Meet the Sky

by McCall Hoyle

  I lean down to give Mom a kiss too before following him to his car.

  “You think Yesenia will be ready?” he asks as he holds the door open for me.

  “Probably. She’s pretty excited. And Alex was supposed to be at her house an hour ago.” But then Yesenia’s always pretty excited, especially when she can mark something huge off the bucket list, like inviting dates to the Sadie Hawkins dance.

  I smile at recent additions to the front seat. Finn has tucked his duct-taped Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff book in the compartment holders between the seats and a water bottle instead of a soda in the cup holder.

  As he walks around to his side, I inhale deeply and relax against the headrest. The sun sets behind the barn in a kaleidoscope of reds and fuchsias, signaling a beautiful end to the day and hinting at the possibility of tomorrow.

  And I remind myself to tell Yesenia about the Tennyson quote I found when I was studying earlier today. I’m surprised she’s never used it on me. I wrote it in the notes on my phone and plan to live by it this year—’Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

  She’ll like it. I know I do. Even though I don’t know exactly what the future holds, I’ve learned that I can’t control everything. And that’s okay. But I’ve also learned I don’t have to compromise my dreams.

  As Finn slides into the driver’s seat and reaches for my hand, I promise myself I’ll continue to chase those dreams, whether that’s tonight at this dance, in my relationships with the people I care about, or even at vet school if that’s what’s meant to be.

  An ocean-size smile stretches my face when I realize I’m starting to believe in happily-ever-afters after all.

  Acknowledgments

  I couldn’t write without my patient and supportive family. They love me despite this roller coaster ride of publishing books. Thanks especially to my mom and husband but also to my children, my sister and brother, my stepfather, my in-laws, and all the rest. You know who you are. If you’ve listened to me talk about writing or come to a book event, I’m talking to you.

  Thanks also to Laura Baker, one of the best writing coaches on the face of the planet. Her Discovering Story Magic lessons on character development and emotion always push me out of my comfort zone.

  A huge thanks to my student and teacher friends, and especially to my principal, Suzanne Jarrard, who allowed me to teach part-time so I could write and revise all the words, and to Alan Arena, who read for me and talked plot.

  Thanks to two of my best friends, who run and walk with me, albeit very slowly. Laurie Brown and Joy Parham have learned more about the business of writing and publishing than I’m sure they ever wanted or intended.

  No writer could make it without her tribe, so thanks to my ever-growing circle of writing friends, my 2014 and 2016 Golden Heart Award sisters; my dear friends and critique partners, Holly Bodger and Kim McCarron; and especially Amy DeLuca, my critique partner and kindred spirit.

  And of course, thanks to my dream agent, Amanda Leuck, and my dream editor, Jillian Manning. Without their belief in Sophie and her story, this book would not be possible.

  Discussion Questions for Meet the Sky

  1.At the beginning of the book, Sophie avoids risks at all costs. Finn confronts them head-on. Which do you think is the healthier way to approach risk-taking? Why?

  2.Alfred Lord Tennyson once said, “’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?

  3.As she and Finn experience the worsening storm together, Sophie gradually learns to give up control. When is a time you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone and gave up trying to control a situation? How did it work out for you? If you could, would you change how you handled the situation? Why or why not?

  4.Each of the chapters opens with an epigraph—a line of Tennyson poetry. Which line spoke to you the most? Explain.

  5.As an English teacher and a reader, I love symbolism. I love looking for hidden messages in the world around me. Did you notice any symbolism or motifs in Meet the Sky? How did they add additional depth to the story?

  6.If you didn’t notice any symbolism or motifs, think about and discuss what symbols you might have used in Meet the Sky or in any story about learning to take risks.

  7.All good stories are about dynamic characters that grow and change. What character do you think grows the most? Explain.

  8.Obviously, the overriding theme of Sophie’s story is one of learning to take risks, but there are several other underlying themes about the human spirit. What other themes did you notice, and how did they apply to you or the world around you?

  9.How important do you think the setting of Meet the Sky is to Sophie’s story? Would she be the same person and learn the same lessons without the Outer Banks and the hurricane? How does when and where you live affect all aspects of your life?

  10.How important is Finn to Sophie’s story? Would she have grown and learned the same lessons with another person? What sorts of people have you surrounded yourself with, and how do they affect your actions and emotions?

  Interview with McCall Hoyle

  1)This is now your second book. How was writing Meet the Sky a different experience from writing The Thing with Feathers?

  In The Thing with Feathers, most of the conflicts were internal issues that Emilie was struggling to overcome. There was danger, but it was mostly emotional danger. In Meet the Sky, Sophie is dealing with internal struggles and conflicts, but she’s also got a hurricane to contend with and the whole issue of being stranded with a guy she doesn’t like very much. The stories are very different, but I love them both and hope readers will too.

  2)Sophie is a girl who is carrying a lot of burdens in her life—watching over the family business, caring for her sister, and dealing with feelings of rejection after her dad left and Finn stood her up at her dance. And in many ways, she’s allowed the past to shape her future. What inspired her character? And what do you hope readers take away from her story?

