Blog - Caroline Starr Rose

Please tell us about Alone in the Woods.

Alone in the Woods is a realistic survival story about two former best friends forced to work together to stay alive after getting lost in a remote national forest during a rafting trip gone horribly wrong.They’ll face everything from biting blackflies to black bears, poison ivy to hypothermia—and will have to overcome their fractured friendship—if they want to make it out of the woods alive.

Your 2019 novel, The Disaster Days, was also a survival story that simultaneously dealt with a strained friendship. Can you talk about how you decided to write about these topics and why you think they pair so well?

When I first told a friend in the publishing industry about Alone in the Woods, she said, “You basically wrote a middle-grade episode of Naked and Afraid!” I hadn’t seen that reality show before, but after watching a few episodes, I realized she wasn’t wrong! Like the show, the book combines a survival experience—two girls stranded in a national forest, wearing swimsuits and beach footwear, and with only a few scant supplies in a backpack to help them survive the elements—with a lot of equally challenging interpersonal conflict. I hope in my book I’ve blended strong character development and a very universal friendship-breakup story with a realistic survival adventure that is all the more harrowing because of the emotional stakes.

Speaking of the “very universal friendship-breakup story”— I have never been lost in the woods, but I did go through a best-friendship breakup as a young teen. Years later, I turned that experience into the first manuscript I ever wrote. I couldn’t quite figure out how to make that book work (maybe the story was too close to my lived experience?), so I permanently shelved it and went on to write and publish my first four novels. Eventually, I realized elements of that manuscript could be incorporated into the wilderness survival story I was starting to write—because surviving a middle-school friendship breakup is in some ways as difficult and scary as being stranded in a remote national forest!

I think that’s a great example of persistence in the writing process and proof that no writing work is ever wasted: A manuscript I had put aside for ten years ended up giving me the heart of the book I was currently working on.

It’s evident you know (and love) the Wisconsin wilderness. Can you share a bit about how you chose this setting and the research that was involved in making it come to life?

I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and although I grew up in Madison, which is a mid-size city, I spent as much time as I could out in the woods and prairies and on the rivers and lakes. I was always fascinated by Wisconsin’s ecology, and like my main character, I did a lot of projects on Wisconsin’s plants and wildlife in school and for things like Science Olympiad.

I don’t live in Wisconsin right now, but I really miss it. I travel back every chance I get. And I had been waiting for the right book to set in my home state so I could spend more time there on the page. When I first started working on a “lost in the wilderness” concept for a middle-grade novel, I was thinking of perhaps slightly more dramatic settings: national parks, desert islands, mountain ranges, caves and canyons . . . Until my agent made the observation that it’s almost scarier to be lost somewhere closer to home, because of how relatable or realistic that is. That’s when I realized I had the perfect opportunity to set this novel in the Wisconsin Northwoods—and a bonus was I could use all those years of study and personal experience in the setting. So in some ways, this book became my love letter to my home state and its wonderful natural environments.

During one of my trips home while writing the book, I drove up to the Nicolet National Forest and scouted locations in my book and also did some hiking. I stopped by the ranger station in Lakewood and got updated information on the wildlife that was in the area—that was really helpful for plotting the dangers the girls face. I always find that time spent in my settings (when possible), has a big impact on creating a strong sense of place.

One of the things I appreciate about your books is their real, relevant portrayal of middle school. How do you work this magic?

Well, I think I might actually be the world’s oldest living tween? Seriously, though, the friendship breakup I personally experienced was a really formative experience, and even decades later, I remember the details—and emotions—of it so clearly. I did also look through some cringe-worthy old journals from that time while writing, which helped me connect with the middle-school experience, too.

For writers of contemporary MG fiction, it’s equally important to observe kids in middle school now. As a running coach for a group of girls, we’ve had some conversations about how social media affects their lives. That wasn’t something I really had to deal with as a kid. Some emotions and friendship dynamics are eternal, but technology and current events are always evolving, and they have a big impact on middle-school life, too.

Anything else you want to add related to Alone in the Woods that I’ve neglected to mention?

Some Wisconsinites who read early drafts pointed out to me that Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty never stops serving its famous sugar-sprinkled buttermilk doughnuts, no matter what time of day you roll in. So my characters’ anxiety that they might get there too late and miss them is a bit of fiction to create extra tension in the first chapter. I feel like I need to tell readers that so fellow doughnut lovers aren’t misled!

What’s next for you?

I had three middle-grade novels come out in the past three years, so I took a little break to refill the well after I turned in the final version of Alone in the Woods. (That’s an important part of the writing process, too!) But I’m working on a new manuscript now—hopefully I will be sharing more about that in the future.

