KV: What was the easiest part about writing this book?ĬO: The easiest part to write was the friendship between Lucely and Syd! I am lucky to have a lot of wonderful friendships to pull inspiration from, and I loved writing about two girls leaning on one another and being there for one another through it all.

I hope it helps people who are struggling know they’re not alone, and I hope it’s a tool for parents and teachers who need to talk about grief and loss with their kids. Though, like you said, when you open yourself up with such a personal topic, it will be challenging. There are times when I feel okay talking about grief as well, but since it’s such a big part of the book and the inspiration behind it, sometimes people will ask me about it without me expecting it and those times can be really difficult.

It could also be cathartic sometimes, but it was definitely challenging too. What was the most difficult part of writing Ghost Squad?ĬO: The hardest part was writing about family passing and death, as someone who is still learning to grapple with grief.

For the writer, however, it must be quite challenging to open yourself up in a way that allows you tap into that grief and convey it on a page like that. The death of a loved one can be devastating, and books like this can provide a way for us to cope with that loss. KV: Stories that create spaces where readers can inhabit and explore their grief are so important. I wanted kids to think about loss or see loss in a different way. I wanted to write about grief in a way that would open up the conversation but not steer it in any particular direction. We used to catch fireflies when we were younger, and when I learned of our folklore I always thought it would make a great story. So, what was the inspiration for Ghost Squad?ĬO: Ghost Squad was inspired by my brother whom we lost to cancer eight years ago. KV: I love that for many reasons, not least of which is the idea that we are never far from our loved ones, even if they no longer live among us. What are cucuyos, and where did this idea comes from?Ĭlaribel Ortega: The cucuyos (or fireflies) in Ghost Squad come from Dominican folklore, actually! The folklore says that fireflies are the souls of our lost loved ones watching over us. Karla Valenti: One of my favorite elements of the story were the cucuyos and the role they play in Lucely’s adventure.

Ghost squad book series