BBL 4th Graders gasped today when Newbery Award winning author Linda Sue Park told them how many times she revised her book When My Name Was Keoko. "Thirty-seven times," she said, and the students went into shock.
Ms. Park answered questions from our 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders via an hour-long Skype conference call. Each class had read one of her books. Their questions concerned how she wrote each book, which characters she related to, and what her life is like as a writer.
Ms. Park seemed genuinely impressed with the students' questions. She has met children across the country, but when a BBL 5th Grader asked, "What do you think are your strengths as a writer?," it was her turn to gasp. "Wow," she said. "Nobody has ever asked me that before!"
Ms. Park answered each question in depth. She also offered advice. "Read a lot," she said, "because it makes your brain strong." And for students who want to become writers? "Be nice to your parents. When you first start out as a writer you won't make a lot of money, and you'll have to live with them."
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