What's Fresh with Jessi Kirby's IN HONOR...

A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.” 

Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it. 

Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Hello Jessi, thanks so much for visiting YA Fresh! Please share with our readers at YA Fresh what your YA novel IN HONOR is about. 

Jessi: IN HONOR is the story of a letter, a mistaken last request, and the road trip those things lead to.


What was your first piece of creative writing ever (that you remember)?

 Jessi:It was a short story I called Journey to the Center of the Earth, about being in a drilling, space shuttle type thing with my friends. The only part I really remember is that while we were on our way to the center of the Earth, we did makeovers on each other.

When you need that extra push to stay on task, what motivates you the most? Jessi: Usually the deadline that’s looming in front of me.

 Which of your characters would make a great future president? Why?

 Jessi: I think Honor from IN HONOR would make a pretty good president. She’s fair and has a great sense of duty.

 On average, how long do you let a story idea marinate before you dive in and start building it? Jessi: It varies, but typically a few months. I do a lot of note taking and brainstorming until I feel like I have a decent idea of who the characters are.

Jessi Kirby is the author of Moonglass, published in May 2011 by Simon and Schuster. She is also a former English teacher and librarian, wife, mom, beach lover, runner, and lover of Contemporary YA, strong coffee, and dark chocolate. In that order. Visit her website, www.jessikirby.com