Interview with Jan Coates

What was the first spark for this story?

The impetus for this story came from the Sheriko family, who facilitated Wolfville minor basketball for many years while living with cancer in their midst. The Sherikos eventually began a summer camp in Prince Edward Island specifically for kids living with chronic illness in the family. I’ll be sharing a portion of my royalties from this book with Camp Triumph, the mission statement of which is: “to acknowledge, support, and provide an opportunity for children and youth, whose families are affected by chronic illness or disability, by building confidence and positive self-esteem through modeling, perseverance, respect, and understanding.”

My parents both lived with cancer for many years before their premature deaths, so I have some personal experience with the “C Monster” as well. And I have a soft spot for kids who love sports and play with heart, but who aren’t necessarily the best players.

There are a number of compelling themes in this story but which one would you most like your readers to focus on?

When people ask what the book is about, I typically say “basketball,” but really this is a story about a boy who loves his family and basketball, discovering that there are different ways of becoming a “hero,” through hard work, drive, and determination.

Bobby needs, above all, to gain self-confidence as his story opens. What do you think is the key that opens the door for him?

Something I’ve learned as a parent over the years is that motivation and desire are sometimes even more important than ability in many areas—academic, leadership, artistic, or athletic pursuits. I didn’t know that when I was a kid. I believed it was only the people who were born with certain talents who achieved excellence. So for Bobby, it’s his desire—both to play basketball and help in his dad’s struggle with cancer—that gives him the confidence to succeed. Well, that, and the hours he puts in practicing basketball and organizing Hoop Heroes 4 Health.

You like to catch the voices of young people in your dialogue. How do you know about that?

Quite honestly, I’m a shameless eavesdropper. Whenever I’m around young people, I listen closely, and I also ask people with kids the age of my characters to share any expressions they hear their kids using a lot. I do a lot of reading out loud when I’m writing, trying to see if the dialogue sounds “real.’ I suppose reading other middle grade novels is also a source I use for hints about writing realistic dialogue. I wish I had middle-grade readers available to proofread my books, but I don’t since my own kids are in their twenties now.

Roy is the bad guy in the story—and yet in the end he’s changed. What does that say about the nature of bullies and bullying?

When my kids were younger, I spent a lot of time explaining to them that kids are often mean because of unfortunate circumstances in their lives beyond their control. In Roy’s case, his mom is on her own and has addiction issues, and he also has learning difficulties. Bullies aren’t born that way—over time, they become unhappy people who struggle to raise their own self-esteem by belittling other people. It’s hard for kids to understand this when they’re constantly being harassed or bothered by “mean” kids, but being advised to look for the story behind the bully’s behavior helps develop empathy in young people. I don’t believe anybody, especially a kid, is predestined to be a bully for life. Sometimes, the right friend or the right activity (in Roy’s case, helping with the Pee Wee team) at the right time can make all the difference.

Have you been, and are you now a basketball player—and were/are you on the D1 team?

Sadly, no, I’ve never played basketball, but I’ve always enjoyed watching the game. It’s one of the few sports I actually understand fairly well! I’ve been a badminton player all my life, and I played competitive badminton between the ages of fourteen and twenty, so any understanding I have of involvement in sports comes from that experience, and from watching my own kids play soccer and basketball.

Participating in sports, both organized and recreational, helps kids become stronger and develop in so many ways—problem-solving, social and leadership skills, self-discipline, work ethic, cooperation, and learning to focus, as well as the obvious health benefits of physical fitness. I wish all kids could have the opportunity to enjoy playing sports regularly.

What advice would you give young writers about where to find stories?

When I visit schools, I always encourage young writers to be nosey. Every single day there are things happening under your very nose that could provide the seeds of a great story. Use your imagination and ask, “What if?” Fiction is a wonderful thing in that the writer is in complete control of the characters’ lives in his/her story—the kind of control most kids dream of one day having over their own lives!

Thank you, Jan.