Q&A with Barbara Dee

 

Photo by Carolyn Simpson

 

 

Barbara Dee is the author of the new middle grade novel Tear This Down. Her many other books include Unstuck. She lives in Westchester County, New York.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Tear This Down, and how did you create your character Freya?

 

A: When I first conceived the story, I was thinking about the Dobbs decision (reversing Roe v. Wade) and the assault on voting rights in this country. I couldn’t foresee that we’d end up with an administration that would seek to eviscerate civil liberties and also to erase history.

 

One of the most important themes in Tear This Down is the necessity of confronting history head-on, even when it makes us uncomfortable—and to include other stories and perspectives to get the most accurate version possible.

 

My idea for Freya was that she’d be an iconoclast, a feminist, the kind of kid who asks questions that are really opinions—“o-questions.”  She isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but she’s a loyal friend with a big heart.    

 

Q: The writer Susan Hood said of the book, “How a seventh-grader with a lot of questions about gender inequality uses her curiosity to give voice to those who were silenced. A stirring and timely book about the power of kids to build community and move us all forward.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love it because it highlights the book’s themes of using your voice and building community. I’d also like to give a shoutout to Susan’s book Lifeboat 5, which is terrific!

Q: Your books have been compared to those of Judy Blume--what do you think of that comparison?

 

A: I’m honored to see my name in the same sentence! But of course there’s only one Judy Blume—who basically created the genre of “upper middle grade realistic fiction” and who continues to inspire us all with her advocacy for the freedom to read.

 

Q: Especially in today's political climate, what do you hope readers take away from Tear This Down?

 

A: That their voices matter. Change is possible—and achievable even by kids.  But to get meaningful results, they need to find their community. And as Freya learns, community is most powerful when it’s inclusive.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: My next book, Nothing to See Here, is about a group of eighth graders (two boys and two girls) who post fake stories on social media to expose how online gossip and rumors have a toxic effect on their middle school community. 

 

This book is told through alternating POVs, so it was both challenging and fun to write! 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: One of the most important characters in Tear This Down is Mai, the librarian at the public library. Because so many librarians are currently under attack, I wanted to depict one who’s cool,  helpful, friendly, and creative. Kids need to know that librarians are some of the best people in their communities, and that they deserve our support and gratitude.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Barbara Dee.