Q & A with Kirsten Marion, Author of New Middle-Grade Book Hiss
- Common Deer Press
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
In honour of the upcoming release of Hiss, a new middle-grade novel about a boy who transforms into a snake, author Kirsten Marion answered a few questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
The idea for Hiss came from an article I read in the Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Books newsletter.
At a school visit a children’s author asked a student, “If you weren’t a human kid, what would you be?” The student replied, “I would be a python and I would live in my dad’s hot tub, and I’d go to sleep on the bubbles.” The author says she still has questions for that kid! This anecdote (minus the bubbles!) sparked a series of ideas for me, which eventually turned into Hiss.
What was the most rewarding and/or challenging thing about writing this book?
The most rewarding thing for me in writing any of my books is doing the research. I learned a lot of fascinating facts about pythons to write Hiss!
Hiss is set in middle school, what do you think are the biggest challenges in middle school?
Learning to navigate social relationships are the biggest and most critical challenges in middle school. The ages of 12 to 14 see young people developing physically at bewildering speeds, which results in massive mood swings—neither of which help! Add in the pressures of social media and it can be a painful period to navigate.
Why did you decide on a snake as the animal in this book? Why not a tiger or a dog?
The python came directly from the quote that inspired the story.
What are three middle grade books that you recommend and why?
The Math Kids series, by David Cole: This ten book (so far) series follows four fast friends who use math to solve mysteries. It’s engaging, fast paced, and great for teaching math principles in an enjoyable way.
An Elephant in the Garden: Inspired by a True Story, by Michael Morpurgo: This is a calm and thoughtful retelling of events from WWII from the perspectives of two siblings. The brother and sister are passionate about saving a zoo elephant while fleeing the bombing of Dresden. I happen to be a big fan of elephants and the war was terrible for the ordinary citizen on both sides of the conflict. Perhaps a reminder of the past will help us to avoid a repeat in the future.
Beyond the Bright Sea, by Lauren Wolk: This is another historical fiction for middle-grade readers. Through an orphans search for her own identity and sense of belonging, it explores what it means to really have a family.
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