Questions. Questions.

To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer

​​Full disclosure: Initially I skimmed this book's  back cover and concluded that it was a remake of The Parent Trap. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the movie. So, no. I wasn't interested. But... this middle grade novel was by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer.  I reasoned that two extremely talented authors would write something more than a warmed-over Disney movie script. Once I started reading I was hooked. 
​​Reasons why I loved this book:
Point one: The girls are interesting individuals, not plot contrivances. While they have a west coast vs. east coast point of view, they have enough unique traits to transcend the California and New York City stereotypes. 

Point two: The dads.  These men are neither good guys nor bad guys. They are guys.  They are dads. They make some good decisions, arrive at some conclusions based inaccurate assumptions. They make mistakes. They love their families.

Point three: Supporting characters, especially Bett's grandma and Avery's birth mother are not phantom shadows or cardboard standees. Even campers are not one-dimensional. ​The snobby camper reveals a surprising side near the end of the book. 

Point four: There are no simpering, sniveling, demanding rivals trying to destroy each girl's relationship with her father.  The adults are adults. Readers will be cheering for a resolution that will help all characters build fulfilling, happy lives. 

Point five: There are plenty of interesting plot twists to keep readers engaged. Some are telegraphed early on, others are hinted at as the story progresses. A few caught me by surprise.  This is not a Disney remake.  Prepare to be delighted and surprised in a good way.

I Have Questions

After reading To Night Owl From Dogfish I found I had several questions.  After a quick internet search, I could not find answers to my questions, so am posing my questions for Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer online.

• What inspired you to create this story of two girls being raised by single gay dads?
• Did you have the plot in mind from the outset or did the story evolve as you wrote?
• Was one of you the voice of Bett and one the voice of Avery?
• How did Gaga evolve?  What inspired the creation of this character?
• What about camp? Were those two very different camps based on personal experience?
• What brought the two of you together to write this book?
• What are the advantages of writing a middle grade novel together?
• What are the challenges of writing a middle grade novel together?

Music of Love

'Bonus: The 1998 version of The Parent Trap opens with Nat King Cole's “L.O.V.E.” ends with Natalie Cole's “This Will Be An Everlasting Love.” Both songs make a terrific soundtrack for To Night Owl From Dogfish. 

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 12, 2019  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0525553236