Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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Classroom Connections: Audacity Jones to the Rescue by Kirby Larson

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age range: 9-12 years
genre: historical fiction; mystery
Kirby Larson’s website

First in a series, Larson’s thriller deftly mixes humor, heart-pounding moments, and a strongly evoked historical setting-it’s truly a story with something for everyone.
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Newbery Honor author Larson’s series starter is just the ticket for readers who crave adventure and mystery as much as 11-year-old Audacity Jones, an intrepid, well-read, positive-minded orphan. . .[the] story’s themes of trust, friendship, and good manners will resonate with many. Audacity’s charm and smarts make this historical adventure a winner.
— Booklist, starred review

Larson infuses her romp with plenty of humor…Clever, funny, and sweet in equal measures.
—Kirkus Reviews

Readers will cheer Audacity’s ingenuity and bravery as they relish every moment of her adventures. Highly recommended.
—School Library Journal

Amazon Best Historical Fiction for Kids
Amazon Best Book of the Year

For years, Kirby Larson has tirelessly championed authors and their books through interviews on her blog and later on Instagram. It is such a pleasure to be able to return the favor today!

Kirby, please tell us about your book.

AUDACITY JONES TO THE RESCUE combines my love of mysteries with my love of history. It tells the story of an adventurous 11-year-old orphan who, with the help of a rag tag group of friends, thwarts a plan to kidnap President Taft’s niece.

What inspired you to write this story?

Audacity herself! I was minding my own business working hard on the first novel for the Dogs of WWII series, DUKE, when a character tapped on my shoulder. She explained she was an 11-year-old orphan and that, like me, she loved to read adventure stories but what she really wanted was to go on an adventure. I explained politely that I was busy at work on another book and that she should please go away. She did not. In fact, she kept pestering me until I had to set DUKE aside to write twelve pages about her. Her insistence led me to name her Audacity.

The character and setting came together rather quickly but I did not have the key element of a novel – the problem. Luckily, I love reading old newspapers which is where I stumbled on an article from January 1911 reporting that President Taft’s 12-year-old niece Dorothy had been kidnapped. It turned out there was no kidnapping, merely a mix-up over train schedules. But the seed was planted. I was certain that had Dorothy been kidnapped, Audie surely would’ve been the one to rescue her.

Could you share with readers how you conducted your research and / or share a few interesting tidbits about your writing process with this book? (You can re-write to suit your work.)

I am an avid researcher. Give me a dusty old archive and I am one happy writer! For this book, I sought out a recipe for President Taft’s favorite soup (turtle!); I dug up the memoir of the White House housekeeper; I flipped through pages of old photos, letters, maps, and newspaper articles. It is extremely important to me to get as much information as possible so I can move my characters around the stage of their world in a confident and believable manner.

When I wrote my first historical novel, HATTIE BIG SKY, there weren’t as many digitized materials as there are today. I had to travel to Montana (several times) to get the information I needed. With AUDACITY JONES TO THE RESCUE, I could get much of what I wanted from the comfort of my office, but I did travel to DC to spend a few days at the Historical Society there, as well as other places. 

The funniest thing that happened while working on this book was the reply I received to my request for blueprints of the White House basement. It was briskly explained to me that such materials are not made available! I can only imagine what list I’m on now for asking that question as I did not think to clarify that I was looking for plans from 1910.  

What are some special challenges associated with writing historical fiction?

One of the reasons I spend so much time conducting research is that I feel a huge responsibility to my young readers; I can’t let them down. And I believe that if I am knowledgeable about a past time and place, my readers will sense that and feel comfortable going along with my character on her journey. That being said, I have a trusted friend read my early drafts because I don’t want to bore my reader with each and every fascinating detail I’ve uncovered! I try very hard to remind myself that I am a storyteller first and foremost, not a textbook writer. No matter the genre, a writer can generally engage a reader by creating an intriguing character and giving her a larger-than-life problem to wrestle with. I’ve also learned that by including a cat (Miniver, in Audie’s case) or a dog (in the case of the Dogs of WWII series), I can hook a history-averse reader into reading one of my books.

