This interview originally appeared in the May/June 2024 Horn Book Magazine as part of the Publishers’ Previews, an advertising supplement that allows participating publishers a chance to each highlight a book from its current list. They choose the books; we ask the questions.

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While uneasy to leave her home in the Philippines, Isabel looks forward to reuniting with her mother in the U.S. As Isabel in Bloom reveals, being the new kid in a San Francisco middle school presents challenges both universal and particular.

Photo: Katherine Emery.

1. What do you share with your mother?

My deep appreciation for Filipino cooking. I used to get embarrassed by the lunches my lola, or my mom, would pack (often rice with fish). As I got older, my mother taught me how to make different dishes, and she’d share the cultural or family significance. That’s when it hit me: recipes not only carry traditions but also stories. Filipino flavors are one way Isabel bridges her old and new countries.

2. Why did you choose to write Isabel’s story as a verse novel?

Poetry goes straight to the heart. It’s a deeply emotional story; writing it in verse was the most natural format.

3. When and where was your most memorable move?

I’ve moved a few times within California. The most interesting thing to me about moving is the packing…what do you leave, what do you take? Isabel has a tough time immigrating, but it’s the things she carries with her — memories, feelings, questions, and objects — that help her see she can hold on and let go.

4. What is the first place you would take a visitor to see in San Francisco?

We’d start with a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. Then we’d head to Golden Gate Park, where we’d stroll the beautiful botanical garden and Conservatory of Flowers — places where Isabel shares a special surprise with her mama. And we’d make a ton of stops for delicious noshing and for the sweeping hillside landscapes and ocean views.

5. Green thumb?

Working on it…my family and I planted a calamansi tree in celebration of the book’s release in April. Calamansi is a Philippine citrus that plays a role in the story — as do sampaguita (Philippine jasmine) and the California poppy, which are in bloom all over my neighborhood right now. Before coming to the U.S., my family were farmers in the Philippines; I’m not an expert gardener by any means, but I do feel deeply connected to growing things — like Isabel does.

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