Caterpillar Summer: Set in North Carolina, new book for kids by Cary author earning rave reviews

Meet Gillian McDunn, the Cary author and mom behind "Caterpillar Summer," a new book set in a fictional place that might be familiar to Topsail Island fans and focuses on the relationship between a sister and her brother with special needs.

Posted 1:00 a.m. Mar 4, 2019 — Updated 1:00 a.m. Mar 4, 2019

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

"Caterpillar Summer," a new book for kids ages 8 to 12 by Cary author Gillian McDunn isn't even out yet, but already it's getting rave reviews. Based mostly on the North Carolina coast, the book follows the story of a girl named Cat and Chicken, her brother with special needs, who spend their summer with their grandparents on a fictional Gingerbread Island.

The coveted starred review from Kirkus says this: "The poignant story of Cat’s unexpected adventures on Gingerbread Island is told with tenderness and a keen sense of what can make—and break—family bonds."

The Publisher's Weekly starred review agrees: "Set against a cushioning backdrop of fishing, beach trips, and ice cream, McDunn’s poignant, gratifying debut about friendship and family encourages both empathy and hope."

And when the American Booksellers Association featured the book as an Indies Introduce selection, one reviewer wrote: "Each page radiates warmth, through summertime, familial love, reconciliation, and blooming new relationships. Cat’s story draws you in and invites you to stay. Both relaxing and compelling, Caterpillar Summer is a masterpiece in gentle sincerity."

The book's official release date is April 2. And McDunn will have a release party that's open to the public at 2 p.m., March 30, at Quail Ridge Books to celebrate. She also will be participating in this Saturday's Whirlikids Book Festival at McIntyre's Books in Pittsboro.

Full disclosure: I know Gillian. We are in the same writing group, and I'm thrilled to introduce her to Go Ask Mom readers.

I had a chance to read "Caterpillar Summer" and found myself wiping away tears at this tender story. Gillian captures perfectly the essence of a beach town, its rhythms and characters. And she's crafted a loving, but fraught relationship between a brother with special needs and a sister, who feels like she needs to do all she can to protect him. It's a storyline that I know will resonate with a lot of kids out there (and McDunn experienced during her own childhood). There is so much heart and love in this book that as I read it, I kept flipping back to the beautiful cover because I wanted to jump right in.

McDunn lives in Cary with her husband, three kids, ages 13, 12 and 9, and their dog Friday. Here's a Q&A about her new book and what's next.

Go Ask Mom: Caterpillar Summer comes out in just a few weeks, but this has been a process. What sparked the initial idea for the book and how long has it taken to get to today?

Gillian McDunn: When I write, I begin with relationships. I had the idea for a protective older sister who would keep her little brother safe, no matter what. After that, I started asking “what if” type questions until the story began to come together. I wanted to explore all kinds of family dynamics: siblings, mom-daughter, grandparent/grandchild. I was also inspired by my love for the North Carolina coast, which is where the book takes place.

The entire process from writing the very first draft to today took a little over three years.

GAM: Like Cat in the book, you also grew up with a brother with special needs. How much of your experience was similar to Cat's? What do you want to convey to kids who might also have a sibling with special needs?

GM: My brother Andy had multiple disabilities. From the time he came home from the hospital, he and I were very close—I was his sister, his helper, and his protector.

For "Caterpillar Summer," I was inspired by my relationship with Andy. I wanted to capture a multifaceted sibling relationship—where responsibility and love and joy all mix together. Chicken’s needs are very different from Andy’s, but I hope I captured some of the feel of my relationship with my brother.

As a child, I had a lot of responsibility and at times felt like it was too much to bear. I used to worry that those feelings meant I was weak, but now I know that’s not true. I hope that kids reading this story will realize it’s OK to ask for help.

GAM: North Carolina plays a central role in the story. Why was the N.C. beach a perfect spot to place for "Caterpillar Summer" to unfold? Is Gingerbread Island based on any place in particular?

GM: I grew up in Southern California, which has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Some of my happiest memories are from trips to the beach. But where I grew up, the Pacific Ocean is freezing cold! We would play in the water and then huddle in towels so we could warm up.

We moved to North Carolina after six years of living in landlocked St. Louis, and one of things I was most excited about was being able to take my kids to play on the beach. We moved here when they were 4 years old, 2 years old, and 4 weeks old, and took our first trip to Topsail Island a few weeks later.

I remember how special it felt to walk on the sand with my kids, smelling the ocean air, knowing that it would be much easier to give them some of those special memories at the beach. Then, a wave came toward me. I braced myself for the freezing-cold ocean that I expected—and the water was warm! It was a revelation. Something that was so familiar to me was suddenly completely new.

We had a fabulous weekend splashing in the waves, building sandcastles, searching for shark teeth and sea glass. "Caterpillar Summer" begins in San Francisco, but the majority of the story takes place on a fictional island I called Gingerbread Island. I made quite a few changes to the town, but people who know Topsail Island will recognize it.

GAM: You've gotten some amazing press and reviews for the book already. What does it feel like at this point? Sort of surreal?

GM: The whole experience has been lovely and strange. It’s still a happy shock to me every time someone reads my book! It’s very exciting to see "Caterpillar Summer" close to being out in the world. I really appreciate the warm welcome it’s received so far.

GAM: What's next for you?

GM: Release week is coming soon! The launch party will be at Quail Ridge Books at 2 p.m., March 30, and the official release day is April 2. Then I’ll be on tour with stops in St. Louis, Wichita, and Houston. For the month of April, I’ll be doing many school visits around the Triangle and attend festivals in San Antonio, TX, and Bowling Green, KY. I’m also working on my next book, which will be out in 2020. It is about girl friendships and social aggression.

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