Ripe for the picking...
Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse is now available.
It’s September 17 and my book has been officially out in the world for five days. I was hesitant to write an update today because I’m tired. A good tired. If there is one word that has encapsulated my last week, it’s gratitude. Gratitude for the way you have celebrated with me, sent pictures of your books arriving in the mail or spotted on shelves at your local bookstores, requested signed copies, sent messages while opening the first pages, and just simply showed up for me, showed up beside me. Gratitude that a lifetime dream I’ve had to publish a book, to tell a story that really matters to me, has come true.
For a few years now, Claire and Karl—and their connection during the fall of 1944 in a Michigan apple orchard—has been a story living inside my head and on my computer screen. And now, it’s a story that gets to live with readers, a story that gets to live with you, too.
My launch day was full of excitement, but one quieter highlight was a picture sent to me from a teacher friend who is reading the book aloud to his fifth grade students. The picture contained a handful of post-it notes in the students’ handwriting, post-its on which they jotted their predictions and possible themes of the book. They wrote notes like:
“Enemies are not always evil.”
“Good/bad are not always clear.”
“I think no matter good or bad, we will always share something in common.”
These students are getting it. With the help of teacher who is processing with them, urging their discussion, they are understanding, as I wrote in my author’s note, “the real humans ravaged by war.” They are seeing what Claire meant in the last poem in the book when she describes the faces in her mind that “don’t fit easily within simple definitions.”
Another highlight of launch day was meeting Ilah. Illah is 94 and came to my book launch because she heard about my book from her daughter, my neighbor. During Q&A, Ilah told the room about how her dad worked in my own grandpa's orchard beside the German POWs. She said her dad could speak Dutch, which allowed him to have a bit of broken communication with the German speakers. She said, "The Germans were so happy to be there. They were tickled pink. When Dad would come home at night, he would tell us how they all worked together."
And so today: good tired. Incredible gratitude. And continued hope that this story might impact others as it has me.
Thank you.
A few other notes:
Lighting a Path: On Writing a Novel for Young Readers
The Reformed Journal published an essay and a excerpt from my book this week. The essay begins with a story about Gary Schmidt visiting a middle school classroom and a powerful question from a student. It’s a essay about the power of allowing students, like the ones I mention above, to grapple with hard questions in the pages of good books. I hope you’ll take a few moments to read it.
“Allowing room for pain and grief in children’s and young adult literature allows readers to avoid the shame of not living a life full of happily ever afters. When stories include sharp, painful corners, there’s room for readers’ own sharp, painful corners.”
Free Teachers Guide
The Teachers Guide for Enemies in the Orchard is available for download. It includes several historical connections, along with some family recipes. Feel free to share it with the teachers in your life. I am also booking lots of school visits. Interested educators can email me at dana.vanderlugt@gmail.com.
"Enemies in the Orchard" explores a true story taking place in MI during WWII
I had a chance to appear on a Grand Rapids TV morning show to talk a bit about Enemies in the Orchard. I also attempted to make good on the line in my bio that claims I make a “mean apple pie.”
Reviews: A Shameless Plea
I can’t tell you how much it means, and how much it helps, to have your reviews popping up on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you for sharing your thoughts there!
Events
I have several events planned this fall. I’ll be around West Michigan this month, and then heading up to the Traverse City area the weekend of Oct. 5-7, beginning with an event at Bos Wines on Thursday, Oct. 5. (Fun fact: It will be a Class of 2001 Hope College English Department Alumni Night! Bos Wine owner Dave Bos was a fellow English major and friend, and the talk will be moderated by Sara Lamers Messink, my cousin and another fellow English major.)
Hope to see you soon!