Q. How are the poppets not like zombies?

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A. They aren’t gross or trying to eat you. Poppets are dead bodies that get brought back by chips and science to be free labor. They aren’t just machines or monsters though

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Q. Who is your favorite character in the book?

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A. Probably Moze, the boy from the wilds. He is the Jiminy Cricket for Ellie. He’s the one who helps her open her mind to understand that she’s been wrong about poppets even if she’s been kind to them.

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Q. Do you use your students as inspiration for your characters?

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A. All the time. In this series, Ellie is inspired by a Student Council president I had about 8 years ago. There’s a general who comes up in the next book who is based on a senior I have right now as well as four new characters in the fourth book who asked to be in the book.They’ll know who they are. The thing that’s cool about being a high school teacher is that I get to listen to teens all the time. Teenagers have life by the reins. They are so strong and open to new things, but also are so unsure. Writing a teen is infinitely more interesting than a close-minded adult.

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Q.What is your favorite scene in the book?

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A. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is absolutely the ending. You’ll have to wait to see why!

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Q. Will guys like this book even though there’s a girl protagonist?

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A. The funny thing is, Ellie is the protagonist, but maybe not the hero. There are many heroes that emerge in this world. I think guys can find themselves in Moze and Natan easily.

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#poppetsdonteatbrains