We’re reviewing an upcoming middle-grade release today, CATERPILLAR SUMMER by debut author Gillian McDunn, perfect for fans of THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH and FISH IN A TREE.
With an overworked widowed mom and a rambunctious special-needs brother, twelve-year-old Cat barely has any time to be a kid. Ever since their dad died of cancer, Cat has been dedicated to helping her brother, Chicken, navigate perils and find comfort so their mom can work.
After a work scheduling problem, Cat and Chicken find themselves on an unplanned stay with Mom’s parents, whom they’ve never met. Cat can’t believe Mom’s going to leave them for three weeks with complete strangers on Gingerbread Island, the place where she grew up. Since Mom has kept them apart for so long, Cat instantly decides she will not like her grandparents. She’s surprised to find that her grandmother is sweet, thoughtful, and attentive. She relieves most of Cat’s load in caring for Chicken, and Cat actually has time to make friends and act like a kid for once. Conversation with their grandfather, Macon, is a bit more challenging, but he warms up to them and even starts inviting Cat on his turtle walks on the beach in the mornings.
As Cat meets people who knew both of her parents when they were teenagers, she can’t help but wonder why her mom has kept them away from her grandparents. After a few days of beach life, she can’t imagine a life without her grandparents in it anymore and desperately searches for a way to help mend the old wounds to reunite the family forever.
Caterpillar Summer is a beautiful coming-of-age story about a fractured family and a summer they will never forget. This debut middle grade from Gillian McDunn truly stole my heart. Here are my top five reasons why:
- Chicken. I fell in love with him instantly and wanted to grab his hand and take him to the library to check out ALL the shark books.
- Cat. Adorable and extremely thoughtful. She is a gifted giver, always looking out for others. She even finds a way to make friends with a boy who bullied her. We need more people like Cat, who opens her heart and strives to solve problems, even when she’s outside of her comfort zone.
- The NC Beach. I’m a bit of a snob about books written in NC because I’ve lived here all my life. If you’re going to write NC, please do it right. Gillian McDunn comes through in a big way and helped dig up my memories of beach days when I was younger. Her lovely descriptions of beach life made me yearn for summer breezes, miniature golf, turtle sightings, and ghost crab hunts.
- Cat’s dad was black, and her mom is white. When Cat encounters racism on the island, I was thrilled to see her white grandfather stand up for her.
- A family-centered story that’s a real heart squeezer. Knowing there are so many troubled families who struggle to find a way forward, seeing Cat’s family put aside their differences and work toward better family relationships was like aloe on a sunburn. We need more examples of this. Many more.
Caterpillar Summer releases on 4/2/19 is available for preorders at your favorite bookstore and requests at your local library now.
- An Indies Introduce selection for Winter/Spring and Kids Indie Next Top Ten for Spring 2019
- ★Kirkus, starred review
- ★Publishers Weekly, starred review
- A Junior Library Guild selection
Welcome to The Winged Pen, Gillian!
Please tell us what inspired you to write Caterpillar Summer.
When I write, I start with relationships. I knew I wanted to write about an older sister and a younger brother with special needs, inspired in part by my relationship with my brother Andy. Loving Andy was a mix of joy and responsibility, and I tried to capture that dynamic with the siblings in Caterpillar Summer.
All the characters in the story are so deeply drawn they feel like family. Could you share tips on character development?
For me, everything flows from character development. Early in my process, Iwrite to discover characters’ voices and backstories. I interview all my characters, writing down everything I “hear” them tell me, from big, formative past experiences all the way to their favorite lollipop flavor. While I may not use that information directly, it helps me establish their point of view, which is unique to each character.
For example, in CATERPILLAR SUMMER, Cat is very protective of her brother, Chicken. Chicken is sensitive to sounds and touch, can be impulsive, and sometimes bolts. Early in the book, there is a scene where they walk a few city blocks to a bakery. On one level, they are having a fun discussion about their days. On another level, Cat is constantly scanning her environment for safety issues for Chicken. So she notices elements such as traffic, where Chicken is physically in relation to the road, and her grip on his hand while they cross the street. This scene would (and should!) look different if any other pair of characters were walking the same road. It also feels different later in the book, after Cat and Chicken have been on Gingerbread Island for a while and their dynamic has begun to shift.
Tell us a little about your writing journey. Is Caterpillar Summer the first book you’ve ever written? When did you begin writing it?
I had written a few picture book manuscripts, but CATERPILLAR SUMMER is my first novel. I wrote the first draft about three years ago. When I wrote THE END it was exhilarating –my hands were shaking! But I didn’t know that it wasn’t the end at all.I did a revise & resubmit before I signed with my wonderful agent, and then I did a pre-offer revision with my amazing editor. Then, after it sold, I revised another three times. Now, it is finally ready to be in the world!
What can you tell us about what you’re working on now?
I’m doing revisions on my next middle grade story about girl friendship and social aggression. It involves a new girl in town, bees, and figuring out what it means to be a friend!
Buckle up for the lightning round, Gillian! *hands you a giant brownie for strength
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation would be the best super power, because I have so many friends and family in far-off places. I’d love to be able to pop in to see people I love, and still be home for dinner.
Wooden pencil or mechanical?
Wooden pencil, freshly sharpened and very pointy. I’m picky about pencils!
Coffee or tea?
Both! Decaf only. I love medium roast coffee. For tea I love mint, ginger, or chamomile.
Sweet or salty?
Salty. Macadamia nuts are my favorite!
Dog, cat, or other?
Dog! Especially my own dog—a terrier mix named Friday who we adopted last summer. A dog named Dixie appears in CATERPILLAR SUMMER. Even though I hadn’t met Friday at the time, they are pretty close in their descriptions–both are white with tan spots and look like they’ve been assembled from leftover dog parts. Although, Friday’s tail is much more distinctive than I ever imagined Dixie’s to be.
Plotter or pantser?
Plotter. I do a lot of pre-writing, including a formal outline of each chapter where I track scenes, characters, and key events.I love outlining because it helps me keep big picture elements organized. It also gives me the freedom to write out of order. For instance, after I’ve done the first few chapters I usually skip ahead and write the midpoint scene. I like having some elements in my midpoint defined so I have something to aim for. I also write a rough version of the ending that I refine as I write. Helps keep me on track!
One last question: Any advice for all those aspiring authors out there?
First, make friends with other writers. They are a source of friendship and inspiration and will keep you going when times are tough. Then—write, write, write. There is someone out there who can’t wait to read your story!
From Gillian’s website:
GILLIAN McDUNN has lived in California, Missouri, and North Carolina, and is a fan of both the Pacific and theAtlantic Oceans. She lives near Raleigh, North Carolina, with her family.
Like Cat, Gillian grew up as the big sister to a younger brother with special needs.
Excellent interview, and I cannot wait to read this book!!