TAKING UP SPACE by Alyson Gerber

I first got to know Alyson Gerber’s books when I read FOCUSED, her Middle Grade book about a girl with ADHD. Her newest novel, TAKING UP SPACE, comes out in May:

Sarah loves basketball more than anything. Crushing it on the court makes her feel like she matters. And it’s the only thing that helps her ignore how much it hurts when her mom forgets to feed her.

But lately Sarah can’t even play basketball right. She’s slower now and missing shots she should be able to make. Her body doesn’t feel like it’s her own anymore. She’s worried that changing herself back to how she used to be is the only way she can take control over what’s happening.

When Sarah’s crush asks her to be partners in a cooking competition, she feels pulled in a million directions. She’ll have to dig deep to stand up for what she needs at home, be honest with her best friends, and accept that she doesn’t need to change to feel good about herself.

In our last interview, you said, “…the perspective of someone in middle school came very naturally to me, and I found that was a strength I could use to guide my storytelling.” Do you plan to keep writing in this age group, or are there other stories, in other age groups, that you’d like to explore?

Thank you so much for supporting my books! I am definitely starting to explore writing for other age groups. But I’m not ready to leave middle school just yet! My next project is a middle grade series. I can’t say much else other than that I’m digging deep into my New England prep school past and I’m excited to share this story with you soon!

Ooh, middle grade prep school stories are my favorite! And I love the way TAKING UP SPACE confronts body image. What do you hope readers take away from Sarah’s story?

That means a lot to me. TAKING UP SPACE is an #ownvoices novel about discovering your power, learning to believe in yourself, and finding the strength to take up space in the world. The main character, Sarah, is a seventh grade basketball player who is going through a lot of changes and struggling to feel good about her body and herself.

I wrote TAKING UP SPACE, because of the mixed-up way I saw myself at this age, as a person who wasn’t worthy of food or love. In my early drafts, I discovered I was writing a book about body image and also about self-worth and how we learn to value ourselves. And how for many of us that journey is long and complicated. My hope is that TAKING UP SPACE will help readers see that whoever they are and whatever challenges they’re up against, their feelings are real and they matter.

Such an important message. What has been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from a reader?

It’s hard for me to answer this question, because hearing from every reader is amazing and so rewarding. I value all the messages, emails, and letters I get from kids, parents, librarians, and teachers. The notes I receive are always honest and thoughtful and they make me want to keep writing.

I’ll bet! If there was one thing you could tell your younger writer self, what would it be and why?

Surround yourself with writers who really believe in you as much as you believe in them!