We had the pleasure of chatting with debut author Don P. Hooper about True True, which is a powerful and fast-paced YA contemporary novel and follows a Black teen from Brooklyn struggles to fit in at his almost entirely-white Manhattan prep school, resulting in a fight and a plan for vengeance.
Hi, Don! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey! I’m a writer and voice actor, who thinks Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest games of all time. My parents emigrated from Jamaica, which accounts for my love of well-seasoned food. And despite years of doing improv, I do have my serious moments. I care fiercely for my family, friends, and community. When I say “community” that extends beyond my neighborhood. It’s a bond from shared experiences, some of which are based in activism. I always want to learn and give back, make it easier for whoever is coming behind me. And this is totally unrelated, but I adore plants.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
It was sometime in elementary school. Whenever I couldn’t reason out what was going on in the world, or dealing with emotions I couldn’t quite manage or express, I would turn to my sister’s typewriter. When my fingers hit those keys, that was when I was able to give voice to everything my mouth couldn’t express.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Easy.
First book: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. 1st grade. Our teacher read us part of the book once a week, and it was taking so long to finish that I asked the librarian if I could borrow a copy because I couldn’t wait for the end.
Author motivation: “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. Plus comic books. Honestly there was a comic book called New Warriors and the leader of the team was Night Thrasher (Dwayne Taylor). I loved it so much. I wanted to write stories with black leads.
Can’t stop thinking about: Krik? Krak! By Edwidge Danticat. I read this in college. I was an engineering student so my time was focused on the sciences. But then I had a teacher introduce me to this book and it reminded me of my love of reading.
Your debut novel, True True, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Community. Truth. War. Healing. Voice.
What can readers expect?
To be immersed in Gil’s community and friends from page one. There are some introspective moments of philosophy, a STEM competition, martial arts, and a chase scene. But that’s not all. There’s also a budding romance, and a war that’s not physical. This story is about fighting to be heard and also dealing with the pressure you put on yourself to succeed. It moves fast, but when you’re done, give yourself time to have those conversations.
Where did the inspiration for True True come from?
It’s a mix of things. Definitely hearing from students at different schools who were experiencing racial injustices today was part of the motivation. But I also really wanted to show the spectrum of emotions a black teen from Brooklyn may experience in this situation. Give full life to him and his Caribbean community. Yes, struggle is intrinsic to this story, but there’s a lot of joyous moments too. Gil’s trying to find that balance. NYC does have a history of socio-economic issues related to schooling and education so it was the perfect place to explore this story.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Granma. Everytime Granma shows up on the page, she leaves a mark. Gil loves her so much that part of the pressure he puts on himself comes out of a need “not let her down.” She’s also inspirational. She’s fighting her own issues with health. Also there’s just this great dynamic between Gil, Rej, and Stretch, but specifically Gil and Rej. Both of their families are going through issues with immigration, but how they deal with it emotionally puts them at odds at times.
What do you hope your readers will take away from True True?
It’s okay to be uncomfortable. Have those conversations about bullying and systemic racism. Offer people the space to be heard and really listen to their stories, especially when they’ve been the victim. I hope that people understand the power of organizing and building a community. Because we are stronger together. Also celebrate culture. There’s a lot of Caribbean culture in here and I hope readers enjoy it.
This is your debut novel! Congratulations! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Thank you so much! It wasn’t easy. Haha. So many revisions, especially in those final months. But I’m so grateful to my editor Stacey Barney who gave me the space to find my voice.
What’s next for you?
My second YA Contemporary. It’s an exploration of what love might mean. The story takes place in a different part of NYC.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
So many good books out there. Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson, Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters, All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, This is My America by Kim Johnson.
