i’m so thrilled to have hannah here with me today.
her debut, BREAK, was just released in september :
Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his
body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back
stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to
be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything
around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing,
is Jonah’s only way to cope with the stresses of home,
girls, and the world on his shoulders.
When Jonah’s self-destructive spiral accelerates and he
hits rock bottom, will he find true strength or surrender
to his breaking point?
*cynthea liu, lisa schroeder, me, and tammi sauer!
i was very happy to pick up an ARC of BREAK
at the ala chicago conference in july. i know hannah
originally from a writing forum and went up to
one of the editor’s manning the booth.
me : did you know that hannah just turned eighteen?
editor, surprised : no, i didn’t know that!
that’s right. hannah sold her debut novel at 17 and it
published right after she turned 18. if that isn’t amazing
and inspiring, how about this? her writing and the story
is excellent. i recommend BREAK!
and without further ado, a chat with hannah.
hannah, tell us how long you’ve been writing creatively
and how long it took you to write BREAK.
I’ve been writing little stories for as long as I can
remember. I finished my first long thing (about 100 pages)
when I was in sixth grade. Finished the first novel–horrible
though it was–at the end of eighth grade. Since then it’s been
non-stop. For BREAK, first draft was 6 days, all the drafts
together about 2 months
i cannot believe you wrote a first draft in less than a week.
that is incredible! were there any songs that inspired you
as you wrote this novel? or songs that make you think of this novel?
I’m so glad you asked this question! There are a few songs
that were huge–”The Trouble with Jonah” by Gersey, “How
Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox 20, and “I’ve Seen Better Days”
by The Sublime. The song that had the most to do with creating
the book, though, is called “Time Turned Fragile” by Motion
City Soundtrack. The song was actually written about a father
and a son, but it works so well for Jonah and Jesse’s dynamic,
of one brother looking after the other–”You used to say that
you’re just fine, but I still wonder all the time,” and later in the
song–”I know I say that I’m just fine, but I hope you wonder
from time to time.” Beautiful song.
i’m totally searching for these songs online!
what is a young adult book you read this year that really
struck you?
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. I’ve already read it twice.
Damn, that book is good. I also fell hard for Someday This Pain
Will be Useful to You by Peter Cameron.
if you could follow in the footsteps of another author
career wise, who would it be?
Oh hey, I just mentioned her–Laurie Halse Anderson. I mean,
my God, that woman is amazing. Everything she writes is just
fantastic, and she keeps producing these books that are just
total sensations, one right after the other. What I love about her
is that she has a niche to the extent that you have a vague idea
what to expect from her books, but she gives herself enough
freedom so you’re still surprised. But you get the heartbreaking
heroines, well-researched scenarios, and tough family situations
you want from one of her books. She’s great. And I love how
prolific she is. I want to crank out one book after another after another.
BREAK floored me not only due to the wonderful and strong
writing, but for the depth of emotions that we see living through
jonah’s eyes. how did you relate to your hero? did you draw upon
your own emotional journeys?
Aw, thank you! Honestly, very little of what Jonah goes through
is anything I’ve personally experienced. I’ve had my own tangos
with self-destruction, I suppose, and I absolutely know a lot of
the emotions Jonah has when he’s in the hospital–particularly
the combination of feeling incredibly guilty for disappointing
people who love you and simultaneously angry with them for
making your struggles about them. That frustration was a
cornerstone for Jonah, and I think it was important to know that.
But most of Jonah’s stuff is foreign to me. Everything with siblings
is imagined; I have one sister, and our relationship is quite
different from Jonah’s and Jesse’s.
i love that you were able to channel jonah so truly.
and finally what is your favorite pastry? =D
Blueberry muffins.
in celebration of hannah’s debut release, i’m
giving away one copy of BREAK to the lucky
winner who leaves a comment answering this
question :
have you ever broken a bone? if so which?
if not, what is one of the most memorable
ouch injuries that you’ve endured?
winner will be randomly chosen some
time on friday night, 11/13! =D
to learn more about hannah : untilhannah.com
33 Comments
Wow, great interview! So inspiring that Hannah is only 18 :D
I’ve broken (fractured) my wrist once, when I was roller skating in fifth grade.
