Love and Loss

TFK Kid Reporter Rudrh Nair read The Storyteller and interviewed its author, Brandon Hobson. Read Rudrh’s thoughts below.

Ziggy is a member of the Cherokee Nation, living in Poisonberry, New Mexico. Ziggy suffers from anxiety. Sometimes, he gets overwhelmed—especially when other people are in his space.

When Ziggy was little, his mother mysteriously disappeared. Ziggy believes that his mother is still out there somewhere. He has been looking for ways to find her. A classmate tells him there’s a clue to her disappearance hidden in a desert cave nearby. So Ziggy goes to investigate, along with his sister, Moon, and a couple of friends.

Author Brandon Hobson uses Cherokee stories and relatable characters to tell a tale of love and loss. He says he hopes the story inspires readers to “think about what it means to let go of the past, keep moving forward, and keep hope.” Hobson believes that everyone can relate to loss, anxiety, and friendship, which are important themes in the book. He advises that readers “try to live in the present, not the past, and don’t worry about tomorrow.”

In my favorite part of the story, Ziggy finds out that, although it’s important to remember lost loved ones, it’s also important to move on. I believe that everyone who has experienced a loss should read this book, as it conveys an important message for them.