Hello! I'm Afoma.
  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Middle-Grade Book Reviews
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Books
    • Middle Grade Books
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobooks
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Review & Promotion Policy
    • School Visits
  • 2024 releases

Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Middle-Grade Book Reviews
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Books
    • Middle Grade Books
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobooks
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Review & Promotion Policy
    • School Visits
  • 2024 releases

Author Interviews · January 14, 2021

Author E.L. Shen on The Comeback, Ice-Skating, and Supportive Friendships

E.L. Shen is the author of The Comeback, a vibrant middle-grade novel about a young ice skater with a lot of passion. I spoke to E.L. about her debut middle-grade book, ice-skating, writing an emotionally honest novel, and handling racism, microaggressions and macroaggressions on the page. I enjoyed this interview just as much as I did her book.


e.l. shen author interview

Hi E.L! I’m so happy to be chatting with you about your debut middle-grade novel, The Comeback! I really enjoyed reading it. Why did you decide to write a book about figure skating?

I’m so excited to be chatting with you, too! I’ve loved figure skating since childhood; when I was in fourth grade, I watched the movie, Ice Princess, and decided that I was going to become an Olympic figure skater. Spoiler alert, that did not happen (ha). But I did train for several years which gave me a foundation in the sport and allowed me to dive deeper into the world of competitive skating. Now, I skate casually (I’m just getting back into lessons again) and watch religiously. During the 2018 Olympics, I was constantly talking about figure skating to anyone who would listen. A brilliant editor, Wes Adams, overheard me and chatted with me about my background in skating. He floated this great idea that I should write a figure skating novel for children while weaving in middle school drama and antics. So I tried my hand at it, and fell in love with Maxine and her story. The rest is history! 

Maxine is a vibrant, insightful girl who is truly passionate about being on the ice. I loved the way she and her parents handled her ice skating and the mixed bag of emotions being in a competitive sport can stir up. Why was it important for you to show Maxine dealing with the jealousy, anxiety, and more of performing — as well as her parents being supportive in every way?

I wanted Maxine to be as authentic of a character as possible, and I think all those feelings — jealousy, insecurity, pressure, performance anxiety — come with the territory of figure skating, and really any activity that tweens and teens do outside of their traditional academic schedules. I also hoped to show the work behind those exquisite, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it programs that you see skaters perform on television. There’s an incredible amount of detail, stress, and love that go into each millisecond of their performances. With all these moving parts, it was important to me that Maxine’s parents were supportive of her dreams while also realistic about her time and energy. They were the strongholds as Maxine blossomed into a more confident skater and person.

I really liked seeing the difference between Maxine and Hollie’s feelings about skating and I enjoyed their friendship. Did you have any friendships that inspired theirs?

Yes! The comeback list that Maxine and Hollie created was actually directly inspired by a list that I made with my friends in elementary and middle school. I even forced my friends to insult me so I could practice my comebacks on the spot. (As you might expect, they were not thrilled about this activity.) I view Hollie and Maxine as yin and yang; Maxine is spunky and loud while Hollie is more introspective and imaginative. One of my best friends and I have a similar dynamic. When she’s feeling down, I lift her spirits and when I’m upset, she reels me in. I like to imagine that as Maxine and Hollie grow older, they’ll continue to lean on each other in the same way. 

A huge part of this story is the racism Maxine endures, especially the bullying because of her monolids. It broke my heart to read about that and to see how tough it was to speak up about it. Why did you want to write about that?

Racism and bullying, however subtle, are things almost all children of color experience. My goal was to gently depict these experiences while shedding light on their impact. There are no easy solutions to micro and macro aggressions but I hope that readers come away realizing that they always have teachers, friends, and loved ones they can turn to when they need help. 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Ice skate, of course! Haha. But I also love singing opera and musical theater, performing in community theater productions (when the pandemic is not occurring), baking, listening to every narrative podcast under the sun, and binge-watching murder mystery shows with my family. 

Which wonderful middle-grade and adult books have you read recently?

So. Many. I absolutely adore Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina and shed many tears while reading Emily X.R. Pan’s exquisite novel, The Astonishing Color of After. In the adult space, I am *obsessed* with If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha. And Know My Name by Chanel Miller was a powerful and unforgettable read. 

Can you share anything about your next project? Will it be another middle-grade novel?

I’m working on a young adult manuscript right now about three Asian American best friends and one life-changing, New York summer. I am also hoping to write more middle-grade and constantly have ideas scribbled down in my Notes app that I aim to one day bring to life!

What do you hope readers take away from reading The Comeback?

Joy, love, and the inspiration to follow their own dreams. <3 

Thank you so much for your time!


