Today we are very excited to share a special interview with author and activist Ruchira Gupta (I Kick and I Fly)!
Read on to learn more about her, her book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Ruchira Gupta
Ruchira Gupta is a writer, feminist campaigner, professor at New York University and founder of the anti-sex-trafficking organization, Apne Aap Women Worldwide. She won the Clinton Global Citizen award in 2009, the Sera Bangali Award in 2012 and an Emmy for outstanding investigative journalism in 1996. She has helped more than twenty thousand girls and women in India exit prostitution systems. She has also edited As If Women Matter, an anthology of Gloria Steinem’s essays, and written manuals on human trafficking for the UN Office for Drugs and Crime. Ruchira divides her time between Delhi and New York. I Kick and I Fly is her debut novel.
About the Book: I Kick and I Fly
A propulsive social justice adventure by renowned activist and award-winning documentarian Ruchira Gupta, I Kick and I Fly is an inspiring, hopeful story of triumph about a girl in Bihar, India, who escapes being sold into the sex trade when a local hostel owner helps her to understand the value of her body through kung fu.
On the outskirts of the Red Light District in Bihar, India, fourteen-year-old Heera is living on borrowed time until her father sells her into the sex trade to help feed their family and repay his loans. It is, as she’s been told, the fate of the women in her community to end up here. But watching her cousin, Mira Di, live this life day in and day out is hard enough. To live it feels like the worst fate imaginable. And after a run-in with a bully leads to her expulsion from school, it feels closer than ever.
But when a local hostel owner shows up at Heera’s home with the money to repay her family’s debt, Heera begins to learn that fate can change. Destiny can be disrupted. Heroics can be contagious.
It’s at the local hostel for at risk girls that Heera is given a transformative opportunity: learning kung fu with the other girls. Through the practice of martial arts, she starts to understand that her body isn’t a an object to be commodified and preyed upon, but a vessel through which she can protect herself and those around her. And when Heera discovers the whereabouts of her missing friend, Rosy, through a kung fu pen pal in the US, she makes the decision to embark on a daring rescue mission to New York in an attempt to save her.
A triumphant, shocking account inspired by Ruchira Gupta’s experience making the Emmy-award winning documentary, The Selling of Innocents, this is an unforgettable story of overcoming adversity by a life-long activist who has dedicated her life to creating a world where no child is bought or sold.
~Author Chat~
YABC: what gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I began writing the book when a girl, just like Heera, won a gold medal in a karate competition from a red-light district in Forbesganj. I have witnessed the courage and struggles of many girls like Heera to stay in school through the work of my NGO, Apne Aap. I wanted to share this story of triumph over adversity with other young people all over the world.
YABC: who is your favorite character in the book?
You mean besides Heera? I can’t decide between Salman and Mira di. I love Salman because of his innate gentleness and willingness to sacrifice his dreams for his sister. At the same time, I adore Mira di, who has gone through so much suffering but wants to ignite a woman’s movement in girls bazaar to fight for her little cousin.
Baba is interesting too in the way his character develops from being an abusive father and husband to the man who overcomes his weaknesses as he sees his daughter change.
YABC: which came first, the title or the novel?
Heera got into my head and began to tell me what she was going to do and how. She began to kick and fly and one day she whispered the title of the book into my ears through a dialogue she had with Bruce Lee when she was alone in the school kwoon.
YABC: what scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
The scene where Heera fights for an egg and wins. It establishes the hunger that Heera and her family face, but also that Heera is a spunky teenager who will not give up.
YABC: thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
I learned to slow down. I had written I Kick and I Fly, as a fast-paced social justice adventure. My masterful editor, Sam Palazzi, helped me understand the value of creating breathing space between action. I had to draw on the deepest of my thoughts, memories, and reflections to do this.
YABC: what do you like most about the cover of the book?
The expression in Heera’s eyes. The cover is a story in itself. There is Heera in her kung fu uniform, her fist bunched, her eyes determined. And then there is the background of a street, almost in flames, with two children holding hands and running. I want to know more. What happens to the children? Why is the street in flames? Then I am reassured by the posture of the girl and the fierce determination of her eyes.
