This may surprise you, but I do read things other than picture books. I’m just an abysmally slow reader. That’s why I don’t really focus on the other genres for interviews. But this summer, I wanted to read a middle grade novel by a writer I have long admired that had a fascinating premise.

Beth Ferry reads and writes by the beach in New Jersey. She is the author of many picture books illustrated by many amazing artists. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram.

GROWING HOME is a middle grade novel written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by the Fan Brothers. It involves two talking plants, a grumpy goldfish, a very interesting spider, and some humans down on their luck. Oh, and there’s magic! I’m going to once again say that I don’t make it a habit to read middle grade novels. I can’t compare it to others in the current market right now, but I just really wanted to read the book. I’m going to date myself and say that I was hoping it might be similar to “A Cricket in Times Square” (which I loved when I was much younger). I wasn’t disappointed, but I knew I wouldn’t be. I’ve loved Beth Ferry’s work in various genres for years. She’s an incredible writer and it’s obvious that she had a lot of fun writing this book. The writing is sassy. I don’t know how to describe it other than that. It meanders, pontificates, and teaches big words all while telling the story. The writing has a character all of its own while the characters thrive and flourish within.

Ivy is a beloved house plant of a young girl, more of a pet than the only animal allowed in the house: a goldfish. This makes the goldfish, Toasty, very crabby. He swims about in his antique fishbowl and splashes her repeatedly. Little do either of them realize that there is magic already shaping their abilities and destinies. Enter another plant, a spider, more antiques, a villain, and magical shenanigans and you almost understand the whole plot. But really this is a book that has to be read to be understood.

Please note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review, but the opinions, as always, are my own.

Welcome Beth!

Me: I can’t imagine anyone isn’t familiar with your work, but can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey?  When did you start writing children’s books?  How did that lead to where you are now as the writer of this book?

Beth: My story is a familiar one. I discovered the power of picture books as a mom. I was truly blown away by the magnificence of the stories we were reading.  And the illustrations? Works of art! But the thing that struck me the most and stuck with me as I read and reread these books were how these books made me feel. It seemed impossible that a 32-page book could make me feel so many emotions. That was the idea I was chasing. Could I write a book that made others feel something?  When my youngest child was in middle school, I started exploring the idea of writing picture books. Eventually I discovered SCBWI and, as I’m sure you know, it was extremely eye-opening. After learning quite a lot, I decided to challenge myself to writing a story under 200 words. This is what eventually led to STICK AND STONE and my first contract. Fast forward 14 years to GROWING HOME which is my 34^th book.

Me: Wow! 34th book! Congratulations! You are known for writing picture books, chapter books, and even some early graphic novels. This is your first foray into Middle Grade. What made you decide to take that leap?

Beth: I write pretty firmly in the picture book 3-7 age range but am always interested and amazed at the abundance of books below and above my age range comfort zone. I can distinctly remember my own first forays into reading on my own and the joy and freedom it gave me. I loved the autonomy to choose my own books. So it felt like a good idea to try to see if I could write something I would have chosen as an early reader.

Me: GROWING HOME is a unique middle grade novel. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it. What gave you the idea for this story?

Beth: Back in 2018, my editor, Celia Lee, gave me an idea for a picture book called Best Fronds. I loved the idea of having a plant as a main character and because I had been toying with the idea of trying to write a chapter book or middle grade, and it just felt right to see if I could craft a story that centered around a plant. I also knew that I wanted the story to have a little magical realism so that helped with the plot.

Me: You have many more words to play with when writing a middle grade novel than you do a picture book. Was that a hard shift to make? How long did it take you to write (and/or revise) this book to get it to this final state?

Beth: This book began as a trilogy back in the summer of 2020. Each book was about 10,000 words. So, in retrospect, I guess I was taking baby steps toward a middle grade. It took me about a year to write all three. Then in 2021, on some great advice, I combined all three books into one. By 2022, it was ready for submission.

Me: You have had the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing illustrators on your books. What was it like to have the Fan Brothers illustrate your first middle grade novel? Any surprises? Any favorite illustrations?

Beth: Having Eric and Terry Fan illustrating GROWING HOME was a dream come true. They have such a vintage aesthetic that perfectly suited the story. And hands down, Toasty, the goldfish, with his little bowler hat and scowl is my favorite illustration.

Me: He’s such a great character and they really brought him to life. What is one thing that surprised you in creating this story?

Beth: I really was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing dialogue.

Me: It is said that middle grade publishing is facing difficult times right now. Any advice for other aspiring middle grade writers?

Beth: To be honest, I am not an expert on middle grade. I think that all stories need to be something you are comfortable reading hundreds of times. So my advice would be to make sure you write characters who will become your friends because you will be spending years and years with them.  

Excellent advice Beth. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.

Dear readers, this book was published at the end of May. If you haven’t had a chance yet to read it, I highly recommend tracking it down. It’s a book that captures the imagination and pulls you right in. Who would’ve thought that a book with a plant for a main character could do that? Trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss this one!