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| Kyle Lukoff | |
Kyle Lukoff is the author of When Aidan Became a Brother, A Storytelling of Ravens and many other books for young readers. He spent 10 years working in bookstores and nine more years as a school librarian, and now he writes full time. Earlier this week, Too Bright to See (Dial Books) won the Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's Literature Award and a John Newbery Medal honor.
Congratulations! How are you feeling? What are you thinking?
It's so intense! Especially since I was a librarian for a long time, served on the Stonewall committee for two years and am friends with a number of former Newbery committee members (who have been very patient with my frantic questions). Back when the ALA Annual conference was canceled in 2020, I joked "Well, I'll just have to win another Stonewall," but I didn't mean for anyone to take that literally. And a Newbery honor... that has never been a real goal because that award belongs to real authors like Lois Lowry or Meg Medina, not people like me. The possibility had been hovering in my mind, but more as a daydream than a prediction. So I am currently having to adjust to a new reality where something unbelievable is, in fact, concrete.
You and Kaylani Juanita received the 2020 award for the picture book When Aidan Became a Brother. But this is your first solo win, and Too Bright to See is your first middle-grade novel. What inspired you to write it?
When I started Too Bright to See, I was working as a school librarian. I had sold my debut picture book but was still figuring out how I was going to make my mark as a trans writer who explored that part of my life and community in literature. At the time I didn't know of any middle-grade novels about trans boys and thought that I was as good a person as any to fill that gap, so set my mind to creating one.
What made you want to have spooky elements in this story?
I had been talking to a parent in my library before the school day started and was saying, "I want to write a middle-grade trans boy book, but I also want to write a ghost story using this sentence my dad used in a story he wrote when he was younger." Then the lightning strike of "why not both" crashed into my skull, and the whole story unfurled like a carpet in that moment.
Who do you hope reads this book?
I've been working in bookstores or libraries for over 20 years, which means that I am confident in the knowledge that not every book is for every person. But I hope kids who like scary stories pick it up. I hope kids who are nervous about middle school pick it up and know they're not alone in that feeling. I hope kids who know they're trans read this and are like, "Hey that's me, that's cool!" And I hope some kids pick it up and are like, "Hey... that might be me. That's cool."
Have you been able to meet with readers, either virtually or in person, to chat about this book since it published? What was that like?
I have! Many virtual events, and I was lucky enough to visit four schools in person. The most wonderful part is always when queer or trans kids share that with me, whether it's in a chat box or hanging at the back of a signing line. Even in the midst of transformatively difficult times, the energy that young people have, the questions they ask and the answers they create, is hugely powerful.
Are you working on anything right now?
I am! Two active projects, and one very special book that is gently simmering in my mind.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to Shelf Awareness readers?
I came up with "Newstoneberywall" to refer to the two awards, which I find delightful, and if that term spread, I would be quite pleased. I also think I'm the first person to write a book that overlaps those two categories, which, as a lover of both categories and what spans them, adds an extra soupçon of satisfaction to the whole situation. --Siân Gaetano, children's/YA editor, Shelf Awareness