The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage
by Charlie Archbold
Author Interview at PaperbarkWords
“Now, if us Sugarcane Kids know anything from our adventures it is that mysteries are layered like fat sandwiches. And when Dad drops me at the golf course, something tells me I’m about to get a big dose of salad filling.”
(The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage)
I’ve really enjoyed Charlie Archbold’s books and have been fortunate to read most of them. I was on the Davitt (Australian Women’s Crime and Mystery) judging panel when The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat won the children’s category. The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage is equally as good.
I was also judging the CBCA Older Readers category when Mallee Boys was awarded an Honour book award.
Charlie is to be congratulated on her body of work.
The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage is published by Text Publishing.
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Thank you for speaking to ‘Joy in Books’ at PaperbarkWords, Charlie.
Where are you based and how are you able to depict such diverse settings of The Sugarcane Kids stories and Mallee Boys so well?
I am based in Adelaide but I have lived in both the Mallee and far north Queensland. I hope having lived in the places I am writing about has helped me develop authenticity in the setting. For me, the setting is an integral part of a narrative. It is like another character so it demands attention and development which in turn impacts the plot.
How does the cover of The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage represent your story, as well as enticing readers?
I have been incredibly lucky with the cover design for the Sugarcane Kids. Text have done this so well. They have an amazing designer who manages to pull out a moment of action and energy. This is important for these books because they are full of action and dotted across the cover are images from various parts of the story. I think my readers enjoy a mystery and adventure and the cover of the book is vital to draw them in.
How does The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage follow on from The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat? How soon after book 1 is it set?
The books aren’t chronological so I have had to keep the exact timings quite loose. Ideally, I hope a reader could pick up the Empty Cage and be able to go back to the Red-Bottomed Boat. It is a balance to connect with readers who have read the first book but then also entice new readers.
How do the Sugarcane Kids and their friendships develop or change in book 2?
The friendship and relationships are more established as are the relationships the Sugarcane Kids have in their wider community. It was fun to be able to jump back into Andy’s life. I have a much better understanding of their past histories, so this book develops these.
You describe some characters as food: the adult twins as ‘snowpeas’ and ‘lethal legumes,’ and Fletch and Bernie as yellow and red capsicums. Why do you do use food in this way?
When I am writing the Sugarcane Kids books I am writing from Andy’s perspective. I imagine how he would describe things and see his world. I have also noticed that children use different adjectives and metaphors to describe things from adults. They make connections between random things. There are turns of phrase and names that the Sugarcane Kids use that are unique to their friendship group.
Why do you give animals human names and one character an animal name?
Naming characters is one of the best parts of writing fiction. They can say so much, particularly for a younger readership. Turtle is a person but I see turtles, the animals, as wise and measured and somehow older, so that suited Eli’s grandma. Giving animals names helps with personification and connects them to readers. They can be funny too, like Anna who is not an anaconda.
There’s so much packed into your story (in a very good way), including plenty of humour. Please give an example of humour in the book.
I think humour is important. I laugh a lot and it is a wonderful way to balance tension and share joy in a story, as well as in life. I try and sprinkle humour throughout the book but make sure it is driven by the characters and situations. For example, the way the Hench drives the school bus like a rocket or the frenemies relationship between sausage dog Washington and Constable the cat.
You write excellent villains. Please briefly describe one.
Thank you. I love the Hench in this story because she is the meanest canteen lady and yet she has a soft side. I liked being able to play with the reader expectations when I wrote her. She doesn’t like kids much but she loves guinea pigs.
I’m interested in (and enjoyed) your overt comment about parallel narratives. [p181] Have you included this to help young readers with their own writing? Why is it there?
It wasn’t intentional but I do think we can forget multiple narratives happen around us all the time and they impact our own. I love to read books that have parallel narratives.
The Sugarcane Kids love practising their bike tricks. Why?
With each story I like to come up with a trick or new thing the children are trying. Children enjoy learning new things. The Sugarcane Kids are an active bunch so it makes sense their new learnings are physical and outside.
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I haven’t seen it but am intrigued by reviews I’ve read of your book Raised by Moths. Please tell us a little about this.
Well, it is an unusual story about family and belonging that takes place on a Ferris wheel. It came from a short story and was beautiful illustrated by Michelle Conn. It is my first picture book and picture books are a magic combination of words and pictures.
What are you working on now or next?
I am working on another Sugarcane Kids adventure called The Sugarcane Kids and the Smelly Fish.
What have you enjoyed reading recently?
I have just read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Amazing. I love speculative fiction and magical realism and this transported me away.
[Joy: Piranesi is one of my favourite novels!]
How would you like readers to contact you?
Through the contact page on my website or through my publishers. For school visits and talks please contact my booking agents.
Thank you so much for taking the time to find out about the ideas behind my stories.
Charlie.
Thank you so much, Charlie. I greatly enjoyed reading your responses and found that they extended parts of your excellent Sugarcane Kids stories in surprising ways. These books are definitely worth reading and no doubt your storytelling quality will also be a hallmark of the third story, The Sugarcane Kids and the Smelly Fish.
The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage at Text Publishing
https://www.beckysliterary.com.au/
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat won the 2023 Davitt Award – Children’s prize.
My judge report for The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat as winner:
CHILDREN’S WINNER
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat by Charlie Archbold
Text Publishing
In a thrilling mystery-adventure set in the sugarcane paddocks and tropical mangroves of far north Queensland, Andy, Eli and twins Bernie and Fletch put themselves in danger to clear Eli’s older cousin of a crime he didn’t commit.
Shelving their fun bike-stunt training (also because they need five children to master the ultimate Arrow formation) they amass red herrings and clues that lead to the villainous Raymond Royce, nicknamed the Orange Shark because of his spray-tan and predatory cunning.
With the help of bully Harvey and dachshund Washington, they embark on a risky trip in a tinny into the mangroves that leads to, not only a near miss with the criminals but, a high-stakes climactic encounter with legendary, giant crocodile Sebastian.
Well-written with apt exploration of issues that include environmental conservation, racism and justice, The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat has plenty of child-appeal and is a deserving winner.
(Joy Lawn)
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