Who was your childhood hero?
Peter Pan. I loved Peter Pan. Still love Peter Pan. Peter Pan is the only ride that I enjoyed at Disney. And I’m pretty sure that I wrote the Maximum Ride books for kids — starting with my own beloved Jack — because of my affection as a child for Peter Pan.
What was your favourite book when you were younger?
As well as Peter Pan, I grew up reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. I was always on the hunt for buried treasure. I have never quite got over that urge to find it, which is what gave me the idea for Treasure Hunters. I also love Indiana Jones, which I think comes through as well…
Did you read a lot as a child and do you still read children’s books now if so which ones?
My favourite kids’ book is The Book Thief. But that’s not for all kids: it’s a dark and tough book. I don’t think there’s a book that all kids should read. My favourites are the kinds of books that make kids want to read more. I love the Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney. One book that I feel is particularly inspired is The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.
Why do you think it’s a good idea for kids to read books?
Reading is one of the building blocks of life and can take you to another world. It encourages imagination and helps with school.
We know you are really famous for your adult books, how do you decide whether to write for kids or adults when you wake up in the morning?
I find it really easy to multitask so I usually work on both my adult and kids books! I just go to another table and focus on something new and get right into it. I don’t exactly know why. I think I did it as a kid. If you go into my office right now, you’ll see stack and stacks of manuscripts. The day will be a combination of writing, rewriting, outlines and different voices.
Why did you want to write for children?
When my son, Jack, was eight, he wasn’t excited about reading. Neither were many of his friends at school. I was thinking, well wait a minute here – if the son of an author doesn’t enjoy books, what’s going on with our kids in general? Is this a problem we have to tackle? And of course, we quickly realized that was a resounding YES.
So that summer, my wife and I told him that he would have to read every day. We went out with him, helped him to find books we thought he would like and wouldn’t you know it, but by the end of the summer, Jack said, okay, I can get into this. And the next summer, he had warmed more to the idea of getting books together, and the following summer, he was really excited to do it.
That was why I wrote my first series for young adults: Maximum Ride. Then came Daniel X, Witch & Wizard, Middle School, Confessions, Treasure Hunters and now House of Robots.
What would you be if you hadn’t been a writer?
Well, writing is my dream job so I feel lucky to get to do that every day. If I weren’t writing, I would still want to do something that allowed me to tell stories: a filmmaker or a show runner.
What three things would you take if you were cast away on a desert island?
I’d take my favourite book, One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez plus my family.
Which of your books are you most proud of and why?
I say it often, but it’s so true: the books that I am the most passionate about writing are these books that get kids reading. I’m especially proud of the work that Middle School and I Funny have done to fulfill this mission. I like writing them because it’s all imagination and there’s lots of comedy, which I don’t do that much in the adult books.
If you could travel in time, where would you go first?
I’d travel back to Europe during the Renaissance, imagine being able to hang out with Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Galileo.
What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?
Follow your instincts and you’ll lead a very joyful successful life.
