Q & A with my 13 year old niece

I offered to send a copy of The Heroes of Hanover to my niece, Jeena, who is 13 years old....

I wanted her opinion on the book and she did a little Q&A with me. I thought you might all like to read it....

Jeena: I got the book today and I am on page 40 as of now. So far it is really good, I'm going to try to read as much as I can today

ME: oh wonderful... take your time and when you are finished.. let me know what you think. Thank you for reading it for me.

Jeena: I just finished and it was really good and exciting at parts. I enjoyed reading it

ME: Wow!

I didn't think you'd finish it in a day! that's amazing

who was your favorite character?

Jeena: I tend to read fast lol

Rocky

ME: awwww

he's a good boy

part 2 is ready... I just have to send it in to the publisher

its longer than the first part ... some old characters... some new

but the story just will get better and better

you can let your sisters read it if you want and please do me a favor and tell your friends about it

Jeena: I will definitely

ME: would you be willing to answer some questions about the book for me?

Jeena: Yeah I can

ME: o,k do you have a few minutes to text with me or are you busy?

Jeena: I can text

ME: Ok, so we know rocky was your favorite...

did you find the book easy to follow?

Jeena: Yeah, it was easy to understand

ME: o.k good

do you think the book was good in that... there were no swear words or sex scenes

Jeena: I think either way it would be good, although not having those made it easier to read and relate to because they are in middle school

ME: because it's really important that I make the book enjoyable for families to read...my intention anyway... is that at 7th and 8th grade.. although those things do happen... i find them inappropriate

In the 2nd part. there is some mention of something like that... but it is not direct.. it's more assumed... because I'm writing family drama.

Next question... did reading about season help you understand a little more of her condition?

Jeena: Yes because I didn't know, some people with autism don't have it as bad, or where it only affects for lights or sounds

ME: mmm hmm

Did you find this story appropriate for your age group?

Jeena: Yes for sure

ME: My target group is 13 and up

some parts of the book were violent... but I did my best not to be too graphic.... in Johnny's case ( and stan and wag) of course... did you think it was written well or too violent?

Jeena: Well I like mystery and murder cases, so I didn't expect it and I liked it because it was a plot twist so it was written well.

ME: OK good... I'm really at all of this... it was my first time publishing a book... so that's why your opinion is so valuable

When I first released it, a lot of people asked me... What happens next?

That is why I decided to write a 4 part collection, taking them through high school

See now I really want to know what happens next because I want rocky to tell season how he feels

in the case of Rocky, did it help you understand how boys think? And that they can be just as sensitive as girls can be? That they just don't show it as often because of the stigma that young men deal with being raised by dominant aggressive fathers

Were you aware that boys also suffer from body dysmorphia and eating disorders?

Jeena: Yeah I've always known boys are just like girls with feelings and eating disorders etc. But they tend to not tell or show much, the book would help make a person understand that's how some lives are for if they didn't know

ME: That's right... The whole book is about some neighborhood kids really just trying to get through more than a rainy graduation weekend, isn't it?

What did you think about the relationship Johnny had with his mother's father?

Jeena: I think it was nice because it helped johnny realize how his mother feels and it made their relationship better because they talked things out

Me: Do you think this story might help young men and women realize that they can change? That they can be heroes and that it's not to late to try to be better? Did you find the story to be inspiring? Or just entertaining?

Jeena: It was inspiring to me by having many life lessons in it to where there are second chances and anyone can be a hero, the story could help someone who doesn't see that and it can make them understand things really can get better etc.

ME: OK, one last question....

you've been so helpful by the way

Jeena: Oh yeah no problem

Jeena: Do you think that "The Heroes of Hanover Heights" would be a good book to read in a classroom setting, like in reading class? Do you think a book like this would be more important to students to read, and that they may find it more interesting than reading something that was written back in the day. Do you think this story would hold kids attention and make them excited to read about it?

Jeena: I think it could be read in class because it then would show many kids that there is more to it then just the entertaining part, because it does show many things people wouldn't think of or I didn't think of myself. I rather would have read this book then other books I read in class nowadays. There are plot twists and cliff hangers which I really like and I do think kids would be excited to find out more and read it.

ME: Wonderful! Because I think I might like to send it off to some teachers and see what they think as well. Jeena, do you mind if I print the answers to the questions that you gave me today, on my blog, so others can read your opinions?

Jeena: Yeah it's perfectly fine by me

ME: OK sweetheart thank you SO MUCH. When part 2 comes out, I promise to send you a copy RIGHT AWAY

Jeena: Alrighty I am already anxious

ME: GOOD! That means I did well!

( Thank you, Jeena! I hope you all get a chance to read " The Heroes of Hanover Heights". Feel free to ask for it at your local library!