If you love exquisite and uplifting novels in verse, we have some very good news for you. Amber McBride's debut novel, Me (Moth), is a story about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe. Your debut novel-in-verse is a story of identity, first love, and the power of memory to help us move forward after tragedy. What inspired you to write Me (Moth)? I wrote this novel in verse while grieving—my own gray bearded grandfather passed away in February of 2019 and I was devastated.  I wanted to craft something tangible from that grief while remembering him. It takes a village to heal and thus the character of Sani who was primarily inspired by my aunt and cousins who are Navajo. The story is about two marginalized people who feel unseen. They decide to go on a road trip, share stories and see each other (similarities and differences)—they build a cocoon of stories to heal in. What was your favorite poem to write and why? There are two poems, Old South: Practice Apocalypse and Creation According to Sani, which I loved writing. It’s a pivotal moment during their road trip where they really open up (they both hold a lot of pain) and tell their stories with so much heart. I loved writing that moment, almost like in that moment they decided to cocoon together in the same hard shell. What do you hope readers will take away from this story? It’s a story about grief and growth—I hope that readers understand love (in all forms) can help you heal. I hope it inspires people to tell their own authentic stories.    What's one fact most people don't know about you? I wrote my first book when I was 12, it was called Once Apon A Story—spelt just like that (I was not a great speller when I was younger). The tagline was, A tale that everyone will injoy—spelt just like that. It was bound and was about a flying unicorn who befriend a girl who felt invisible and thus saved her life. What 3 words would you use to describe Me (Moth)? Wispy-souled, Hoodoo-girl and fierce.

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

A debut YA novel-in-verse by Amber McBride, Me (Moth) is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family, and a teen boy who crosses her path. Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted. Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones. Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable. Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.