Middle Grade Books Are Not About You and Me (With a Nod to Colby Sharp and Linda Urban)

23 Comments

I few weeks ago I shared a link to a blog post by teacher Colby Sharp. In it he talked about picking up a middle grade book and feeling like he’d seen it all before. Then he read these words by author Linda Urban:

Reviewers say: “Not *another* sad animal book!” or “Had my fill of theme X!” You are adults. You have been reading a long time.

— Linda Urban (@lindaurbanbooks) July 31, 2015

Colby went on to say “middle grade books are not about you and me” (in other words, the adults out there).

I’ve thought so much about Colby’s and Linda’s words these past few months. They’ve helped me solidify some of my ideas about children’s literature, actually. While I will always, always, always believe a good book is a good book for everyone, regardless of age (though not all books are for every reader, which is another discussion entirely), Linda has reminded me that children’s literature is first and foremost for children.

Of course I know this, but I think sometimes I bring an outside perspective (as both reader and writer) that doesn’t always serve the work best. Rather, this is where I’d like my focus to be:

If this book is for a young reader, what is it they’ll discover that will be meaningful and ring true?
What am I willing to say as an author that might feel trite or old news to the grow ups but could be new and important to young readers?
Am I willing as a reader not to have my needs met first when I am reading middle grade?

I’m curious what readers here think.

Classroom Connections: Digging for Words by Angela Burke Kunkel

3 Comments

age range: preschool – third grade
topics: the fictionalized story of Jose Alberto Gutierrez; book and library love
setting: Bogota, Colombia
Angela Burke Kunkel’s website
Educator’s Toolkit

The inspiring story of a man who believes in the power of books and the importance of community.
—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

An inviting and generous story that will be a pleasure to read aloud.
—School Library Journal, Starred Review

This amiable picture book offers children glimpses of Colombia as well as a role model who values books and enjoys sharing them with others…. Simultaneously published in a Spanish edition, Rescatando Palabras.
—Booklist

Please tell us about your book.

Sure! Digging for Words is based on the true story of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a Colombian garbage collector who started a library for the children of his neighborhood, completely from books found in the trash. Since then, he’s gone on to provide reading material to schools and organizations all across Colombia.

What inspired you to write this story?

Strangely enough, I saw a viral video of José’s library on Facebook of all places! In my work as a school librarian, one of the most important parts of my job is ensuring that all students have access to books regardless of a family’s socioeconomic status or other factors. José’s project is really about book access for all. Although Bogotá is a city of ten million people, there are only 19 public libraries— and there were none in José’s neighborhood until he opened his home and shared his collection of discarded books.

Could you share with readers how you conducted your research or share a few interesting tidbits you learned while researching?

After watching and re-watching (and re-watching!) that first video, it was important for me to go beyond social media and gather as much information about José and his library. In addition to coverage in English-language sources like the Associated Press and the BBC, it was important to use Google’s search feature in Spanish rather than English. This enabled me to find local Colombian news coverage from much earlier on, as well as a wider variety of interviews where José tells his story in his own words. I also researched life in Colombia, and re-read some novels that José says are foundational to him, including Gabriel García Marquéz’s One Hundred Years of Solitude and The Little Prince (you’ll see nods to these in Paola Escobar’s beautiful illustrations). Lastly, I was able to contact José with the help of a friend who lives part-time in Colombia. Once he read a Spanish translation of the manuscript and gave it his blessing, I felt like I could move ahead with querying the story.

What are some special challenges associated with fictionalizing a true story?

Well, after compiling so much research and during the revision process, I kept returning to that original video to remind myself what the heart of the story was. As much as it’s about José, it’s really about the positive impact that his library has on children. I wanted to show this impact— as well as the importance of reading during José’s own childhood, and all without being didactic— and so it was important to have an invented second character, the little boy in the book who also happens to be named José. It was really important to see that wonder of opening a book, that turning of the page, through a child’s eyes rather than an adult’s.

What topics does your book touch upon that would make it a perfect fit for the classroom?

I think students should know that access to books isn’t a given in every country, or even within every school or home in the U.S.! In addition to a read-aloud that emphasizes the importance and magic of reading, I also think that Digging for Words is about community activism— José saw a problem in his neighborhood and solved it. How could this empower students? What problems do they see in their own communities, and what ideas and solutions can they come up with?

Lastly, I want to make sure teachers know that there is an Educator’s Toolkit on my website, which includes the original video that inspired the story, a Spanish-language read aloud, activities, and several other picture book read-alikes that fit the themes mentioned above.

Thank you so much for having me, and happy reading! I hope teachers and students alike enjoy Digging for Words and getting to know both Josés.