Pre-Order The Comeback

the comeback - e.l. shen

About E.L. Shen

e.l. shen author interview

E. L. Shen is a writer and editor living in Manhattan. Her debut middle grade novel, The Comeback, will be published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group) in January 2021.

Read more author interviews:

  • Jessica Kim on Stand Up, Yumi Chung
  • Janae Marks on From the Desk of Zoe Washington
  • L.A. Estabrook on Esme Zur

Don't Forget to Share!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn

Related

Posted In: Author Interviews · Tagged: author interviews

About the Author

Afoma Umesi is the founder and blogger at Reading Middle Grade. She's a writer and editor with a deep love for children's literature. Her favorite genre is contemporary realistic fiction, but she'll never say no to a graphic novel. Read More…

Join My Newsletter

Like what you just read? Sign up for my Friday kidlit newsletter!

Privacy Policy

You’ll Also Love

Jaime Berry on Hope Springs
Kristin Mahoney on Elfie Unperfect (+ Giveaway!)
Rochelle Melander on Mightier Than The Sword (+ Giveaway!)

What do you think? Leave a commentCancel reply

Next Post >

Review | 365 Days to Alaska (Giveaway Closed)

About Me
Hi, I'm Afoma! Thank you for stopping by. Learn more about me here.

a group for kid lit lovers

reading middle grade facebook group

Buy Let There Be Light: A Diwali Story

cover image of let there be light

Follow on Bloglovin’

Follow

We’re Social Too!

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Stock photos courtesy of our partners at DepositPhotos 📸

Find me on Instagram

whatafomareads

📚 Sharing the best middle grade (and adult) book recommendations
💌 [email protected]
🚫No publicity related DMs, please email 💜

Afoma
🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fa 🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fans

If you’ve been looking for more high-stakes mysteries for tweens, let me introduce you to THE WINTERTON DECEPTION! Meet 13-year-old twins Hope and Gordon. They’ve just found out that their dad was Brandon Winterton (of the wealthy dictionary magnate family). Unfortunately, Hope can’t stand rich people, especially since the twins and their mom are barely making ends meet and living in a motel. But their fortune is about to change.

When Gordon enters the family into the Winterton Bee, they’re thrust into into the midst of family’s secrets, with a deadly enemy, and a scavenger hunt set up by the family’s dead matriarch. 

This is a fast-paced mystery with plenty to gnaw on between the twin relationship, family drama, character development, and flashbacks that help readers learn more about the Winterton family.

So happy that more and more mysteries are coming out for readers in the 6th-8th grades. This one does touch a bit on addiction and there’s a scene where the kids’ lives are in danger but all ends well!

It’s out at the end of October! 🤩

#mysteriesforkids #middlegradebooks #bookstagram
👯‍♀️ TWINS in middle grade literature 💕 

I love seeing more twins in middle grade books. For a long time, the only twins I knew in middle grade lit were the Sweet Valley High girlies. Then, I got a glimpse of twin life with Issa and Jessie in @karinaisreadingandwriting’s THE VANDERBEEKERS. 

Since then, we’ve seen more depictions of twins, including Varian Johnson’s TWINS (a graphic novel about twin sisters Francine and Maureen entering 6th grade), MIRROR TO MIRROR by Rajani LaRocca, and Hope and Gordon in THE WINTERTON DECEPTION (review to come)!

And of course, these two books, TWIN CITIES and SAVING SUNSHINE (which I just started and am loving)! While these stories will appeal to twins, I think everyone who’s ever been curious about twins will love getting a glimpse into what life feels like as one half of a whole. 

Which middle grade twin stories have you read and loved? 😍 

#middlegrade #twinbooks #mglit #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks
📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the 📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the truth 

This stunning graphic novel follows Cinzia, Avvisi writer’s apprentice living in sunny Sianerra. Cinzia and her mestra write news stories/pamphlets to the city, but not everyone likes when they tell the truth. 

After an edition exposing the ruling family for extortion, cinzia and her mestra are arrested at night and she has to join forces with the princess to fight back against censorship. 

Besides the wonderfully imaginative and powerful storyline, loved the visuals and the diversity representation in this graphic novel. The main character has a bad leg and gets around with a walking stick, which is something rarely depicted in graphic novels (and it’s barely even discussed—it just is!).

Although, this book is closer to fantasy (but without magical elements), it’s set in a Renaissance-style Italian village, so it could work for lovers of realistic fiction too.

Look out for it in November! Have you read this graphic novel? Thoughts? Is it on your radar already?

#graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites 🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites

Looking for an upper middle grade book about ballet, friendships, and body image? Meet TURNING POINT. 

This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)’s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church “friends”) feeling like she has no life.