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

Though I think of Audie’s story as a romp – a book to read for a rollicking good time – it’s a great fit for classrooms because it takes readers back to our nation’s capital in the early part of the 20th century. There is not only information about the city at that time, there’s information about the White House and those who worked there. I can imagine that the story would provoke discussion about what kind of information to trust, how things have changed for children and other groups since 1910, and it may even correct some myths about President Taft who, according to my research, never did get stuck in a bathtub.

Be sure to look for the sequel, Audacity Jones Steals the Show.

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Filed Under: authors, books and reading, classroom connections, historical fiction, teaching, the writing life

Mark your calendars! A MIRACULOUS Reading.

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My 2022 middle grade novel, MIRACULOUS, came out last summer at a time where bookstores in New Mexico still weren’t open for in-person events. Finally, finally I’ve got the chance to properly launch my book (nine months after publication).

If you are in the Albuquerque area, I would love to see you on Saturday, April 29 at 11:00am at Albuquerque’s newest bookstore, Books on the Bosque (6261 Riverside Plaza 87120). If you’re not in New Mexico but have a friend who might be interested, please pass this on.

MIRACULOUS is the story of a charlatan’s boy and his eventual understanding that the “doctor” he works for isn’t all that he seems. It’s set in Ohio in the 1880s, is told in five voices (or six if you count the one chapter in the dog’s point of view), and is a really cool mystery, if I do say so myself. Kirkus Reviews called it “a deliciously sinister read”. Publisher’s Weekly called it a “historical thriller” and “chilling adventure.”

Come help me celebrate! I’d love to see you there.

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Filed Under: books and reading, historical fiction, Miraculous, publication

Straight from the Source: Anna Rose Johnson on Writing Historical Fiction

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Storytelling has always been a part of Anna Rose Johnson’s life—especially timeless tales tinged with vintage charm. She grew up fascinated by the early 20th century and now writes historical middle grade novels that reflect her love of classic children’s literature. A member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Anna Rose enjoys exploring her heritage through her stories, including her debut middle grade novel The Star That Always Stays (Holiday House), which was named an NPR Best Book of 2022, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and a 2023 Michigan Notable Book. 

What typically comes first for you: a character? An era? A story idea? How do you proceed from there?

It really depends on the project, but often it’s a certain storyline, and I look for the historical era that best suits those setting and characters. I settled on 1953 for a recent work in progress because I wanted it to be not long after rationing ended in war-torn England, but it couldn’t be immediately after the war.

What kinds of sources do you use?

I do a ton of double-checking information via old newspapers. I subscribe to the Newspapers.com website, which has an incredible amount of papers, and you can look up specific search terms. It’s endlessly helpful if you want to know if a certain word or phrase was being used yet. I also love old magazines as well, which have advertisements for products. Genealogical websites are one of my very favorite resources, not only for when I’m researching my own ancestors, but also when trying to find character names that are correct for the time and the place I’m writing about. I also love joining Facebook groups for fans/researchers of whatever topic I need to learn about, because that way you can run across information and photographs that don’t necessarily show up in Google searches.

How long do you typically research before beginning to draft?

I usually research for several months before starting to write, and I research during each revision to add layers of information. Sometimes you don’t always know what info you need until you’ve written the first draft!

What is your favorite thing about research?

It’s a delicious joy to come across wonderful details from terrific sources like firsthand accounts or a novel written during the era you’re writing about. I also enjoy finding cool tidbits in obscure places!

What’s your least favorite thing about research?

When I can’t find the exact, specific detail that I’m looking for. It’s tough knowing that the answer is probably out there somewhere, but I can’t quite locate it!

What’s your favorite thing about writing historical fiction?

It has to be the way you can create a compelling story that is mostly from your own imagination but that is simultaneously rooted in real history. Historical fiction is such a fascinating blend of reality and imagination

What are some obstacles writing historical fiction brings?

I mentioned that magazines are great resources for products from the era, but sometimes when those details are included too often in a historical novel, it can take the reader out of the story and force them to think “That must have been something found in the author’s research.” (At least, that’s what happens to me!) So I try to include good references but use them sparingly.

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