Never broken a bone, a fact for which I was always proud. I have dislocated my knee cap. Repeatedly. It turns out that sort of injury doesn’t make you stronger :-/
Hannah’s book sound fantastic! Yay for young writers!
I broke my arm across my elbow when I was 3. I was doing a cartwheel and things went…wrong. I still remember the snap, the dangling as I ran to my mom. I had to have pins put in my elbow and stayed in the hospital for three weeks in traction so it’d grow back right.
Break sounds like a great book, I can’t wait to read it!
I broke my pinky toe when I was nine. I decided to run to the phone and hit my foot on the corner as I ran. Answered the phone, had a short conversation, put the phone down and noticed my toe stuck out at a 90degree angle. I think everyone in the neighborhood heard my scream, lol.
Great contest! I SO want to read this book! As for your question… Have I ever broken a bone? That would be a yes.
When I was 6 I fell off the bars at school and I landed face first in gravel and broke my nose… BAD. I had to have surgery to have it fixed. THEN, just last wed, I ran into a door and managed to break my little toe in 4 places. Yep, 4! 3 shots in my foot later it was put back in place. :o) Other broken bones – foot a few years ago, a different toe this past July.
I’ve heard great things about BREAK… thanks for the interview! I love Motion City Soundtrack! :)
I have never broken a bone, but I did have to get stitches once! I used to work at Subway and I accidentally cut myself! I was cutting open a bun to make a sandwhich and cut around my finger – thru the nail and everything! I hit an artery in my finger and had to go the ER. It only took 3 stitches to close it up though!
Sounds like an amazing book! Thanks for posting this awesome interview, Cindy! I have broken both baby toes and fractured my middle finger — seriously :)
I love Hannah and I’ve been dying to get her book for ages now. I’m so behind on book shopping. I will at some point though for sure. I NEED to read it.
Great interview.
I haven’t broken anything completely but I have fractured my ankle. I was in a play in 8th grade, practicing some dance moves. I did a leap and twisted my ankle and pop! It was fractured.
First of all, congrats to Hannah! Cheers!
No broken bones here, not even when my horse fell on me, but a few months ago I walked barefoot, in the dark, through my office and accidentally kicked a drill that I had left on the floor. Punched a nice, big, star drill bit shaped hole in the underside of my pinky toe. Very gross, not as painful as it sounds, and healed quite nicely.
Indeed! Congratulations Hannah! I will try not to grumble too much. (18? Really? Damn. lol)
Broken bones? Wow, talk about filling a novel.
Left arm when I was two and decided to roll down some stairs. Right ankle in grade school, although it was really only cracked with a small chip broken off. Concussion of the knocking you out kind in middle school (took a header from three bleachers up although it did take about 30 minutes for me to pass out). 4th and 5th ribs on the right right side ripped out of my sternum (rinse and repeat this several times over the years) 6th rib on the left side broken around 25 or 26. Concussion of the “lose memory of high school kind” around the same age. Spiral fracture on the left arm around 5 or 6 years ago, and the back injury that was worse than any broken bone and had to saw through bones to fix. ;)
Like I said in Twitter… walking wound. Italian trait of being too stubborn to know when to just collapse. lol
Great interview! I’m so excited for our Shady. :)
I’ve never worn a cast for a broken bone, but I’ve chipped both my elbows (one playing roller hockey, the other in the shower), broken a tiny bone in my foot salsa dancing, and I had a pressure fracture in a vertebrae from field hockey.
I’m fairly accident prone…
Awesome interview, ladies!! And Hannah, you are SUCH a talent. I can’t wait to read BREAK!
Most memorable (and only) broken bone – I got my boyfriend’s ring stuck on my finger in college –just woke up one morning with my finger turning purple- and after a day of desperately trying everything to get it off, finally had my sister’s boyfriend twist it until it came off, while I drank straight vodka for the pain. (ahh, college. :) In the middle of it my finger broke, but he kept going until the ring came off. I called him some pretty creative names, I think.