Why We Read

1 Comment

I really do think that one of the things that reading can do for you is give you that habit of reaching out towards other minds and reaching out towards other hearts, and that is a really good habit to have. The more that you come to understand the diversity of experiences, and the range of personality types, and the ways in which our varying cultural backgrounds shape us, I think the more patient you become with other people. The less narrowly, rigidly judgmental you become.
— Alan Jacobs, from the Read-Aloud Revival Podcast

Will Verse Work for Your Story?

14 Comments

Amy sent me this message in 2010:

I was wondering something. Would you ever consider writing a blog post with tips for people writing novels in free verse? I know the best teacher is *reading* novels in verse (and I’m SO enjoying doing that — I’m reading Hugging the Rock that you recommended right now), but I wonder if you have any tips that you picked up along the way. I’m not writing a strictly verse novel, but every chapter starts with prose and ends in free verse (like The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson). From everything I’ve read, free verse is free, so there aren’t any rules, but I worry a lot that I’m doing it badly. If you have any tips, I’d appreciate hearing them, and if you feel like turning it into a blog post, I know it would benefit all of us wanna-bes. 🙂

Before I launch into what’s worked for me, remember the things I’ve mentioned before:

I read a grand total of two verse novels before writing my own and still have a lot of reading and learning to do
I’m no expert, but I know what has worked for me
remember poetry basics when attacking a verse novel

Here are some things to consider when writing verse novels:

Is the subject matter right for poetry?

Some topics lend themselves more easily to poetry than others. Some subjects refuse to be written as prose (this is how I stumbled into a verse novel). While many stories can and will work as poetry, ask yourself if this medium is the best way to tell your story. If not, I’d advise you to take another approach.

Is the protagonist right for poetry?

Often (though not always) verse novels are told from a very close first-person point of view. This can be really tricky, as such writing calls for a lot of introspection on the protagonist’s part and possibly a skewed vision of how the world works. If this isn’t your character, it’s best, in my opinion, to avoid verse.

Can you sustain the intensity required to write a novel this way?

Sometimes writing in verse feels really natural. Other times the close-to-the-bone nature of poetry is hard to sustain. I remember while writing MAY B. my critique group would often ask, “How are you able to keep this up? It would drive me crazy to write that way!”

If you are someone who can knock off thousands of words at one sitting, verse novels are going to hurt. Daily word counts will more realistically be in the hundreds. Entire novels usually top out at 25,000 words (MAY B. is 15,000).

Can each poem stand alone?

Each poem in a verse novel must capture one moment, scene, idea, mark of change in your character’s life. Poems should also be able to function separately from the rest of the story.

Does each poem contribute to the whole?

As I’ve mentioned before, I worked through MAY B. with a quilt in mind, treating each poem like its own square of fabric. Each patch had to be able to function separately while at the same time contribute to the whole. I trusted that if certain patterns and shades in my story quilt were repeated (think themes or story strands), eventually the interconnectedness would surface.

This approach is much more organic than sequential, which for some might feel intimidating. It doesn’t have to be! There’s a lot of freedom in this approach. Give yourself room to experiment and play.

And be sure to check out Amy’s verse novel, Red Butterfly, which she converted from prose. It published in 2015.

On Writing

3 Comments

Words — so innocent and powerless as they are standing in the dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.
— Nathaniel Hawthorne

Our children are watching and listening.

Reading and Writing Links

10 Things to See and Do in Prince Edward Island for L.M. Montgomery Fans

55 Comments

Because I’m on deadline without much time to spare, the next few weeks I’ll be running some posts from the past. This is one of the blog’s most popular and a personal favorite — a collection of photos from a trip to PEI the summer of 2016. It might seem a bit cruel to share this while we’re all mostly homebound, but I hope this glimpse into the world of Anne and Emily might instead be a welcome distraction!

My friend Jamie and I have dreamed about a Prince Edward Island adventure for years, so to see it finally come together this July was just plain magical. I flew to Connecticut and spent a day with her family (look at the gorgeous veggies those Martins grow!), and early the next morning Jamie and I jumped in a rental car and drove straight through to the Land of Maud.

You might remember I’m a tad obsessed with author L. M. Montgomery. I’ve read all of Maud’s novels, many multiple times. And I’ve committed to re-reading every ten years the journals she kept from the age of fourteen until her late sixties.

As we drove, we listened to the the last Anne book, Rilla of Ingleside, and the musical Hamilton. Jamie and I both agreed that though the trip was long, crossing the Canadian border and watching the gorgeous landscape grow more rural and hilly and somehow even more beautiful was the perfect introduction to PEI.

The island is rolling hillsides and lovely farms that run to red cliff beaches. We arrived at our rental — an nineteenth century farmhouse in South Rustico, PEI — during the sunlight’s golden hour.

