Q&A with Kara Thom

  

 

Kara Thom is the author of the new middle grade novel Sweet, Tart. Her other books include the Go! Go! Sports Girls series. She lives in Minnesota. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Sweet, Tart, and how did you create your character Halle?

 

A: I mention in my author’s note at the end of the book that, like Halle, I witnessed a racehorse break down at a track. It was hard to “unsee” and to process the emotions I turned to writing. What followed was a narrative poem. Then an essay. Then, about six months later, I started a story for children.

 

I started what-ifing. What if the stables that used to exist near my home were still there? And what if that racehorse had been born and raised there? And what if a young girl went to inquire in person? And what if? And what if?

 

Halle is a product of my own processing and the need to create something beautiful from a tragedy. And like me, Halle does so much of her emotional processing through poetry.

 

Although, I’d say in the 10 years of writing this story she was written and rewritten so many times she became a separate and complete person, with her own characteristics, curiosities, and reactions.

 

I think so much of how writers develop a protagonist is in how they relate to other characters in the story and in many ways Halle comes into her own as she interacts with her sister, her new friends, her dog, and with Rocky, the pony.

 

Q: How would you describe the relationship between Halle and Rocky?

 

A: Halle longs for connection and she doesn’t have any expectations for that to come from a pony.

 

I think in a lot of “horse books” for children the main character is a horse-person—that is, a person familiar with horses and already has a special bond with a particular horse. Halle doesn’t have any of that, so her love of all things equine develops throughout the book.

 

Rocky is distant because he’s lost his best friend and slowly, slowly, he connects with her and she with him and they come to belong together.

 

Q: The Booklist review of the novel says, “A mix of heartwarming hope and soul-gripping grief, Thom’s narrative offers middle-grade readers emotional heft while still meeting them at their level and addressing questions they might have.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I’m honored. That I was able to write both the “soul-gripping grief” and “heartwarming hope” in such a way that readers might feel that as profoundly as I do brings me an enormous sense of satisfaction and great relief!

 

I also love that Sweet, Tart is described as having “emotional heft.” I occasionally substitute in a middle school media center and know kids who are reading middle grade are living through big emotions that don’t necessarily come from “Capital T” trauma, but just day-in-day-out stuff that can still be quite impactful on a young person feeling these feels for the first time. 

 

Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: I thought I knew what was going to be the final scene early on. Then my manuscript fell into the hands of a fabulous editor (shout out to Kate Fletcher at Candlewick) who helped me take the story beyond what I had in mind, and I’m grateful for all of her suggestions and nudges that carried throughout the entire manuscript.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: In addition to getting into a middle school media center occasionally, I also work part-time as a bookseller for an independent bookstore, which allows me access to the latest and greatest books for children as well as the opportunity to talk to young readers about what kind of books interest them.

 

That keeps me inspired! I have three new middle-grade stories that are in various stages of creation. Sometimes I get a chance to put on my grown-up poet hat and work on the poetry manuscript that I hope to get published someday, too.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: As much as this is a story about horses and dogs, sisters and friends, it is also about the importance of creative expression, and for me specifically, a love letter to poetry. I am so proud to have been able to showcase some of my favorite poets and their poems, including Ada Limón, Ross Gay, and Connie Wanek.

 

The interactions between Halle and her teacher Mrs. Delgado encapsulate the discovery and wonder that I’ve experienced reading and learning about poetry. 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb