author of My Own Lightning)
Interview #216 with Rebekah Lowell (Author of the Road to After)
Interview #217 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Honestly Elliott)
Interview #218 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Midnight Children)
Interview #219 with Melanie Conklin (Author of A Perfect Mistake)
Interview #220 with Kyle Lukoff (Author of Different Kinds of Fruit)
Interview #221 with Tracy Edward Wymer (Author of The Great and Mighty Benjamin Teller)
Interview #222 with Louise Hawes (Author of Big Rig)
Interview #223 with Paul Acampora (Author of In Honor of Broken Things)
Interview #224 with Shannon Doleski (Author of Gabe in the After)
