An Emotional Search with Cordelia Jensen
- Matthew C. Winner
- Aug 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 26, 2025
Cordelia Jensen, author of Lilac and the Switchback (Holiday House), joins Matthew to talk about belonging, change, and always keeping in mind that you’re writing a story.
Listen along:
About the book: Lilac and the Switchback by Cordelia Jensen. Published by Holiday House.
A riveting middle grade novel in verse for any kid who has ever felt unwanted, uncomfortable, or unsure of where they fit in.
Lilac has lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin ever since her mom died. She already feels like an “extra” member of a family that doesn’t have enough money or space.
Then she finds out her aunt is pregnant with twins, due soon after Lilac turns thirteen. How could they possibly want her around when they’ll have two more kids in their crowded home? As she struggles to process her feelings about the pregnancy, Lilac drifts apart from her best friend Callie, leaving Lilac lonelier than ever.
In a timely twist of fate, Lilac discovers a check sent by her estranged father. Maybe he is the family she’s been looking for... and maybe it’s worth risking everything to find him. After all, how much does the “extra” kid really have to lose?
Poignant, and full of both growing pains and healing, this sensitive story told in lyrical verse is just right for fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Andrea Beatriz Arango.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
More:
Visit Cordelia Jensen online at www.cordeliajensen.com
Other helpful links:
Revising Your Novel in Verse: An Online Course - Ready to refine your verse novel? Join award-winning verse novelist Cordelia Jensen for an in-depth exploration of revision techniques—focusing on emotional arc, pacing, structure, and line edits—culminating in small-group poem workshops.
Transcript:
For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit https://deepcast.fm/podcast/the-childrens-book-podcast
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