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Alternative Realities
The Esperanza: Book Two of the Terracolina Trilogy, follows a twelve-year-old boy who struggles with his parents’ expectations and is sent to math camp. There, he makes new friends who he wants to enlist to help save Terrocolina. What were some themes that you felt were important to highlight in this story?
The themes from book one continue in this book two: Loss of youth, introversion, love of nature, the pull of escaping into a fantasy world, exploration, and found family—with the addition of real friendships (a different kind of found family than his magical friends). In addition, the protagonist must face deeper challenges created by the need to belong. Finally, I wanted to introduce the idea that our imaginations and alternative realities can be one and the same.
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
Very much so! I loved to escape to my own private and magical world as a child, was a tree climber, a nature lover, and an introvert. Our family also made maple syrup and the big maple I climbed in as a child was the model for the one in the story. The earlier years of my adulthood ripped me rather abruptly from the safety of childhood. Thomas’s loss of his Grandpa represents that loss of youth, wonder, and safety I experienced as a young adult.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from and how did it change as you were writing?
I am an avid gardener and find it easy to imagine personalities for each of my plants. I have revived my vivid childhood imagination and am having a blast building the magical world of Terracolina.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The final book of the Trilogy will bring Thomas “back to earth” and reconnect him with his real-world friends. He will find a better balance between living in his real world and an imaginary one, and he and his home world friends will find real-world solutions to the environmental issues that surround them.
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His return home gives him a chance to save the hemlock forest he and Grandpa used to frequent and he’s finally making some friends in his real world. But he still misses his Terracolina buddies and finds a way to visit them. What he discovers is shocking. Not only have the Olgrots attacked again, but an aggressive vine is strangling the garden.
He realizes this time he alone can’t stop the tragedy unfolding in Terracolina. His real world friends have just the right skills to help out. He wants to connect his two worlds, but can they coexist?
A Hero Who Was An Introvert
Terracolina: A Place to Belong follows a twelve-year-old boy devastated by the loss of his beloved grandpa who runs away to the forest they used to go to together and discovers a portal to a magical garden that needs his help. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to write a book that would take the reader away in the same way that the books I read as a child did—similar to The Secret Garden or the Chronicles of Narnia. In addition, as a former teacher of middle-graders, I could never find enough representation for my introverted students in books. I wanted to create a book with a hero who was an introvert. Finally, I wanted it to appeal to nature lovers and address the environmental angst I saw my students suffering in my classroom.
I found Thomas to be a very well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for him and his emotional turmoil throughout the story?
Thomas’s character represents my sense of who my father was as a boy. I admired my father for his ability to stay youthful and his love of exploration and nature. But Thomas’s emotional turmoil stems from my own journey. As an introverted child who preferred to live through the fantasies of the books I read, and with a profound connection to nature that felt magical, I struggled to fit into what I saw as the unwelcoming “real world”.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Loss of youth, introversion, love of nature, the pull of escaping into a fantasy world, exploration, found family.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Book two is published and continues to explore the same themes adding greater dimension to his sense of found family and his desire to escape into fantasy. Making friends in his home (real) world allows him to feel he can belong there as well, but the draw of escape, of his magical friends, and the way it gives him meaning, is powerful. In addition, the reader will begin to question whether his fantasy world is in his head and not an alternative reality.
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The Esperanza – Chasing Hope – Book 2 of The Terracolina Trilogy
In The Esperanza: Book Two of the Terracolina Trilogy, Carla Kessler weaves a compelling continuation of twelve-year-old Thomas’s journey, blending themes of fantasy, friendship, and self-discovery. Returning from three intense days in the magical world of Terracolina, Thomas grapples with the rigid expectations of his parents, leaving him yearning for purpose and autonomy in a world that often feels stifling. Though faced with the prospect of math camp instead of adventure, Thomas finds solace in his friendships with the savvy Sai and popular Jax, uncovering new ways to impact both his human world and Terracolina. Amidst personal struggles and looming ecological threats, Thomas embarks on a search for meaning, confronting both inner turmoil and external perils.
