There are ups and downs, humor even in the midst of grueling situations - in fact, it’s probably most necessary then, in order to get through particularly rough times. In my mind, laughter is a part of everyday life. How did humor help you tell this story better? I wondered how a child on the autism spectrum could understand or cope with such a tragedy, and that’s when I decided the book would open after Caitlin had lost her brother in a similar event. It was appalling, and really had me struggling to figure out how to explain it to my children. I wanted to write a book about a child with Asperger’s, and I was writing it, the Virginia Tech event occurred in 2007. How did Caitlin’s story – the tale of a girl with Asperger’s Syndrome-intersect with your original idea? Why did you decide to connect them? But it also explores the world of children who live outside the typical mold. This novel certainly explores the many paths of grief and healing following school violence. You have said that this novel was influenced by the violent events at Virginia Tech University. It’s also great that she can approach things very logically and sometimes without too much emotion - a skill that a lot of people with Asperger’s have. And she’s brave, forcing herself to do things that are out of her comfort zone, even if they seem quite simple to the rest of us. What, in your opinion, makes Caitlin a strong girl, a heroine? What does she offer your readers? Other than that, I just got into character and dove right in. I also had people read my manuscript who have Asperger’s or work on a daily basis with those on the austism spectrum. I needed to do a lot of research because, although I know people and even live with someone with Asperger’s, I wanted to be as authentic as possible. What were the challenges of writing a novel from the point of view of Caitlin? I had the opportunity to ask Kathy about the way life events intersect with art, about her own book recommendations, and of course, about strong girls. What always stands out to me about her work is that she weaves humor, depth, and kindness together to create books that matter. I’m blessed with the opportunity to run into Kathy from time to time, since she lives here in Virginia, too. Kathy Erskine is the winner of the 2010 National Book Award for her middle grade novel, Mockingbird.

Soar, Elinor! by Tami Lewis Brown