Process Talk: Tina Athaide on Wings to Soar
I love it when histories usually considered obscure find expression in fiction for young readers. I’m doubly delighted to see verse added to the mix in Wings to Soar, from my colleague, friend, and former student, Tina Athaide.
Young Viva’s family is from Goa, embodying the syncretic cultural, linguistic, and religious traditions of that previously Portuguese colony in western India. They’ve made their home in Uganda but in 1972, they are expelled from there by dictator Idi Amin, and sent to a resettlement camp in England. Not all of them make the trip. Viva’s father was supposed to meet them in London, but he never shows up.
Here’s my conversation with Tina Athaide.
[Uma] Viva opens with a strong sense of herself, built on everything she knows, and yet here she is in a world where all that she knows is crumbling. Where do children find strength at times like this? What do you want young readers to draw from this story?
Photo courtesy of Tina Athaide
[Tina] Children often find strength in difficult times from several key sources: family and friends, their own inner strength and identity, and hope and adaptability. For young readers, Viva's story offers important lessons in empathy, perseverance, and the value of cultural identity. By seeing the world through Viva's eyes, I hope readers can develop a deeper understanding of those who are displaced or facing discrimination. I wanted her journey to inspire readers to persevere through their own challenges and appreciate the power of community and the support it provides. Ultimately, Viva's story is a reminder that strength can be found in oneself, one's heritage, and the connections with others.
[Uma] You talk in your author's note about how your own life story was not too far removed from the events in this book. There is history folded into this story—the history of the NF in Britain, and Leroy’s story, largely implied but always there beneath the surface. Talk about how you combine history, your own family and personal history as well as the larger histories here, and fiction.
[Tina] In writing this story, it was important to weave together elements of my own personal experiences with broader historical contexts to create a rich narrative tapestry. George Santayana famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This quote resonated deeply as I incorporated the history of anti-immigration in Britain, Leroy’s experiences reflecting racism in the USA, as well as my own experiences, all of which, while not always overt, underpinned much of the narrative. The nature of racism remains strikingly consistent across these contexts, showing how prejudice and discrimination transcend time and place. By blending these personal and historical threads with fiction, my goal was to provide a nuanced exploration of displacement, identity, and resilience, offering readers a deep and multifaceted understanding of the characters' struggles and triumphs.
[Uma] Let’s talk dictionaries! I love them dearly myself, and my 20 volumes of the Oxford English Dictionary occupy pride of place on my bookshelves. Do you have a dictionary connection and how did it play into Viva’s?
[Tina] I absolutely share your love for dictionaries and must admit I'm a bit envious of your 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary collection! My own connection to dictionaries began in childhood with my mini-Oxford dictionary, which I treasure still today. I also have my father’s dictionary, a cherished 3rd edition Oxford, which has a special place in our home. My love of reading instilled a deep appreciation for words and their meanings, a passion that naturally found its way into Viva’s story. Her connection to dictionaries mirror my own, reflecting a love for the richness of language and the comfort and empowerment that come from understanding and owning words.
[Uma] Your lovely wordplay in the poem titled “The Mess” made me smile. You have several other places where the narrator uses words and language in this way, to draw meaning about her circumstances. How did the wordplay in this verse novel come about for you as you wrote?
[Tina] The wordplay in "The Mess" and throughout the verse novel was a delightful and intentional aspect of the writing process. I wanted to share the fun and joy of words and their meanings with young readers, showing them how language can be playful, expressive, and full of layers. As I wrote, I found myself drawing on my own love for the richness of language, aiming to create moments where the narrator's use of words not only reflected Viva’s circumstances but also invited readers to engage with the text in a playful and meaningful way. By incorporating wordplay, I hoped to inspire children to appreciate the beauty and versatility of language, encouraging them to explore and enjoy words as tools for expression and creativity
[Uma] How and when did the Diana Ross thread find a home in this story? It really does the work of leaping across oceans and linking lives.
[Tina] Viva channels her inner Diana Supremeness, drawing on the confidence and strength embodied by the singer. The Diana Ross thread found its way into the narrative as I considered how music can bridge gaps between cultures and generations. Diana Ross, with her global influence and timeless appeal, felt like the perfect choice to connect characters and settings across oceans and link their lives. As I listened and wrote, her songs unlocked hidden memories. Some painful. Some joyous. Music has a unique power to capture the essence of a time and place, evoking memories and emotions in a way few other mediums can. For Viva, Diana Ross's music becomes a source of inspiration and strength, reminding her of home, shared experiences, and the resilience needed to navigate her challenges.
