Inspired by Shanghai, local legends and sibling bonds.
This week brings two captivating middle grade stories with two important journeys in very different settings: Maisie and the Pillar of Dragons, by Matthew Bowler and Never Tear Us Apart, by Suzanne Faria.
Maisie and the Pillar of Dragons, by Matthew Bowler
A modern-day Dragon Keeper, Maisie and the Pillar of Dragons is an MG magic realism story set alongside Chinese mythology. Twelve-year-old Maisie Franks is visiting Shanghai when she is separated from her father. With the help of her friend, Ron, she must solve the riddle of the Dragon Pillar to not only find her father but save the city itself from an angry dragon. Filled with mystery and intrigue, this is a heart-warming story of courage and friendship in the face of adversity.
Matthew: Three different experiences have influenced my story:
Whilst living and working in Shanghai, I used to watch how my young daughter responded to the challenge of fitting into her environment and formed the basis for a short story I wrote on which the early chapters of my book are based. My protagonist is a lot older than my daughter was at the time but I wanted to reflect how resilient young people are when faced with tough obstacles.
I also learnt of the local story of the ‘Dragon Pillar.’ This happened quite by chance and is a classic example of how a local tale can stand the test of time. This led me to learn the story which is about…well I guess you’ll need to read the book!
Lastly…dragons! The tale of the dragon pillar piqued my interest in Chinese dragons, how they differ from European dragons, and how they are revered to this day against other mythical creatures. Wherever I travel, I’ve always taken the time to learn about the history and the people of where I am but this was the first time I really studied the rich mythology of a region.
Never Tear Us Apart, by Suzanne Faria
Eleven-year-old Daxton has been more than a big brother to three-year-old Bianca, he’s been her protector and her parent. Domestic abuse tore their birth family apart and the children are in foster care. Daxton is terrified that the looming prospect of adoption will separate them and he will lose his sister forever. Desperate to keep them together, he makes a reckless decision to run away, precipitating a dangerous journey that will test his bravery and the unbreakable bond with his sister. A powerful middle grade adventure for fans of Onjali Q Rauf, Susanna Bailey, and Matt Goodfellow, Never Tear Us Apart shines with compassion, resilience, and the fierce love that refuses to let go.
Suzanne: My idea for my story came right at the start of the MA. I wrote a short piece before our first lecture and I had the sense then that this could be my WIP. The story idea began with the characters, whose names (Dax and Binks) and situation (in care) came straight away. The names were quite a spark as I had no idea where they came from, and so I had to find out who these children were! The story developed from there. I found myself writing in first person, present tense and finding the voice of my protagonist took a lot of time for me to develop. I had to get my own voice out of the way. I have also needed to allow myself to write more freely, an ongoing process of silencing, or at least not listening to, that inner critic.