Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new release, my
exclusive interview with the author and the giveaway below...
Red
By Annie Cardi
Young Adult Contemporary
Hardcover & ebook, 256 Pages
Summary
A Christian girl is stigmatized by her peers after seeking an abortion in this modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter for the #MeToo era.
Moving to Hawthorne was something Tess and her mom never anticipated, but after Tess’s mom loses her job, it’s their only option. Tess’s grandparents welcome them into their home, but with the condition that Tess and her mom attend church, something Mom isn’t too pleased about. But Tess enjoys the church community, finding a place in youth group and the church choir. Faith fills a void Tess didn’t know she had.
After a very personal decision goes public, Tess faces daily harassment and rejection by her former friends, and singing in the church choir is no longer an option. When she meets some kids in the music room, her only place of solace in the school, who don’t judge her for what’s happened, she learns to find her voice again. Against the backdrop of the Spirit Light Festival, Tess will need to find the strength to speak out if she has any chance of ending a silent cycle of abuse in Hawthorne.
Content Warning: Religious Themes, Abortion, Bullying, Slut Shaming, Trauma, Grooming, Sexual Assault
Would you tell us a little more about the main character from RED?
Tess is a smart, sensitive girl who’s coming from a tough situation—her dad has passed away and her mom’s had a hard time financially, so they end up having to move in with Tess’s conservative grandparents. She’s surprised to find a place in the local church youth group and choir, connecting to faith in a way she never expected. But her ideas of who she is and where she fits in are called into question when she makes the decision to get an abortion and people in her community find out. She leans on herself, her personal beliefs, and her musical talent to find her voice again.
What is one thing Tess would say she learned from her experience that she wants to pass on to others?
That people who wish you harm would rather you stay silent. Speaking out means that you can connect with others who might be feeling the same and that you can draw strength from each other. Openness and empathy is the start of real change.
Do you have a favorite one-liner from the book?
“While Chloe, Connor, and Mia whisper excitedly about when they can sign up next for open mic night and how fast they can write more original songs, I listen to the next performers sing about heartbreak and loneliness and love and hope, and I feel like they’re all singing for me.”
What’s one of your hobbies or something we might not know about you and why do you enjoy it?
I never thought of myself as athletic (I actively avoided sports in high school), but I started running when I was in my 20s and found that I really enjoy it. I love that I can head outside to spend time with my own thoughts, challenging myself in little ways, like going a little farther than yesterday or a little faster than the day before. I also love that, if you run a road race like a local 5k or even a major marathon, you’re running the exact same course as the elite runners. It may take me literally twice the amount of time to complete the route as the elites, but it’s still the same race.
What is a book that made you cry, a book that made you laugh and one that made you swoon?
Cry: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. It’s a phenomenally written magical intergenerational family story that will absolutely break your heart and put it back together.
Laugh: The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett. I didn’t read Pratchett for a while because I was so intimidated by the whole Discworld canon and because I tend to read more female-written fantasy books. But the Tiffany Aching series caught me right away—the writing is smart and hilarious and sharp all at once.
Swoon: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. A lush YA fantasy star-crossed romance set across time and space. I read it years ago and still feel swoony about it.
What are you working on next?
I’m starting another contemporary YA adaptation that I’m really excited about. The main character is very different from Tess—sharp and flinty and fierce—and I immediately got into her voice.
Annie Cardi is the author of The Chance You Won’t Return, which was named a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year for 2015. She holds a MFA in creative writing from Emerson College and a BA from the University of Virginia. Annie lives near Boston with her family and a portrait of a sea captain.
After a very personal decision goes public, Tess faces daily harassment and rejection by her former friends, and singing in the church choir is no longer an option. When she meets some kids in the music room, her only place of solace in the school, who don’t judge her for what’s happened, she learns to find her voice again. Against the backdrop of the Spirit Light Festival, Tess will need to find the strength to speak out if she has any chance of ending a silent cycle of abuse in Hawthorne.
Content Warning: Religious Themes, Abortion, Bullying, Slut Shaming, Trauma, Grooming, Sexual Assault
(Affiliate links included.)
Author Interview
Would you tell us a little more about the main character from RED?
Tess is a smart, sensitive girl who’s coming from a tough situation—her dad has passed away and her mom’s had a hard time financially, so they end up having to move in with Tess’s conservative grandparents. She’s surprised to find a place in the local church youth group and choir, connecting to faith in a way she never expected. But her ideas of who she is and where she fits in are called into question when she makes the decision to get an abortion and people in her community find out. She leans on herself, her personal beliefs, and her musical talent to find her voice again.
What is one thing Tess would say she learned from her experience that she wants to pass on to others?
That people who wish you harm would rather you stay silent. Speaking out means that you can connect with others who might be feeling the same and that you can draw strength from each other. Openness and empathy is the start of real change.
Do you have a favorite one-liner from the book?
“While Chloe, Connor, and Mia whisper excitedly about when they can sign up next for open mic night and how fast they can write more original songs, I listen to the next performers sing about heartbreak and loneliness and love and hope, and I feel like they’re all singing for me.”
What’s one of your hobbies or something we might not know about you and why do you enjoy it?
I never thought of myself as athletic (I actively avoided sports in high school), but I started running when I was in my 20s and found that I really enjoy it. I love that I can head outside to spend time with my own thoughts, challenging myself in little ways, like going a little farther than yesterday or a little faster than the day before. I also love that, if you run a road race like a local 5k or even a major marathon, you’re running the exact same course as the elite runners. It may take me literally twice the amount of time to complete the route as the elites, but it’s still the same race.
What is a book that made you cry, a book that made you laugh and one that made you swoon?
Cry: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. It’s a phenomenally written magical intergenerational family story that will absolutely break your heart and put it back together.
Laugh: The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett. I didn’t read Pratchett for a while because I was so intimidated by the whole Discworld canon and because I tend to read more female-written fantasy books. But the Tiffany Aching series caught me right away—the writing is smart and hilarious and sharp all at once.
Swoon: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. A lush YA fantasy star-crossed romance set across time and space. I read it years ago and still feel swoony about it.
What are you working on next?
I’m starting another contemporary YA adaptation that I’m really excited about. The main character is very different from Tess—sharp and flinty and fierce—and I immediately got into her voice.
About the Author
Tour Schedule
The giveaway will run from January 22nd until February 2nd.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What connected with you in the interview? Have you read the classic The Scarlet Letter? Does this sound like a book you'd enjoy reading?
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.