Mindful, Happy Kids

Loretta Lopez: Middle Grade Author and Clinical Social Worker on Debut Novel "City Girls"

Elisabeth

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0:00 | 37:30

Loretta Lopez in conversation with Dr. Elisabeth Paige shares her writing journey from early encouragement and mentors to publishing her debut middle-grade novel, "City Girls", and explains how her work as a case manager for undocumented children inspired the character Elisa and the asylum storyline. She summarizes the book’s three 11-year-old protagonists—Elisa, Lucia, and Alice—each facing trauma, grief, divorce, or a parent’s illness as their friendship develops over a school year, and discusses using different narrative forms for each voice. Lopez addresses writing about abuse for middle graders, announces the Spanish translation coming in May, and describes a new novel-in-progress set in Guadalajara. 

You can find information about Dr. Elisabeth Paige at www.mindfulhappykids.com.