There were four bedrooms to choose from. Look at mine!

Jamie and I spent the next day in Cavendish at Green Gables Heritage Place, which includes the home that inspired the setting for the Anne series. The home itself was owned by Maud’s cousins, the McNeills, and was was within walking distance of the Montgomery homestead.

It was a little strange knowing that while Anne Shirley was not a real girl, this house was set up to reflect her world. That red liquid in the cupboard is raspberry cordial — at least that’s what my imagination told me.

This was meant to represent Anne’s room. Less austere than the picture in my mind!

What’s fun is that Lover’s Lane and the Haunted Wood weren’t only places in the Anne books, they were very much a part of Maud’s real life. Here’s Lover’s Lane.

The Haunted Wood, just beyond this gate, led from the McNeill homestead to the Montgomery’s.

No house remains at the Montgomery homestead, but it’s not hard to picture young Maud’s love of nature developing on this land.

Maud’s childhood school (no longer standing) was near the Haunted Wood and within walking distance of her home. From its window she could see Cavendish Community Cemetery where her mother lay — and where Maud herself is now buried.

Here’s a sweet token we found alongside the grave.

That evening, we drove to Charlottetown and saw Anne and Gilbert: The Musical.

It’s a blend of Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island with a few liberties thrown in and was beyond fabulous. Jamie ended up downloading the music, which we listened to during the rest of our stay. Perhaps now that I’m back home, I’ve been known to break into “Mr. Blythe” while making dinner.

On our second day we drove to Lower Bedeque to visit the Leard House, where Maud boarded while teaching at the school across the road.

Fans of the journals and the recent Maud biography, The Gift of Wings, know this house well. While Maud lived here, she and the Leard son, Herman, had a secret romance. Both were engaged to other people. Eighteen months later, Herman died. Maud, who by then had broken her engagement and was living back at home, was distraught but could never truly mourn him as she would have if their relationship had been public. Doesn’t this remind you a bit of Una’s inability to fully grieve Walter’s death in Rilla?

The Leard House opened to tourists just a few weeks before we arrived. Visitors can walk through the upstairs room where Maud boarded and eventually will be able to spend the night there. The downstairs has been converted into the Fable Tea Room.

I might have been a little silly about the whole Leard House thing. Evidently, when we arrived, I told the woman who answered the door, “We’re here for Herman,” which entertained Jamie to no end.

Here’s Maud’s room.

And here I am, ridiculously posing with Herman. (At Jamie’s suggestion! I claim no responsibility for this!)

Downstairs we pored over old copies of Kindred Spirits magazine while eating an amazing lunch (I recommend the lobster roll).

Oh, Maud. You certainly did have a lively time in Bedeque!

The Fable Tea Room tables were covered with various pages from Anne books.

The Lower Bedeque Schoolhouse was a couple hundred yards down the road. Our tour guide was a charming college student who was working his way through the journals himself.

On our way back to Rustico, we stopped in Clifton / New London at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace museum.

That evening we had dinner at Dalvay by the Sea, which was the White Sands Hotel in the Anne of Green Gables movie.

As we were leaving, Jamie and I pulled off the road to capture one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen.

On our last day we visited Park Corner, a 110-acre farm which belonged to Maud’s cousins, the Campbells, and the place she felt most at home. While the Campbells still live here, the house is also open to the public as the Anne of Green Gables Museum.

Park Corner served as inspiration for The Story Girl and the Pat of Silver Bush books. If I remember correctly from the journals, it’s Maud who first referred to the Campbells’ house as Silver Bush.

We took a carriage ride past the real Lake of Shining Waters and down to the shore.

Maud was married at Park Corner next to this mantle, where avid fans sometimes hold their own weddings!

After Park Corner, we stopped at the Blue Winds Tearoom, where we were welcomed by this beautiful tangle of flowers.

The building has no direct Anne or Maud connection, but Terry, the owner, is a true Anne expert. She moved to PEI from Japan many years ago because of her love for the series. I recommend trying the New Moon Pudding, which is a recipe found in Maud’s journals and is similar to lemon meringue pie.

From there, Jamie and I visited the Cape Tyron Lighthouse, where the model for the lighthouse in Anne’s House of Dreams once stood. This new lighthouse doesn’t have a lightkeeper’s quarters as the first one did, but it’s easy to imagine Captain Jim there.

I was in the midst of third-round edits for Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine while on our trip and worked throughout our stay in this sweet room at “our” farmhouse.

On our final morning, we packed up our things and waved goodbye to our dear temporary home. Until next time, Prince Edward Island!

Thank you to Prince Edward Island Tourism for making our trip extra special.

« Previous Page

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: