Well, one of our very favorite authors is back with another Great Book! We've shared the children's picture book, Where is Simon, Sandy? here on Wandering Educators. Now, author Donna Seim has a new book, a chapter book, called Hurricane Mia. It's also set in the Caribbean, where I imagine that it is very warm, compared to a cold winter in Michigan! This book takes you to the islands, and follows Mia (of the title) and her brother Jack and friend Neisha. It's interesting, because Mia is VERY real - she misses her friends, mopes around, spills nail polish, and sometimes makes poor choices. I loved her - she's a very relatable character. Even in the storm, though, she's VERY brave. I liked her a great deal. The book is illustrated by Susan Spellman - she truly brings the story to life.

Author Donna Seim and illustrator Susan Spellman with stormy weather in the background! 

We chatted with Donna about Hurricane Mia, Sandy, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your book, Hurricane Mia…

DS: Hi Lillie, so nice to hear from you again! It was great corresponding with you about my first book, Where is Simon, Sandy? and now we get to discuss, Hurricane Mia!

Hurricane Mia is a middle grade reader for ages 8-12 and up. I have found that the adult reviewers, which have given, Hurricane Mia, rave five star reviews, made a point to say how much they enjoyed reading Mia as well as their age appropriate children! 

In the story, Mia, a twelve year-old from Boston, learns that her mom has leukemia. She is suddenly whisked off, with her younger brother, Jack, to their grandparents’ home in the Caribbean, for the entire summer. Mia, finding that her summer plans are ruined, clashes with her grandmother, and becomes completely inconsolable. That is, until she meets Neisha, who lives on the island and whose mom owns a really cool café. The girls become fast friends and the plot thickens when Neisha tells Mia that there is a tea that cures everything. Their adventures begin as they search to find the tea and Mia’s hopes rise that this tea will be the answer to her prayers. If they do find the tea, will this be the cure for her mother? But as things often go, it is not so easy - Auntie Cecilia, who makes the tea, lives on a different island. Mia, Neisha, and younger brother Jack will take you with them to far-away islands on their hair-raising adventures to find the elusive, magical tea!

Hurricane Mia - Cecilia making tea

WE: What inspired you to write Hurricane Mia?

DS: My love of the Caribbean, and Turks and Caicos Islands in particular, gave me the desire to write a story set on these islands. I also wanted to write a story about two girls from contrasting cultures and how a friendship could develop despite their environmental and cultural differences. And in the end, despite differences of life style and cultures, find that they gain strength from one another’s differences, forming strong bonds that lead to a true and lasting friendship.

I also wanted to write a page-turning adventure story that would take my readers to a place they have never been before. And I must admit, I love the idea of a tea that would cure everything! I think we could all use a little or a lot of that!

Mia

Neisha

WE: I see that Sandy makes an appearance in this book - how is she? Will she be a constant in all your books (we love her!)? 

DS: Thanks for loving Sandy, the little donkey that wouldn’t quit! She is near and dear to me too! The children on the islands know the story by heart and love it as their own book, which is so true!

The funny part of having a Sandy in both my books, was that I was actually doing research for Hurricane Mia when I learned the story of a little donkey who kept delivering the water even when her master could not. Although, I love the name Sandy, I was totally aware that I had already used it in Where is Simon, Sandy?! I thought about changing it, but my editor said, “Why? Sandy is a good name and besides this one is Sawndee! And the Sawndee is a horse not a donkey so it’s okay!” We laughed and the name was kept for both. But I don’t think I will use it again. I am working now on a picture book, a follow up to Where is Simon, Sandy? This one is about a wild horse and a little girl who tries to tame him for her own. She names him Little Star, from the white star on his forehead.

storm in the Caribbean

WE: Have you experienced a hurricane? How did you know what to write about what Mia and her friends went through?

DS: I have never been in a severe hurricane like Hurricane Ike that devastated 80% of the island of Grand Turk. I was fortunately not on island, but saw the aftermath.  The people all survived, which is in itself a miracle. They lived to tell their stories! However, the name of the book is really more about the girl than the weather. True, weather plays a vital role, but what is going on inside Mia is the real hurricane here.

To answer your second question, I have had many experiences on the sea, including witnessing a black rope, or what is called a waterspout. This is basically a small tornado where the water from the sea is sucked up into the air creating the illusion of a long black rope dangling from the sky. Terrifying to witness!

I have been on many boat rides to and from the other islands, some starting out clear and smooth like a dream. But more that one ended up tossing us to and fro in white caps, leaving us holding on for dear life. I have kissed the beach more than once upon safe arrival, finding myself drenched to the skin and weak in the knees. Sudden change of weather is common! The rainbow, thought of as good luck, is often a sign of torrential rain after perfectly brilliant sunny skies.

There are many sandbars throughout the Turks and Caicos shores, as well as dangerous reefs that have claimed many a ship. The loss of The Dragon Fly, in these tumultuous waters, was a very real possibility.  I have personally swam with, and fed stingrays - quite an awesome experience. Although not environmentally correct, as far as the feeding goes, now, we only swim with them. Barracudas have flanked my husband more than once while he was snorkeling. One late afternoon we were walking along the edge of the sea and found that a four-foot long, we think Lemon Shark, was swimming right along with us. And we had heard of the story of a turtle that was covered in tar, and saved by wiping the tar away with a clean towel. I could elaborate more, but trust me! Everything described in the book could actually have taken place. With some artistic allowances, of course, most of what I have written is based on first-hand experience!

kids in the water

WE: Is there anything else you would like to share with us? 

DS: I must admit that the writing of Hurricane Mia was a huge part of my life for quite a few years. The research for the book was not only reading about real life Grannies and Bush Doctors, but actually traveling to meet them. My husband and I went on an eco tour to North and Middle Caicos, with Bryan Naqqi Manco, an environmental officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Thanks to Bryan, we were introduced to a bush doctor and spent an afternoon talking with him and learning about which plant is good for a headache by simply slipping it into the lining of your hat, and which is used for intestinal distress. I took notes, but it would take a lengthy apprenticeship to begin to learn the flora and all of its medicinal values. I was also delighted to meet some real life Grannies and hear some of their stories. (A Granny is generally thought of as a midwife, but can be more than that.)

The idea of the tea intrigued me. A friend, who was seriously ill, told me about a mysterious tea that she drank three times a day and felt certain that it was making her better. Then I came across a book, entitled Our Fortunate Islands, written in the 1920’s. In this book an Auntie Cecile was described as a granny whose claim to fame was that no one she treated ever died! I went on to read of some of her hair-raising cures. Pretty scary stuff, such as using a rusty nail to extract a tooth! But that gave me the idea of a granny, named Auntie Cecilia, who would make the tea that cures everything.

I love to travel to new and unusual places. I do believe that traveling inspires us to be creative and reap so much more out of life. It is truly through my wanderings that I have been inspired to write Hurricane Mia!

Thanks so much, Lillie, for this opportunity to tell you about my wanderings and share how Hurricane Mia evolved into her very own book!

Donna, Susan, and kids on island
 

WE: Thanks so very much, Donna - we love your book!

For more information, please see:

http://www.donnaseim.com/hurricanemia.html

Note: we received a review copy of Hurricane Mia - thank you!