Kessler delves deeply into Thomas’s complex emotions, especially his grief and desire for acceptance. The emotional weight of the story resonates as Thomas faces rejection from his parents, who seem unyielding and cold. This dynamic brings up frustration and sympathy, and readers may question whether Thomas’s inclination to escape to Terracolina was driven by the emotional void in his family life. As Grumog’s dark influence grows, Thomas’s journey toward healing and self-acceptance continues to unfold. The friendships he fosters, particularly with Sai and Jax, inject the story with camaraderie and hope, making his path all the more touching. The book introduces a challenging continuity issue that may unsettle dedicated readers of the trilogy. In the first book, Thomas physically enters Terracolina, with real time elapsing in the human world. In The Esperanza, however, he now accesses Terracolina in a dream state, where no time passes back home. This change creates a dissonance, as book two revises details from book one, suggesting Thomas camped in the woods before dreaming his way into Terracolina—a stark departure from the original narrative. While a minor flaw, this inconsistency detracts slightly from the immersion in an otherwise well-crafted, poignant story. The Esperanza remains a rich story of healing, growth, and acceptance, embracing the challenges of grieving and finding one’s place in the world. Thomas’s struggles, his earnest journey to overcome them, and his loyal friendships make him an endearing and relatable character. The story feels deeply personal, and readers may find themselves wanting to reach out and support him as he navigates this turbulent path. With the final book yet to come, hopes and expectations build for a satisfying conclusion to this heartfelt trilogy.
For Middle-Grade readers, The Esperanza offers a magical, emotionally resonant adventure, interwoven with messages of resilience, self-confidence, and the power of small actions to effect change. This fantasy tale, with its touches of adventure and thought-provoking themes, is sure to captivate young and old alike.
Pages: 230 | ASIN : B0DHB2FWMS
Terracolina – A Place to Belong
In Terracolina: A Place to Belong, Carla Kessler crafts a heartwarming and deeply emotional middle-grade fantasy about a boy named Thomas, who, on the edge of his twelfth birthday, is weighed down by the loss of his beloved Grandpa and the rigid expectations of his family. Before Grandpa passed, Thomas’ world sparkled with stories of a mystical place, filled with lush plants and fantastical creatures. Now, those magical tales feel like a distant memory, and Thomas’ life has become a gray routine of following rules. Determined to break free and find answers, he sets off and soon stumbles into the very world he thought only existed in dreams, where he learns he has a crucial role to play in protecting both worlds.
Kessler’s portrayal of grief in this story is nothing short of powerful. Thomas feels disconnected, battling sorrow that neither his family nor his friends seem to recognize. The emptiness he carries shapes every aspect of his world, creating a weight that many readers who’ve faced loss will recognize. I found myself deeply moved; the story felt like a mirror, reflecting experiences of complex grief that I hadn’t fully processed myself. Thomas’ journey to trust, to confront his pain, and to open his heart resonated with me profoundly. It felt like walking beside him, each step toward healing a reminder of the resilience that lives in us all.
This book’s magic doesn’t stop at its emotional depth. Despite its size, Terracolina is packed with wonder and unforgettable characters. Geven, the warm-hearted gardener, quickly became one of my all-time favorite fantasy characters, while Nib and Nob, the spirited Nubbins, brought a whimsical charm reminiscent of Wonderland. Misty, with her quiet insightfulness, rounded out a quirky and lovable cast that added life and color to Thomas’ adventure. Richard Kessler’s illustrations add extra vibrancy, capturing the beauty and personality of the Terracolina realm.
Terracolina: A Place to Belong is a moving and magical story of finding hope and purpose after loss. The book gently explores tough themes, including fantasy violence and mentions of death, making it a meaningful read for middle-grade readers and anyone looking for a story about courage, healing, and finding one’s place in the world.
Pages: 204 | ASIN: B09XS1G166
LITERARY TITAN 