I’ve often wondered if Joe remembers that time, or if it was just one in such a long line of injustices that he’s forgotten.  I’ve always wished I could have done something better in that situation.  Now, by God’s grace, I can.

I love the way you weave amazing description and beautiful writing into a story with lots of drama and action. My boys were mesmerized by the action. I was mesmerized by the cadence of your words. How did you do it?
You are so generous, Paula.  I love the beauty of language and celebrate that in the things I read – poetry and prose.  I love the rhythm of words and the way they fit together. Reading aloud and performing my work helps tremendously.  I love a good story.  I remember being young and exploring old houses, searching dead tree stumps, scratching at the base of gravestones, desperately wishing an exciting mystery might pop up for me to solve.  Writing provides just the opportunity for that sort of drama and action.  It’s great fun to write something, then whistle, and shout, “Whoa!  That could’ve happened!”

What was your favorite scene in this book and why?
Ouch.  That feels a little like choosing one child over another.  I especially love the scenes where William Henry and Robert are together.  My favorites among those include the opening scene at the fishing hole, where they’ve escaped their mothers and outwitted Jake Tulley all in one fine day; the time they skunk the Tulley’s dogs so the dogs can’t track Robert’s father, Mr. Heath or the slaves they are helping to escape; the urgent meeting late one night on the porch when William Henry returns Robert’s lost watch, entrusts Robert with the significance of his name, and says more than his friend can understand at the time.

Who is your favorite character in this book and why?
William Henry.  It seems William Henry was born knowing what is important in life.  He “inhaled” reading.  He learned through every experience and put all of that to the best use he knew.  He stood by those he loved and reached out to those in need.  He did not second-guess his decisions once he set his feet on a path.  I loved his audacity and decisive nature.  That does not mean I agreed with all of his decisions – but, like thirteen-year-old Robert, I loved and admired him.

My third grader cried at one point as I read the book to the children and didn’t want to continue with the story because it made him sad. (We were at a particularly difficult point where the slaves were severely mistreated.) We worked through the painful spot and finished the novel, which is very redemptive. Do you have advice for parents as they discuss the hard issues of this book?
Hold your children close.  Mourn loss with them.  Mourning a character or situation in a book helps children understand that it is okay to cry, that grief is normal, and that life does go on, even after bad things happen.  Let them know that the bad things people have done to each other are not right and should never be repeated.  Tell them that by knowing these things they can decide, like Robert, how and when to take their own stand for what is right and good and true, and how to keep going when life is very hard.  Help children recognize unfair, unjust treatment in the world they live in.  Help them understand how they, even in their youth, can respond to that.  Talk about the people who helped Robert, the people he could trust and why they were trustworthy.  Talk about trustworthy people in your child’s life, and why you, or they, believe them trustworthy.

What one message would you like to leave with your readers?
We are not victims in life.  We each have the opportunity to make choices about what we believe and how we act upon those beliefs. 

For more interviews by Paula Moldenhauer, visit http://www.gracereign.blogspot.com or check out her book reviews at http://www.soulscents.us. You can read the complete interview with Cathy at
http://gracereign.blogspot.com200702william-henry-is-fine-name.html.