Epilogue: I married the boyfriend, and the ring is on a necklace around my neck right now. Sister married her boyfriend. I have no idea what the moral to this story is, except Love Hurts. ;-)
Let’s seee…. broken bones. Right wrist in third grade, left wrist in fourth. CRUSHED the tip of my middle finger on my left hand. Other injuries include rust in my eye (Can’t remember which one…) in first grade, needed stitches for the crushed finger, had pencil lead dug out of my right hand in fourth grade… I’ve had sprains, twisted ankles, and plenty of illnesses to go along with the injuries.
Mark, however, had a fractured skull. so he takes the prize between us…. as well as other injuries I’m not gonna list. (trust me, you really do NOT wanna know! lol).
I’ll also readily admit that broken bones heal stronger where they’re broken… but ONLY where they’re broken… so…. yeah. Also, you typically end up with arthritis in those injuries OR problems with them hurting in cold or damp weather. (that came from the dr. who set BOTH wrists as well as from another who was trying to figure out what I’ve got going on with my right hand… long story.)
I’d HATE to be the kid who has every bone in his body broken… not something I’d recommend!!
The big one: I cracked my three bottom vertebrae and rammed my right femur up through my hip socket. Less injuries include a broken arm, a concussion, and breaking the middle finger on my right hand three years in row–all three years I played flag football.
I love the sound of this book! Can’t wait to read it. Fab interview too.
Breaks:
Broken arms 7 times over a period of um … seven years. 0_O
Worst break: Friend’s former racehorse took off with me, tried to jump a ditch. I fell off, horse trod on me. Broke two ribs and had boob like a bruised mango, not to mention perfect hoofprint-shaped bruise on thigh.
dude. you guys are scaring me.
hahaha! i love the stories!
Congrats, Hannah! The Purgs are so proud!
I have broken a leg and an ankle, but my worst ouch-ful injury was when I tore a muscle in my leg. It was wrongly diagnosed so we didn’t treat it right for months…finally, they sent me to a specialist and found the real problem and we cleared it up. Phew!
Congrats to Hannah and at 17 – wow, truly amazing and inspiring. Wonderful career ahead for her, I’m sure.
I have broken a few. I broke my knee cap when I was twelve – that has to be the worst. It was very, very painful. I have also broken minor things like fingers and toes (one broken right now, actually), and sprained wrists and ankles, etc. But the worst part? Almost every injury sustained out of sheer clumsiness. Oops, what can I say?:)
6 days! Wow.
I fractured an ankle in college when I was ice skating. I fell and this huge guy fell on top of me.
The premise of this story sounds so interesting! Cool!
Wow to answer the question:
Actually, I have never broken anything I’m aware of. (Keyword aware) Which is kind of scary. I do have a sternum injury which haunts me once in a while when I think I’m cute and can lift anything.
When I was ten I snapped my left leg in half jumping on the trampoline. And when I say snapped, I mean, SNAPPED. It was loud.
But, complicating things, the doctor who set it screwed it up, and through the course of trying to fix it killed all of the skin along my shin. Most of it grew back except a two-inch gaping hole in the center. I know have a perfectly gnarly J-shaped scar that I like to make up stories about involving baby hammerhead sharks.
When I was thirteen I was hit my a car, luckily my leg wasn’t broken but they were just fractured and the ligaments were torn.
And when I saw the X-ray it looked like something took a bite of my leg. Ew.
Great interview and good luck everyone!
Yay Hannah! I’m so excited to get my hands on BREAK. For some reason, I thought it was coming out in December. Great interview!
My brother broke my wrist in two places when I was about eight. He boosted me off his feet off of a retaining wall. I certainly flew, and I certainly fell.
Ouch.
Oh, cool!
When I was around seven, I was hit by a motorcycle.