[Uma] The ties in this family hold them together even when Daddy seems lost to them, even when the daily stressors threaten to rupture them. What did you draw upon to create Mummy’s character?
[Tina] In creating Mummy’s character, I drew deeply from the diverse and resilient women I have known throughout my life. She is a compilation of the strengths, wisdom, and unwavering support that I have seen in my own mother, aunts, cousins, friends, and other influential women. These women, with their unique experiences and perspectives, have demonstrated the power of familial bonds and the ability to navigate life's challenges with grace and tenacity. By drawing on these real-life examples, Viva’s mother became a multifaceted character who represented not just one individual, but the combined essence of many strong women.
[Uma] Many of these poems frame a dramatic moment, slowing time to make us attend to, focus upon something in the world beyond the character and her family: news of Daddy’s impending arrival, word of Red Zone Areas that don’t want Indians, a phone call in the middle of the night. How is framing such moments in verse different from doing the same thing in a prose scene?
[Tina] When I sat down to write Wings To Soar, I knew that verse was the ideal format because it would allow me to distill and intensify the emotional impact of pivotal moments. Poetry’s concentrated language, rhythm, and imagery enable me to capture the essence of each dramatic event with immediate resonance. By framing these moments in poems, I was able to convey the raw emotions and vivid imagery more powerfully, drawing readers into the scene and evoking a deeper, more visceral connection to Viva’s experiences and heart.
[Uma] Masala chai--the cup of love. Talk about very particular comfort foods (and snatches of Konkani language) and how you wrote them into this story.
[Tina] Who doesn’t love the warmth and comfort of a cup of Masala chai?
Seriously though, in Wings to Soar, I infused the story with particular comfort foods—biryani, fish and chips, chapattis— and snippets of Konkani language that reflected my own personal experiences and cultural heritage. Masala chai, a cup of love I discovered later in life, symbolizes comfort and connection for me, and I wanted this warmth to resonate through the story. Similarly, the use of Konkani in brief, evocative phrases mirrored my upbringing, where the language was interspersed with English and Portuguese due to Goa’s colonial past. By weaving these elements into Viva’s world, I aimed to capture the rich, layered nature of cultural identity and the comforting familiarity of home.
[Uma] I loved the poem "There’s Only One American." One person of an “other” group and suddenly we can relate because we know that person will tell us the truth. In your view, is trust the line between acceptance and suspicion?
[Tina] I believe that trust often serves as the line between acceptance and suspicion. When we encounter someone new, trust becomes crucial in bridging gaps and fostering genuine connection. I wanted to explore this dynamic through the relationship between Viva and Leroy. A person of an “other” group, just like Viva. By depicting hergrowing trust and understanding, I aimed to show how overcoming suspicion and embracing honesty can lead to meaningful friendships and acceptance.
[Uma] And then I found my name! Thank you, Tina! There are of course other Umas in the world but I will take this one personally, I will, I will. Look at this line…
"I look at Uma and/ wonder if it’s time to free/ my wings so they/ can help someone else.”
After all the pain that the grownup world has inflicted, here is a moment when a young girl shows kindness to another and suddenly the world feels momentarily like a bearable place for them both. Talk to me about this kind of reciprocity in this story and what it means for you.
[Tina] Thank you for allowing me to borrow your name for this important character and scene.
The moment in the story when Viva reflects on freeing her wings to help someone else represents a profound form of reciprocity. It’s a powerful instance where, despite the pain and challenges inflicted by the grown-up world, a young girl’s kindness brings a fleeting but significant sense of relief and hope. This act of compassion not only makes the world more bearable for both Viva and Uma, the person she helps, but also it highlights the transformative power of empathy.
For me, this reciprocity is a central theme in the story. It underscores the idea that even small acts of kindness can create ripples of positive change. Through Viva’s gesture, the narrative illustrates how giving and receiving support can lead to moments of connection and solace, even in the face of adversity. It’s a reminder of the strength found in mutual support and the hope that such moments can inspire in a world that often feels challenging.
Reciprocity and survival, connection and solace in the face of adversity. As the PW review puts it, “The quirky cast, combined with this underexplored time period informed by the author’s family history, are engaging, and the narrator herself proves especially memorable.” Thanks, Tina!