At the ballet intensive, Mo comes face to face with her competitive attitude which is fueled by feelings of not “fitting in” with the mostly white, skinny ballet dancers. Even though she makes a couple of friends (who basically lovingly force her to befriend them), she’s insecure at times, afraid to be vulnerable because everything feels so different. On the other hand, Sheeda is desperate for something new. Unfortunately, she falls into a risky situation with Mo’s brother whom she happens to have a crush on.

Paula Chase is one of my favorite writers for this audience and this may be my favorite of hers so far. It’s in the same universe as two of her previous books, DOUGH BOYS and SO DONE but you don’t need to read them in order. 

I’d say her books are great for kids ages 12+
Have you read any books by this author? Which ones are your favorites?

#booksbooksbooks #mglit #bookstagram
🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides I’d seen this b 🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides

I’d seen this book floating around for ages but was never drawn to it (the cover maybe?) until I saw a review somewhere I can’t remember 🤪 I was pleasantly surprised!

Twins Luisa and Fernando find their paths diverging as they’re entering sixth grade. Luisa will be attending middle school in the US just across the border from Fernando’s school in Mexico. There, they come to face to face with different, but equally pressing challenges that threaten to tear them apart.

I really enjoyed this book. The side by side depictions of both kids parallel lives, the way the illustrations celebrate Mexican culture, living, and traditions, and the heartwarming way the twins find their way back to each other. 

I’d recommend this one to 6th graders and up (heads up for content warning: text mentions and depicts illicit drug use by a minor, although portrayed in a negative light) as a fascinating look into Mexican culture, life as a twin, and finding your own identity.

#kidlit #graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man An ♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man

Ant isn’t your average 10 year old. He loves a good game of spades and he and his best friend are planning to revamp their reputation after losing badly at the last spades tournament. But things are changing in Ant’s life. His dad is acting weird, asking him to hide things from his mom. There’s a new girl in class who Ant maybe likes and who plays spades better than many boys he knows. 

When his best friend is grounded, Ant teams up with Shirley, hoping to impress his father and finally be tough like Joplin men should be. But instead, he learns what it really means to be a man—and it’s not about never crying.

There’s SO MUCH going on in this story, but the author does a stunning job of keeping all the threads in place. I was very surprised by all the protagonist has to manage at his age and the fact that it all remains believable. The story is told by Ant’s ancestor, lending a touch of magic realism. There are also many details about playing a game of spades and I loved, loved the audiobook narrator.

If you’re looking for a meatier middle grade book perfect for kids ages 9-12 (and older, really—love the cover!) looking for books that balance levity and relatability with real issues like toxic masculinity, parental addiction, friendship issues, and crushes.

#mglit #middlegrade #middlegradebookies #kidlit #booksforkids
❤️ a protagonist for the times Willow (Lolo) ❤️ a protagonist for the times

Willow (Lolo) Weaver’s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn’t herself and she’s given away her grandfather’s foster dog, Hank. Lolo’s mother is heavily pregnant and Lolo is in summer school because she didn’t do too well in her last exams. On top of that their lake town isn’t a lake town anymore because the lake’s been drained and smells awful now. 

Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better and she’s convinced that getting back her grandfather’s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop’s boat to steal Hank back—only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who’s the new dog owner).

I really enjoyed Lolo’s story. It’s strongly reminiscent of classics like Ramona and Lolo’s voice leaps off the pages. The setting is also an unmistakable part of this story and the story feels drenched in summer. My heart went out to Lolo who always feels like she’s the reason why everything’s gone awry. I also laughed plenty at her way of seeing the world. 

This book is perfect for family readalouds especially for kids in grades 3-5. Dog lovers and kids who like a good adventure with a sprinkle of mischief will love it too.

#mglit #summerbooks #booksforelementaryschoolkids #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram
🎸 believe the hype I was very nervous about re 🎸 believe the hype

I was very nervous about reading a book about a kid with cancer, but there’s no better author than Rob Harrell to do this. 

When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it?

As heavy as everything I’ve mentioned above sounds, this book is more hopeful than anything else. We follow Ross through radiotherapy and the painful, sad side effects of cancer medications, but also through learning to play the guitar, an unlikely friendship with a school bully, and a closer relationship with his dad.

I especially loved the audiobook version which has fun interdissions featuring Will’s comic alter-ego BatPig (with a different narrator, background jingles and everything). 

I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up looking for funny books with male protagonists. It’s also a great one to hand to kids coping with cancer or chronic illnesses. 

If you’re in the WINK fan club, you just got a new member 😉

#mglit #books #bookstagram
Load More Follow on Instagram
  • Blog
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Reading Middle Grade · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...