My friend had thrown something across the street, and silly little me thought it would be okay to walk across and get it. I heard the motorcycle before I saw it. The sound is so unforgettable, I still have nightmares where I hear the noise. So, it hit me. They say I flung ten feet away. A few broken ribs, broken nose, and lots of scratches and wounds. It was so scary.
Never broken a bone (knocking on wood) … but my most memorable “ouch” injury would be when I was 5 and we were out swiping pears from one of the neighbor’s trees and in a rush to not get caught or get in trouble, I tripped over a barb on the fence and had a gash that ran from the top of my foot all the way to my knee.
Top that off with a tetanus shot and you’ve got a reminder that there is NO fruit on ANY tree THAT good.
In sixth grade at recess, my friend and I were running about, playing tag I think. She had this brilliant idea and stuck her foot out to trip me and keep me from tagging her. Next thing I knew, I’m lying flat on my back, stunned, and I noticed something was…wrong. Struggled to sit up and my left leg was propped up by my left foot, which was pointed a bit past backwards, having turned counterclockwise to the five position. Not only did I have a cracked ankle, I had a sprain so bad they put my leg in a cast six weeks to immobilize it! I was so grossed out by the sight I promptly sat up and turned my foot around to point the right way. Apparently it was the right decision, because when the teachers got there they didn’t believe that my foot was pointing backwards, nor did the doctor in the ER believe me. I was told an ankle can’t dislocate like that. Well, I’m proof it can! :)
And then there was the time I slipped in the shower in jr. high and fractured my tailbone. Painful!
This happened in 6th grade. I was going down some stairs fast, and I wasn’t holding the railing because I was carrying textbooks. When I was almost near the bottom I lost my footing and fell. Hard! I got up, and my left ankle hurt so badly! It became swollen, and I felt dizzy for the rest of the day & almost felt like passing out in one of my classes. I was limping for about 2 weeks after that. I never went to the doctor to get it checked. That was really stupid of me. It randomly starts hurting ’til this day. :(
I’ve broken my arms three times.
The first time was when I was 2. Some kids were jumping off of a picnic table, and I wanted to join them. When I got to the edge, it was too high and it frightened me, so I turned around to climb down—but the boy behind me was impatient and pushed me off. My mother didn’t believe me or take me to see the doctor for two days.
The second time, I was doing a cartwheel on some vertically stacked gymnastics mats and fell, landing on the concrete between the wall and the mats on the floor. That break was visibly obvious, and I went to the hospital in an ambulance. My mom was stunned.
The third time, I rode over a big rock on my bike and rode into the mailbox. My arm hurt tons, but my mother (again) didn’t believe me. She took me to the doctor’s office two or three days later (when it swelled up) and asked them to please take an xray so I would shut up. They came back saying, “Mommy Dearest, your daughter has fractured her wrist.”
After that, my mother started to believe me and my dad figured out an algebraic formula to predict when my next break would come. (But he was wrong…)
never broken a bone. But when I was little I was playing water balloon fight with all my older cousins and of course one of them throws one at me right at my feet and I go tumbling down pebbled driveway my grams had. I scraped my knee up really bad and I had this huge gash on the left side of my body since of course I was only wearing a bathing suit. My arms and legs and practically whole body was covered in scratches. But luckily I have only one scar left from that day on my knee! The wonders of aloe vera!!!! Serious that stuff cures EVERYTHING!
Alas, my only broken bone occurred when my toe met the wrong side of a swim paddle during swim practice at age fourteen.
And I already own a copy of the wonderful Break, so no need to enter me in the contest, Cindy. Great interview, though! :)
Inspiring interview! Congrats and continued success to Hannah.
I’ve broken a few tiny bones in both my hands. From punching walls. On two different occasions.
My most memorable ouch (no broken bones thus far): I got my teeth knocked out by a golf club when I was 16. Yeah. Ouch.
I’ve never broken a bone, thankfully. A friend did accidentally slam a car door on my pinky right up near the knuckle once and I’m sure it came close to breaking. Getting the locked door open while shouting at the pain was indeed memorable! It was one of those 80’s cars, too, so no soft closing door with a big rubber/foam seal, just hard metal on finger.