Check out our interview with Leslie Adame, the author of "Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen is the sequel to the first book of my Mexican American magic school series called Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic. The series revolves around Chloe Vega, the daughter of undocumented immigrants who fights to stay united with her family against outside forces both in and out of the magical world who want to separate them while also training how to use her magical abilities at an elite magical academy. The second book features themes of imposter syndrome and Chloe learning she does belong in rooms that and spaces that weren't designed for her. It's a feeling a lot of first-generation children of immigrants experience and I wanted to highlight that in this book!
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow to me means being proud and intentional of what you consume. That means reading books with characters that are not often represented or include themes that have historically not been discussed. We can learn so much about other communities and cultures by reading about their stories, and I think that's wonderful.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Writing a middle grade book with magical themes about a girl and her undocumented parents makes it easier for people to digest themes that they may otherwise feel difficult to digest. The Chloe Vega series is fun to read but also educates readers on what it's like to live in a mixed status family, and I think that helps people understand and grow more empathy for the situation folks like Chloe's family are in.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
The Chloe Vega series features Chloe as she attends a magical secret agent academy with students across the Americas and the Caribbean to learn how to harness her magic and rescue her loved ones from a cunning and evil sorcerer who wants to bring harm to non-magicals. Before Chloe even learns this magical world exists, her Mexican parents used to be part of the organization she's training to be part of, but were forced to flee to the United States and hide a magical opal gem that the evil sorcerer planned to use to accomplish his goals. Chloe's parents are now living in the US as undocumented immigrants, and Chloe has to balance learning about this new magical world while also navigating her concerns surrounding ICE and her parents potentially being detained one day. It's full of love, friendship, and huge stakes that Kirkus called a 'socially-conscious fantasy full of danger, discovery, and heart.'
What can fans expect from your book?
Heart, action, and humor even in the face of adversity. Many parents have shared that this book was a good gateway to have conversations with their children about immigration and everything going on right now. It's perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson series and is written in a way that is very digestible.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
