Adrian So is not your average fourteen year old. He wrote a middle grade novel, “The Groundworld Heroes,” and it’s being published by Monarch Educational Services this August. Adrian described how he started writing by explaining that during COVID, he was stuck at home and had nothing to do but read and write. He wrote nonstop and wrote short stories daily. He wasn’t ready to write a book, he thought.
But by the end of sixth grade, he started writing his first novel. He said, “Of course, it isn’t the one that got published.” In addition to school, he divides his time between soccer and his writing. He also loves to read, and he thinks his writing style might come from his favorite authors: Roald Dahl. Gordon Korman and Kenneth Oppel.
Adrian doesn’t write his stories with the themes in mind, and he says, “…. it feels very preachy to purposefully make the book bring out a certain message. For me the theme comes through naturally once I finish the novel.” And while he doesn’t base his characters on real people, the protagonist in “The Groundworld Heroes” might resemble his brother. He doesn’t plan out his novels in advance and calls himself a “pantser;” he just sits down to write without any idea about how it will all end. “I just sorta go with the flow.”
Something that warms the heart of a retired teacher like me is that in addition to a great story, good grammar is important to him. He says, “Nothing bothers me more than someone misspelling something or missing punctuation somewhere.”
Another one of Adrian’s favorite authors (mine also) is Adam Rex. Adrian loves the “Cold Cereal” series, while I must admit that I really like “The True Meaning of Smekday,” and used to use it with my fifth graders in English Language Arts. And Adam Rex was impressed enough with Adrian’s writing to provide a blurb for the book. In an email to me, Rex called Adrian an “impressive kid.”
“An original voice and a fun, funny adventure underground.”
Adam Rex, NYT Bestselling Author of THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY
The publisher describes the book as follows:
When Groundworld is on the brink of extinction, it takes one mole with courage to save the day.
When Benjamin, a junior mole digger, witnesses a human invasion of his homeland, he must find his long-lost courage and unite two culturally distinct realms to fight the intruders and save his kind from extinction. What perils lie before him as he ventures into the unknown? Can Benjamin go up against a rough bunch of illegal animal trappers before it’s too late?
Meet the Groundworld heroes as they defend their country’s sovereignty and save their fellow citizens from capture and extinction.
For fans of Kate Dicamillo and Roald Dahl, you’ll love the heart and storytelling as you dig deep into Adrian So’s underground adventure.
Get ready for a new author, debuting August 6, 2024. Adrian So, author of “The Groundworld Heroes,” wants to entertain you, thrill you, and definitely make you laugh.