After Clare Vanderpool was awarded the John Newbery Medal in 2011 for her first middle grade novel, I interviewed her. In my first interview with the author, we discussed her book, Moon Over Manifest, winning the Newbery and her writing process. When I read Vanderpool's second novel, Navigating Early, I was so intrigued with the characters and story that I contacted her for a second interview. We did the interview by email while Vanderpool was on a book tour on the East Coast.

After you read the interview below, let me know if you have additional questions and I'll follow up with the author.

The Characters and "Voice" in Navigating Early

Q. Early Auden is such an unusual boy and such a strong character, how did you come up with the idea of having his story incorporated into the story of Jack Baker? What made you decide to reveal Early through the lens of Jack’s perceptions?
A. Early was the character that was in my head first and the story grew from him. But Jack emerged soon after. Early’s character is different and unique, with all his quirks, eccentricities, and all that is strange about him. Jack calls him, “that strangest of boys” and that is a big part of Jack’s role in the book. However, first and foremost, Jack needs Early and ultimately Early needs Jack. I would not want to have a character used as a device. But it is important to have an observer like Jack to help the reader see Early. Early does not see himself as strange and there is much he would not point out about himself.

But as I say, they are mutually dependent characters and their story is just that – their story.
Q. In both your novels, you show a capacity for realistic “voice.” How did you go about the process of creating the voice of a 13-year-old boy, Jack Baker, for Navigating Early? What about Early?
A. I think creating voice is a very intuitive thing that requires a lot of quiet and a lot of time with my ear bent toward my characters. It doesn’t feel like something I consciously sit down and make hard and fast decisions about. I think about my characters, ask them a lot of questions in my head, write down some notes, and over time, if I’m patient and attentive, they begin to speak. The thing I do make conscious decisions about usually involves deleting some dialogue that I’ve written that doesn’t ring true. I have to move the cursor back and get very quiet again.

Research

Q. What kind of research did you do on the book’s locations and life, particularly boarding school life, in the 1940’s? I know you took a trip to coastal Maine, the location of the boarding school in your book.
A. Researching Navigating Early was a lot of fun. It did involve a trip to Maine where I toured lighthouses, visited a boarding school, sampled lobster rolls, and walked on the Appalachian Trail. I also consulted various people knowledgeable in mathematics, the number pi, fly fishing and rowing. One of the most helpful things about the trip to Maine was that I was there in October, right when my story is set, and I had a very clear sense of where these boys were going on their quest. I don’t imagine that the woods near the Appalachian Trail have changed all that much since 1945.

A Quest?

Q. It seems to me that in both Moon Over Manifest and Navigating Early, your main characters are on a quest that involves dealing with loss, growing in self-knowledge and finding a place for themselves. Do you agree? What other commonalities do you see?
A. I would agree but I think it’s true that any story about a young person in which the character develops and changes is going to involve some growth in self-knowledge and searching for place. Those two things are hallmarks of growing up. I suppose one could also say that there is a common element of needing a connection to others even though Abilene and Jack may not recognize this need and, in fact, resist new friendships at first. But I think the stories are very different in plot and how the characters go about finding their way.

The Pi Stories

Q. Where did the idea for Early’s stories about Pi come from? The “voice” of the Pi stories is so different in terms of drama and tone from Early’s (or Jack's, for that matter).
A. I had read about a man who saw numbers differently – in color, landscape, texture. That gave me the idea of taking Early’s ability a step further into his amazing ability of reading the number pi as an actual story. And I knew that I wanted it to be a real story that is actually in the numbers, not just a made up story that he creates on his own. Once I had that idea in mind, I knew that this timeless number had to be told in a timeless and mythical kind of language. And yes, the “voice” of the Pi stories is very different because it is a completely separate voice from that of Jack or Early. Very much like the number itself, I wanted the voice and tone of the Pi stories to sound eternal, never-repeating, and never ending.

Descriptive Writing Influences

Q. One of the things that makes your books such a rich experience for your reader is your ability to describe things with such clarity. Are there authors you read, as a child or adult, who have influenced you in your descriptive writing?
A. Absolutely. Laura Ingalls Wilder, J.R.R.Tolkien, Willa Cather, Wendell Berry, E. B. White. Scott O’Dell to name a few.

The Process of Writing the Book

Q. How long did you work on the book? What percentage of your time was spent on the following: 1. Thinking about it and making notes of possible characters, stories, etc., 2. Researching the time period and locations and 3. Actually writing the book?
A. I worked on Navigating Early for about three years. Probably a third of the time thinking, making notes, and letting the story take shape and two-thirds of the time actually writing the book. Other than the research trip to Maine, the research did not happen in a concentrated period of time. I pretty much do research and am always open to new insights and information throughout the writing process. When I become interested in a particular subject or time period that pertains to my writing, I start to feel like some sort of information magnet and am always surprised at the unexpected stories and historical tidbits that come my way.
Q. Once your first draft was completed, did you go back and do a lot of editing before submitting it?
A. Oh, yes. There is always lots of revision. I try not to edit too much as I go along because it’s too easy to get bogged down and for me it’s important to keep moving forward with the story. As I go along and become aware of something that needs to be fixed I just write on a sticky note. Then when I go back through, it gives me a sense of accomplishment to be removing those sticky notes one by one.

The Author's Hopes

Q. What do you hope kids will gain from reading Navigating Early?
A.Navigating Early is a story about friendship and loyalty. It’s about staying true to what you believe in. It’s about holding on and letting go and knowing when to do one over the other. Ultimately, I hope readers get immersed in the story and that they feel like they’re walking on the Appalachian Trail right along with Jack and Early.

Recommended Newbery Medal Winners and Honor Books for Middle Grade Readers

In addition to Clare Vanderpool's Moon Over Manifest, some of my favorites include: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly and My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.