Interview with Denise Lewis Patrick about Melody

With the release of Melody's journal, American Girl interviewed her author, Denise Lewis Patrick, about Melody!

Why is Melody’s story important?

One reason is that she shows how a young person can have really big feelings about what’s going on around her. Melody speaks out about what she feels when she sees something that’s unfair, or when she’s curious and has questions. Her story shows other children that it’s okay to express what you’re feeling inside, and that there are grownups who will listen and who will help and encourage you to look for answers to some of those big questions that you have.

How are you like Melody? How are you different?

I’m like Melody because I’m interested in my community. I am very curious about the world, and the things that are happening in it, and what I might do to make it better. Another way we’re alike is I grew up in a large extended family. I’m different than Melody because I’m not a “take charge” kind of person. I have a lot of ideas about things, but Melody is different. She’s not just sitting around thinking about what needs to change, or what to do about it. She believes in action. And I actually like that a lot about Melody. Oh, and one huge difference between myself and Melody is that I cannot sing! I like singing, I love listening to music, but I really don’t sing very well at all. So I only sing at home—mostly when everyone else is out of the house!

How was it different telling Melody’s story as a first-person illustrated diary versus a third-person novel?

Writing in a first-person diary format was a neat challenge. I had to do more than imagine Melody’s actions and reactions to people and events. I couldn’t write the diary as just a writer describing a ten-year-old girl’s feelings. I had to think about every situation in a totally different way— I had to be Melody, describing her own feelings!