I unexpectedly lost my friend and My Heart and Other Black Holes was born out of that period of intense grief in my life. Why, after publishing two novels for teens, did you decide to switch to writing for middle grade readers?īefore I wrote My Heart and Other Black Holes, the things that I was working on were often whimsical middle grade stories. I was young and I don’t think I made the connection of why I liked those stories so much, but these stories about brave, creative girls made me think I could be, too. I was drawn to books with female characters who pushed against the standards that were being imposed by society. I read and reread From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Girl of the Limberlost, which my mom read aloud to me, was memorable. I also remember Anne of Green Gables and how real Anne felt to me, even though her life was so different than mine. I’m of the generation that grew up with Harry Potter and, while those books obviously don’t need a shout-out, I think that having a series that grew with me was such a singular experience that impacted me in countless ways.

Now that I get to write for young people, I have all these other answers about how interacting with young people today is so inspiring and that I believe every cliché about kids being our future, but the most honest answer is the selfish one: that I remember what books meant to me at that age and I’m hoping to replicate that experience for someone else.ĭo you recall any titles or authors you enjoyed that you feel influenced you? I was kind of a lonely, outcast kid and books were my friends, my refuge, and my window to the world. I don’t think I’ve ever loved books again in the way that I did as a young person.

I think it goes back to the fact that I was the most passionate and dedicated reader when I was younger.

What first brought you to writing for young readers? Warga spoke with PW about portraying Jude’s specific refugee story, the nuances in writing for a middle grade audience after writing for teens, and rewriting a prose novel in verse. Told in verse, Other Words for Home follows 12-year-old Syrian refugee Jude as she and her mother work to build a new home in Ohio while her father and brother are still in Syria. Jasmine Warga has previously published two emotionally resonant novels for teens and, with her middle grade debut, now brings her skill at writing insightful, timely stories to a younger audience.

Jasmine warga the shape of thunder