  My father died unexpectedly when I was thirty. For several years, I was emotionally paralyzed by grief. I went about the business of living and raising my family and teaching, but I was frozen on the inside. Eventually, I was able to process a lot of my grief through writing. I never would have wanted to lose my dad so unexpectedly, but I learned a lot of important lessons about living every moment to the fullest and about opening my heart to others and taking risks. I want readers to think about how they can live their own lives to the fullest and embrace every day and all its ups and downs.

  3)Throughout Meet the Sky, the poetry of Tennyson makes an appearance, and Yesenia’s favorite quote, “’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” plays a part in Sophie’s decision to take some risks. What drew you to Tennyson’s work, and how much did the quotes help shape the book, or vice versa?

  All the Tennyson epigraphs in the book are important, but it was really that one line that started the whole story. As I mentioned earlier, losing my father was the one event that has shaped my life more than any other. My dad was all about taking risks and trying new things. He was not afraid to fail and get back up again. He was brave—a lot like Finn. I think we can learn a lot from people like that, especially if we tend to be a bit reticent and want to try to control everything—pointing to self here. And I think Tennyson’s quotation is about more than just taking risks in love. I think it’s about taking risks in general.

  4)Like Sophie, you once lived in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Can you share a little about that experience, and what drew you to use the setting in each of your books so far?

  The Outer Banks is the most ruggedly beautiful place I’ve ever lived or visited. The narrow strips of land that could have, maybe even should have, been wiped out by hurricanes and Nor’ easters always weather the storms. There is something in the resilience of the place and its people that draws me back again and again

  5)Did you ever experience a hurricane or storm while
you lived in North Carolina? If so, what was the experience like?

  I lived on the Outer Banks of North Carolina after graduating from college. I was newly married at the time. Mostly, I’m a scaredy cat, so we generally evacuated long before a storm made landfall. e did stay on the island for a Category One torm. The powerful force of nature was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, and that was during a minimal storm. I cannot imagine being on an island in an even more powerful storm.

  6)While he makes a brief appearance, Jim the cat is a very special feline in the book. Can you tell us more about him, and what inspired you to place him in the book?

  I am an animal lover and strongly believe we have much to learn about being better humans from animals. Jim is based on a cat that adopted my family. I often contemplate his amazingness. He is the true definition of a survivor. That little cat with his three-and-a-half legs has been through a lot of trauma. His horrific past could have made him really skittish, but it didn’t. He is the most trusting and content creature I’ve ever met, and he knows how to live in the moment. I think there is a really important lesson in there for most of us.

  7)Now for some fun questions. What things would you write down if you made a bucket list? Are there any items you feel you’ve already crossed off that list?

  Some things I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time or the opportunity yet are: hike the Appalachian Trail, see grizzly bears in the wild, visit Alaska, compete with my dog in agility competitions, read the Bible coverto-cover without skipping around.

  Some things I’ve actually checked off are: finishing a marathon and publishing a book.

  8)If you were stuck inside a closet during a bad storm, what would you grab to keep yourself entertained while you waited out the weather?

  Easy. Books and a book light.

  9)What is your favorite part about being an author?

  Hands down, the best part of being an author is seeing my books in the hands of my own high school and middle school students. A very, very close second is meeting new readers, teachers, and librarians and talking about books and the world.

  10)Finally, what are you working on next?

  I have so many ideas right now. I’m trying to narrow down the list. I feel certain readers can count on an uplifting story about a teenage girl who is either braver or stronger than she originally thinks.

  Emilie Day believes in playing it safe: she’s homeschooled, her best friend is her seizure dog, and she’s probably the only girl on the Outer Banks of North Carolina who can’t swim.

  Then Emilie’s mom enrolls her in public school, and Emilie goes from studying at home in her pj’s to halls full of strangers. To make matters worse, Emilie is paired with starting point guard Chatham York for a major research project on Emily Dickinson. She should be ecstatic when Chatham shows interest, but she has a problem. She hasn’t told anyone about her epilepsy.

  Emilie lives in fear her recently adjusted meds will fail and she’ll seize at school. Eventually, the worst happens, and she must decide whether to withdraw to safety or follow a dead poet’s advice and “dwell in possibility.”

  From Golden Heart award-winning author McCall Hoyle comes The Thing with Feathers, a story of overcoming fears, forging new friendships, and finding a first love, perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Robyn Schneider, and Sharon M. Draper.

  Available now wherever books are sold!

  About the Author

  McCall Hoyle writes honest YA novels about friendship, first love, and girls finding the strength to overcome great challenges. She is a high school English teacher. Her own less-than-perfect teenage experiences and those of the girls she teaches inspire many of the struggles in her books. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s spending time with her family and their odd assortment of pets—a food-obsessed beagle, a grumpy rescue cat, and a three-and-a-half-legged kitten. She has an English degree from Columbia College and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. She lives in a cottage in the woods in North Georgia, where she reads and writes every day. Learn more at mcallhoyle.com.