One to Read:

Alan Barillaro

by Raven Howell

There’s that “in between” time in youth, growing out of elementary experiences, yet not quite ready to take on the emotional worries of adulthood. Academy Award-winning writer and director Alan Barillaro’s stirring debut book, Where the Water Takes Us (Candlewick), tackles this subject. The book features main character Ava’s conflict about what she can and cannot change related to anxiety about her mother’s pregnancy.

The book is categorized as a “young reader,” but its message is universal, encompassing intergenerational relationships. Alan says, “When I was younger, there wasn’t a strong distinction in our house to what an adult novel or a young person’s novel was and I think this maybe plays into my approach. Instead, my mother would say, “You’ll find that one harder to read and a bit boring.” Being boring is much more of a concern to me. So, the story comes first, and I don’t know what age it’s for until the novel starts to take real shape. I fear I’d make the mistake of limiting what the story could be about if I start with a reader age-range.”

Alan’s creative contribution to young generations is recognized worldwide. He wrote and directed the animated short film, Piper and was involved in animation on The Incredibles movies, WALL-E, and Brave. He was only sixteen years old when he began this phenomenal career in animation but has always had an interest in writing as well.