Connecting Young Readers to History

Alyssa Colman's new novel paints a picture of the past to help us connect with the present.

- MICHAEL WOODSON

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” A quote so ubiquitous in our collective conscience that its warning has almost become white noise, the irony being we often forget its origin.¹ And yet, it’s true; most any experience that feels unique has its historical sibling. Historical fiction has the power to remind us of our connections to bygone eras, acting as an alarm bell, but also as a reminder that we are not alone—and that in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, our power exists in building community.

Alyssa Colman’s new book, Where Only Storms Grow, deals with these connections: our connections with the past, our connections with a place, and our connections with each other. It follows the Stanton family who live on the Oklahoma panhandle four years into a drought, amidst the worst storm of the Dust Bowl. At the heart of the story are 12-year-old twins Howe and Joanna, whose bond also seems to have dried up. Howe has dreams of writing poetry and of moving away from the constant troubles of their land, but circumstances force him out of school and away from his writing. Joanna isn’t prepared to give up, but her scoliosis leaves her in near-constant pain and unable to physically help in the same way her brother is expected to.

I spoke with Alyssa about writing for the middle-grade audience, their keen eye for detail, and what she hopes they gain. Here’s what she had to say.

ON THE PRESENT AND THE PAST COLLIDING