The merry month of May has been flying by! We hope you’ve been enjoying the warmer weather and all the lovely activities that come with it: reading by an open window, reading in the park, reading at the beach, or perhaps even listening to an audiobook as you walk to the bookstore. Regardless of how you fill your spring days, thank you for taking the time to stop by Young Adulting!
The First Page Feature is a chance for emerging writers to feature the first page of their works-in-progress (ranging from Middle Grade to New Adult) in our monthly newsletter. Interested in featuring your first pages? Read our First Page Feature guidelines here, and submit here!
May’s First Page Feature is Russell F. Hirsch!
Russell F. Hirsch is a fantasy writer, oral storyteller, and public speaking tutor based in Vancouver. He obtained his BFA in Creative Writing and MA in Children’s Literature from UBC. His short fiction and poetry have appeared in Geist, Mirror Dance, and Gingerbread House, among other venues, but his true literary love is middle grade fiction. VERN GREEN AND THE SEASON THIEVES is an upper middle grade fantasy adventure full of nature magic, sibling bonds, and lost goddesses.
Vern Green and the Season Thieves
It was the eight hundredth birthday of Mother Spring.
Vern Green wasn’t celebrating.
He crept through the Wild Woods, sticking to the shadows, treading on moss to mask the sound of his feet. Every step brought him closer to the road. He shouldn’t have been going anywhere near it. Not this close to sunset. If he turned back now, he might still make it home before curfew.
But he couldn’t go home empty handed.
He wouldn’t let his family down again today.
As he moved through the trees, music trickled down from the distant summit. Rippling harps. Lively lutes. And the smells—fresh vegetables and buttered bread and roast pig! Delicious smells. Torturous smells.
Vern’s stomach twisted and his head spun. He stumbled to a wide oak, right at the edge of the road, and flattened himself against the trunk.
Through a gap in the branches above, he glimpsed the palace towers on the mountaintop, their coloured domes like giant tulip blossoms in the setting sun. If he’d been one of the Greater Blessed—one of the city’s knights or nobles—he would be up there now, capping off a day of feasting and song.
Instead, he’d had a day of dirt.
Dirt, squelching in his thin-soled boots.
Dirt, grimed into crescent moons under his fingernails.
Dirt—and sweat—streaked along his neck.
And after all that work, after Vern and his family had dug up their entire plot of land— parsnips, carrots, lettuce, chard—the Greaters had left them with nothing. They’d carted it all away for the palace feasts. Even the half-rotted veggies, which Lessers usually got to keep.
Vern shifted his stance on the oak roots. A scraggly chive caught his eye, growing wild at the foot of the tree. He uprooted it and silently slipped it into his ragged pack, alongside a handful of other herbs.
It’s not enough, he knew. I could forage all night and it still wouldn’t be enough. The faces of his younger siblings kept flashing through his mind. When the Greaters had carted away the food, his family had looked to him.
And he’d done nothing.
What could he do? You didn’t stand up to Greaters. Not if you valued your life. So, he’d stayed quiet.
Like always.
But Robbie would’ve done something. Robbie would’ve found a way.
Vern slipped off his hat and pressed its soft green felt to his face.
The hat had been Robbie’s.
It still smelled like woodsmoke and thyme. Like his big brother.
That scent gave him courage. He put the hat back on and carefully, carefully, peeked out from behind the oak.
Horse-drawn wagons clogged the switchback road to the summit, brimming with produce.
Vern’s heartbeat drummed in his throat.
He hadn’t just come to the Wild Woods to forage. He’d come to get close to the wagons. To steal back the food they’d picked.
What drew you to writing for younger audiences?
As a kid, I remember series like Narnia, Harry Potter, and The Dark Is Rising utterly enchanting me—not only because they were fantastical stories, but because they held my attention in a way that felt truly spellbinding. Ever since, I’ve wanted to pass that feeling on to future generations of kids.
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
The first and last stages of the process are my favourite: first, conceiving the initial idea or concept that’s going to inform the whole story-world, and finally, several drafts later, playing with the rhythm and sound of the language—that’s the oral storyteller in me coming out! The middle stages are tougher, but ultimately just as rewarding.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
In Lisa Cron’s book Story Genius she talks about imagining every event in a story with the word “But…” or “Therefore…” in front of it, to make sure there’s a logical, cause-and-effect chain of events. (Apparently, she learned this from the creators of South Park!) Seems obvious in hindsight, but that was a game-changer for me. I think it’s especially important in fantasy, otherwise the story is less of a story and more of a travel diary or checklist of tasks for the characters to complete.
If you are interested in contacting Russell F. Hirsch, please email young.adulting@ubc.ca.
YAing Updates
We’ve published some marvellous reviews since our last update. Here’s a recap:
- “The characters in Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels are well-rounded and believable, with each undergoing meaningful growth throughout the story. Onyeka herself is a relatable and likable protagonist, grappling with her own insecurities and fears while striving to protect those she loves. Supporting characters like Adanna, Niyì, and Hassan add depth to the story, each bringing their own unique strengths and weaknesses to the table.” Ihomehe Agbebaku reviews
Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tolá Okogwu
- “This story teaches the beautiful lesson that no matter where we are in the world, we can try and bring our favourite parts of home with us. It can be hard moving to a new country, for both children and adults. Not only does this book remind readers that they are not alone, but it also encompasses the importance of getting out into nature. Both the girl and her mother enjoy and value nature, learning about the Earth and all it has to offer.” Gabrielle Tselos reviews A Garden Called Home by Jessica J. Lee, illus. Ellaine Chen
- “The writing in Melanie Jackson’s The Fifth Beethoven reflects its target age-range well. The book tackles some tricky topics, and I appreciated how the nuanced the approach was to the wealth imbalance and housing crisis in Vancouver. Another highlight of the book for me was Zandi’s character and personality throughout. She seems to be one of the main constants in the book. She is steady, knows what she wants, and is determined to get it. She is the real hero of the book, and while she is only meant to be the love interest to Nate, she does so much more.” Jacqueline Thomas reviews The Fifth Beethoven by Melanie Jackson
As always, check back every Thursday and every other Tuesday for more reviews of upcoming and new releases.
Industry News
A reminder that Diaspora Dialogues is hosting another Lunch N’ Learn series! On May 29th at 12:30pm, join Chelene Knight, an award-winning writer and expert in creative balance and mindset coaching for Energy Is Currency: 8 Ways To Cultivate a More Sustainable Writing Career. Click here to register!
Please join the Canadian Children’s Book Centre on May 30, 2024 at 4:00pm EDT for a special webinar featuring Dr. Lori McKee, a specialist in Literacies Education, in conversation with Professor Emerita Bev Brenna, as they explore ideas for growing readers. Register here!
A reminder that CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition is open for submissions! As Canada’s largest competition for unpublished children’s writers, this is a great opportunity for emerging authors to get their work for young readers recognized. The deadline is May 31st. Click here to learn more!
As always, please do send us your news related to children’s and young adult literature at young.adulting@ubc.ca so we can feature them in future newsletters. Our newsletter is published on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. And remember to keep up with us on Twitter and Instagram!
Take care, and happy reading,
The Young Adulting Editors
YOUNG ADULTING 