Readers note: 42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer has been nominated for the NYSRA Charlotte Award in the intermediate grades category. In a School Library Journal review (posted in our intermediate resources), the reviewer wrote, “Young people will appreciate this easy-to-read, empowering story” and the Charlotte committee would agree. Several 5th graders in Mrs. Wilcox’s fifth grade shared the following questions with Ms. Zimmer and she graciously replied.
What inspired you to write the book?
I was living in North Carolina and was really homesick for Cincinnati where all my family lived. Since I couldn’t often afford to travel home, I did so in my mind at least while writing JoEllen’s story. The poem “Friday Nights” was the first I wrote, with no real plan to start another narrative poetry collection. JoEllen’s story slowly unfolded through many drafts.
Why 42 Miles?
Although I never say exactly where JoEllen’s Dad lives in my mind the farm was always out in the school district where I first taught in Ohio (Ross) which is a wonderful rural community of farmers and a village. It’s about 42 Miles north of Cincinnati.
Why in poem form?
Poetry is my first love and probably my first voice, too. I have writer’s notebooks and journals going all the way back to the 4th grade and they are filled with poems.
Did you ever experience your parents splitting up?
Unfortunately, yes. My parents divorced after 25 years of marriage and it was so difficult. I think it’s always most difficult for kids.
Why was the main character a girl not a boy?
I have to really work to get inside the mind of a boy so I’m afraid my default main character is girl. The Floating Circus is my only story (so far) with a boy as main character, which I wrote for my own son, Cole.
Did Joe ever have any dogs or cats?
Not of her own, I saw her borrowing Hayden’s dogs (Rebel and Kate) and enjoying the farm animals.
In the picture under travel exhibit on page 11 is that a picture of your dad?
It isn’t. But my dad is pictured in Steady Hands on the “Welder” page if you’d like to see him. 
What’s next?
Next fall, Cousins of Clouds will be released. It is a poetry collection and non-fiction book completely about ELEPHANTS! I love elephants and took a typical school project idea (report about an animal) and had a hey day with it!
I’m hoping to be working on a new novel this summer, too.
Tracie Zimmer
June 8, 2009
