Erin Entrada Kelly: Writing for children

I’m often asked, “Why I write for the age group that I do?” And for those who feel like the characters were written authentically, which I always hope they are. How that happens. And in my case middle school was a very, very difficult time in my life. Probably the most difficult and, because of that I can still remember what being 12 felt like, what the school hallways smelled like, what sneakers sounded like against the floor, what it felt like to be picked last in gym? All those things are still so palpable even decades later, and I think, because that that well is still so deep for me, I’m able to tap into it. I would have a harder time writing a book for grown-ups.