I think that’s important for me to try.Īnd then I’m finishing up a revision of a very tricky picture book that I’ve been working on for years now. If I can pull it off, this will be my first novel without any magic in it. That one is about a girl who is very very lonely, and makes a complicated new friend over summer break. LS: Well, there’s the diary I mentioned, and also another middle grade novel. KC: What new projects are you working on?

It’s brought me back to writing in a more personal way, I think. I was pretty frustrated as a writer, when I began it, and it’s healed something. That said, Orphan Island feels pretty special to me right now. LS: I always tell kids that my favorite book has to be the next book, or I won’t be excited enough to write it, since writing is HARD. KC: Oh! I can’t wait to delve into Abigail’s life! What is your favorite book that you’ve written? I’m just at the beginning stage, outlining and making notes, but if it works out, it will be a journal, from the early days of the island. I am, however, fiddling with another book set in this world. It seems to me that when Jinny lands her boat, she’ll sort of be on the “other side” of coming-of-age.

I’m puzzling over how I might follow up Orphan Island, and still keep the story a middle-grade book. KC: Do you have a sequel in the works? (I hope so!) I loved the idea of mixing the mystery and allegory of The Little Prince with the survivalist and adult-free setting. Somehow, those books mingled in my head, and the island was born. We talked about the more mysterious elements of the book, and the difficult ending… Then, shortly after that, we read My Side of the Mountain, and my sons were enthralled with the idea of living off the land, all by themselves, without grownups. Laurel Snyder: This book started after reading at night with my kids, a few years back! First we finished The Little Prince, and it led to some really interesting conversations, different from any we’d had before. Kirsti Call: My kids and I love Orphan Island. I’m thrilled to welcome Laurel Snyder to Writer’s Rumpus so she can answer some of my unanswered questions! The book is beautifully written, compelling and thought provoking.

Her conflicted feelings about growing up and the magical consequences of her decisions are poignant and moving. The magical island of childhood is all Jinny knows. The magical realism of this book accurately portrays childhood and the confusing feelings of growing up. She’s grown up on a magical Island that she doesn’t want to leave, even when it’s her turn to take the boat. Jinny is a likable yet flawed main character with a problem.

Orphan island by laurel snyder