India Hill Brown is the author of the new middle grade novel Girl from the Ashes. Her other books include The Forgotten Girl. She lives in South Carolina.
Q: What inspired you to write Girl from the Ashes, and how did you create your characters Gianna and Carter John?
A: I was inspired after doing a school visit at Johnsonville Middle School in my home state of South Carolina. The students there so graciously made me a travel guide of their favorite places to visit in Johnsonville and surrounding areas, and one of the places most highly mentioned was The Ron McNair Life History Center in Lake City, South Carolina.
Growing up, I heard a good bit about Dr. Ron McNair, his accomplishments, and the tragic Challenger Space Shuttle explosion.
What I didn’t know was that, at the age of 9 years old, he had the police called on him at a segregated library. He wanted to check out a book that he wasn’t allowed to and didn’t want to leave without it. This library was eventually renamed The Ron McNair Life History Center in his honor!
When I read this, it had me interested to research more about segregated libraries, and write a story centered around a young, Black boy who loved space. That Black boy eventually became Carter John!
Gianna was a lot like me as a kid: a teacher’s pet, a bit of a smart aleck, sometimes picked on for liking “kid stuff.” However, Carter John was a lot like me in my teenage years: misunderstood and constantly getting in trouble for things I didn’t do or didn’t mean to do.
Since I experienced both of these point of views, I empathize with both, and wanted to share so others could do the same.
Q: How would you describe the dynamic between them?
A: They are fiercely protective of each other and see the good in each other. Their strengths and weaknesses play off of each other’s, so they make a great team.
Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: It signifies rebuilding. The ghost in the story is red hot with the need for revenge, and while it’s understandable, it’s not always the right answer. The kids understand that the real way to change was to expose the bad, and rebuild with something beautiful.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: I hope people readers learn to appreciate their strengths, and lean on one another for help in their weaknesses. I hope they learn how important it is to have compassion for one another, and that through history and the bad choices of others is a huge way that we can improve and do better.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I don’t know how much I can say right now, but I am working on something that I am hugely excited about! Visit my website at indiahillbrown.com and subscribe to my newsletter/blog (indiahillbrown.com/blog) to learn more.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: That I truly hope you love Girl from the Ashes. I can’t wait for you to meet Carter John and Gianna!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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