UNSINKABLE CAYENNE by Jessica Vitalis

I got the ARC of this book on NetGalley and it positively blew me away. This is one of the most beautiful novels in verse I’ve read this year. The story is real, visceral, and epitomizes the sacrifices we all make to “fit in.” It debuted yesterday, October 29, 2024.

Cayenne and her family drift from place to place, living in their van. It hasn’t been a bad life—Cayenne and her mother birdwatch in every new location, they have a cozy setup in the van, and they sing and dance and bond over campfires most nights. But they’ve never belonged anywhere.

As Cayenne enters seventh grade, her parents decide to settle down in a small Montana town. Cayenne hopes that this means she will finally fit in and make some friends. But it turns out that staying in one place isn’t easy.

As her social studies class studies the Titanic tragedy (the wreckage has just been discovered and her teacher is obsessed), Cayenne sees more and more parallels between the social strata of the infamous ship and her own life. Will she ever squeeze her way into the popular girls’ clique, even though they live in fancy houses on the hill, and she lives in a tiny, rundown home with chickens in the front yard? Is it possible that the rich boy she likes actually likes her back? Can she find a way to make room for herself in this town? Does she really want to? Maybe being “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

According to your website bio, you started writing books in third grade. What led you to write that first book at such a young age?

That first book was a school project, but I’ve always been a writer. I had a transient childhood, moving nearly 24 times before 4th grade, so I turned to books for companionship. Writing was a natural extension of my attempt to process my experiences. I grew up knowing I wanted to be an author, but without any tools or role models (this was before the internet), it took me until fairly late in life to start pursuing my dream, and then it took several more years (13, to be exact) before I got my first publishing deal.

Your skill with the written word is undeniable. Specifically, I love how UNSINKABLE CAYENNE examines the socioeconomic balances that permeate our daily lives. How did you know this was a story you needed to write?

Thank you, Karen! Unsinkable Cayenne is a story inspired by my own life; although Cayenne’s family is fictional, her longing to be accepted despite her poor, unconventional family is very true to my childhood, and I know it will resonate with modern readers. According to U.S. Census data, the poverty rate for children is an astonishing 17%. I’m in the unique position of being able to shine a light on these kids by writing from my lived experience, showing them that they don’t have to be defined by their socio-economic status, and my intention in writing this book (much like my previous book, Coyote Queen) is to give them hope for their futures. I am also fascinated by the Titanic, and I really wanted to explore how the socio-economics aboard the ill-fated ship might shine light on the modern middle school experience.

Fascinating! What is your favorite thing about writing for a middle grade audience?

Oh, gosh! Absolutely everything! I think my very favorite part about being a middle grade author is getting to connect with students during my school visits; I always share my personal story, and I can see how it resonates with the children who are stuck in difficult situations; knowing I’m giving them hope for their futures is deeply fulfilling.

One of many reasons why school visits can be so amazing for everyone involved. What are some of your current projects?

I have 3 projects in the works, but I’m taking a bit of a break in 2025 and will focus on promoting the books I have out and doing school visits rather than releasing anything new; writing and publishing four novels in four years has been a marathon of epic proportions, and I’m looking forward to slowing down a bit!

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