Author Interview: Rebecca Caprara

It was so much fun to chat with local children’s and young adult author Rebecca Caprara. Her books range from Greek mythology to multiverses and she has some really exciting projects coming out soon!

Leonora: You have a background in architecture, have you revisited the field as you transitioned to becoming a full-time author?

Rebecca: I still dabble in design, though at a smaller scale than the construction of libraries, schools, and other commercial projects I once worked on. Recently, I completed a multi-year renovation and expansion of my family’s 100+ year-old farmhouse in Massachusetts. While we wanted to put our own personal touch on the home and breathe new life into an aging property, it was important to respect the building’s history, as well as the surrounding landscape. Around the same time, I also began writing my novel Spin, a feminist re-imagining of Ovid’s myth of Arachne for young adult readers. As I juggled both projects, I thought a lot about the ways in which re-telling an ancient tale mimics the renovation of an old structure, each requiring reverence, thoughtful innovation, and heaps of patience. A sense of humor also helps when inevitable and innumerable “surprises” arise. Several common goals emerged: keep the good bones, honor the core spirit, improve the stale, failing, or ailing parts, subvert expectations, put a unique twist on things, shine light on the beautiful bits, create a space (or story) that makes people pause and reflect and want to return to again and again. 

I’m a visual thinker, and my background in architecture definitely impacts and informs my writing process—from early brainstorming sketches to messy color-coded rough drafts, elaborate worldbuilding, and detailed manuscript layouts. I love to explore the poetic parallels that emerge between design and writing, as well as other creative avenues like dance, sculpture, and music. I’ve come to realize that storytelling unifies all my work, regardless of the medium. And I’m grateful that I get to share these artistic outlets with my children, who inspire me daily with their own amazing creations. It’s a joy to see their creativity blossom as we experiment and make things together, from LEGO palaces to cardboard rocket ships, paintings, picture books, and more.

Leonora: A question from my daughter, Athena (10), about your book Spin: Why did you choose to have the story from the perspective of Arachne?

Rebecca: Thanks for the question, Athena! And what a perfect name you have for this interview! I was re-introduced to the character of Arachne a few years ago by way of Julie Taymor and a couple Broadway musicals. (That’s a whole other story, one you can read more about in this Boston Globe article, and a good reminder that creative sparks and story ideas can be found anywhere, so long as you keep your eyes and hearts open.) I vaguely remembered the Greek myth about a skilled mortal weaver who is turned into a spider by an angry goddess, but I wanted to learn more. After reading a few translations of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, I was struck by how timely and important Arachne’s story felt, especially in the midst of the #MeToo movement, which presented interesting and unsettling modern-day echoes to the myth. I hoped Arachne’s tale might resonate with a new generation of readers and serve as a rich scaffolding through which I could explore an array of contemporary issues.

While the premise of the original story fascinated me, I was angered by the myth’s ending, which felt wildly unfair. Many interpretations of the tale focus on the young woman’s hubris—deep (some say excessive) pride in her craft which leads to a fateful confrontation with the goddess Athena and ultimately to Arachne’s demise. But that undermines the true power of what Arachne achieves in the pivotal “duel of the looms” climax. I knew almost instantly that I wanted to write a version of the story that reclaimed Arachne’s narrative and gave her agency over her eventual transformation. I was eager to give color and texture and imagination to Arachne’s childhood and backstory (which are barely mentioned in Ovid’s version), so that readers could understand and appreciate a more fully developed character. To me, Arachne is not a villainess or monster; she is an unsung hero whose tenacity and hard work deserve celebration, not scorn. To accomplish all this, I knew the book needed to be told from her point of view. 

Leonora: Your science fiction books in the Mission Multiverse series for middle grades deal with serious and very real issues facing humankind. Do you hope that your books inspire middle-grade students to acknowledge the real challenges we face with climate change and work to solve them?

Rebecca: Definitely. I hope that my books inspire people of all ages to become empathetic, critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and mindful stewards of the planet. Unlike the kids in my multiverse books who can journey from dimension to dimension, we only have one planet, one home. So we’ve got to work together to take care of it and create a more sustainable future. 

Leonora: Both Worst-Case Collin and The Magic of Melwick Orchard have children overcoming hardships at a young age. Do you have any advice for parents to help their children deal with trauma or stress? 

Rebecca: I believe that one of the bravest things a person can do is reach out and ask for help. This is a recurring message in many of my books. It’s not always easy to admit when something isn’t right. It takes guts. It makes you feel vulnerable and nervous. You worry people will judge you. But I hope readers will recognize that just like the characters in my books, there are many people in their lives—relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, and more—who care about them and who are there to support them no matter what they’re going through. 

Books are wonderful safe spaces for kids to explore a wide range of scenarios, topics, and emotions. Stories can help readers feel calmer and less alone. They can build empathy, reduce stigma, and inspire more inclusive world-views. While Worst-Case Collin and The Magic of Melwick Orchard delve into some challenging issues (childhood cancer, economic hardship, anxiety, hoarding disorder, bullying, etc.) they also have many moments of levity, humor, friendship, and in some cases a touch of magic. Optimism and hope are very important in all my books for children and young adults, and I take care to balance the light and the dark in a way that feels honest but always hopeful. 

Leonora: So what’s next for you? What do we have to look forward to?

Rebecca: I’m thrilled to share that Worst-Case Collin comes out in paperback on October 8, 2024, and my brand-new novel titled The Ripple Effect publishes on February 18, 2025. Here’s what my publisher has to say about The Ripple Effect: 

When 6th grader Zella’s class prank flops, she’s given a second chance to leave a lasting impact in this middle-grade novel about redemption, friendship, and kindness. A perfect book club pick to inspire discussion, 8–12-year-old fans of Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree will love this hopeful story about the power of connection.

It’s the end of 6th grade and Zella wants to be the one who thinks of the best class prank—a long-held tradition that administrators allow, with parameters. In alternating chapters told by Zella, best friends Bowie and Janea, Shelby the school sleuth, and the town of Kettleby, Zella’s story reveals her quest to uphold her image as class clown and bask in the spotlight.

As a result, she loses sight of what’s going on in the lives of her two best friends and begins to cause more stress for her mom—who manages their family’s failing ice cream shop while caring for Pops. Zella doesn’t mean to cause trouble, but being twelve is hard. Everything is changing, and everyone seems so much cooler and better understood.

When her prank doesn’t go as planned, the entire class is punished, and Zella is to blame. But when Zella’s given a second chance, her small, subtle acts of thoughtfulness begin to grow. It turns out that redemption, friendship, and a remarkable chain of kindness tastes even sweeter than her family’s famous raspberry ripple ice cream.

With humor and heart, The Ripple Effect‘s themes of kindness and connection will inspire young readers to even greater compassion and generosity in their own lives.

Signed & personalized copies of all of Rebecca Caprara’s books can be ordered through the local independent bookseller, The Silver Unicorn in Acton, MA. To learn more, about Rebecca Caprara visit her website.