The cover touches all the themes in the book-bodily autonomy, girl’s empowerment, kung fu, children in danger, a street in flames, and above all hope and strength.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?
I Kick and I Fly, of course, and then a whole host of others: Brian Selznick’s Big Tree, Betty Tang’s Parachute Kids, Brandon Hobson’s The Storyteller, Good Different by Meg Kuyatt, The Library Of Broken Worlds By Alaya Dawn Johnson and Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed. There is a different reason why for each of them. The issues they touch upon resonate deeply with me and I love the unique form and artistry in each.
YABC: what’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
Brian Selznick’s Big Tree, Angie Thomas’ The Hate You Give, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, David Levithan’s Every Day and Angeline Boulley’s Firekeeper’s Daughter.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Meeting and talking to as many young people as possible, in as many bookstores, libraries and schools, about I Kick and I Fly. I can’t wait to hear what questions they have for me and hear what they noticed about my book.
Then there is another book set in the Arizona desert!
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
The meeting between Heera and her best friend, Rosy in Queens, New York. I had to get into the hearts of both girls-one who had been trafficked and one who had taken the ultimate risk to get her out. I had to write in a few sentences-the hurt, betrayal, anger, and love between the two friends. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I felt I was intruding into a very private space.
YABC: Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?
Manoj. I wanted to show that he was not just a bully, but a boy who has to choose between his sister and his father. I had trouble finding his redeeming traits at first but finally Heera helped me. She says some unforgivable things to him and I began to think of his humanity more deeply after that.
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
There is nothing more powerful than finding the courage to stand up to injustice. Bullies dissolve into puddles if we challenge them.
There is nothing more beautiful than the discovery of the strength of your own body, which Heera does through the practice of Kung Fu in I Kick and I Fly.
There is nothing more effective than women’s collective action and a community that comes together to tackle an issue it cares about.
That big change begins in small ways. A huge problem like sex-trafficking can have solutions in the courage of a small girl fighting back.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
I’ll let you in on a little secret: it’s actually something that everyone has the power to do. My superpower is my determination to never give up on what I believe in. I imagine possibilities that others may not see.
When I first started my work against sex trafficking and for women’s rights, a lot of people told me that it was impossible. They said that I was wasting my time and that I would never make a difference. But I refused to listen to them. I knew that there were girls out there who needed someone to fight for them, and I was determined to be that person.
And you know what? It wasn’t always easy. There were plenty of times when I felt like giving up, I felt scared and frightened and I wondered if all of my effort was worth it. But I didn’t let those feelings stop me. I kept pushing forward, I took risks head-on. And I’m so glad that I did.
So, if you want to make a difference in the world, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Believe in yourself, and be willing to work hard for what you believe in. You might face obstacles along the way but remember, you have the power to overcome them. And who knows? You might just end up discovering your own superpower along the way.
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
My NGO, Apne Aap, that I started in the red-light areas of India to organize mothers who wanted to exit prostitution and educate their daughters. Heera, the hero of my novel is based on girls who won gold medals in karate in the red-light area of Forbesganj against all odds. They did escape prostitution.
I want sex-trafficking to end and I dream of a world in which no human being is bought or sold.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Write what you’re passionate about: When you’re writing about something you truly care about, your passion will come through in your writing. It will make your work more engaging and compelling for your readers.
Read widely: The more you read, the more you’ll develop your own writing style and voice. Reading different genres and styles of writing can also give you new ideas and inspiration.
Practice, practice, practice: Writing is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice to get better. Set aside time each day or each week to write, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Get feedback: It can be scary to share your writing with others, but getting feedback can be incredibly helpful. Join a writing group or share your work with a trusted friend or family member. Their feedback can help you improve your writing and catch things you may have missed.
Don’t be afraid to revise: Writing is a process, and your first draft is unlikely to be perfect. Don’t be afraid to revise and edit your work, even if it means completely rewriting sections. Your final product will be stronger for it.
Believe in yourself: Writing can be challenging, and it’s easy to doubt yourself and your abilities. But remember that you have a unique voice and perspective, and your story deserves to be told. Believe in yourself and your work, and don’t give up.
YABC: is there anything that you would like to add?
If you want to join the movement against sex-trafficking, do visit my website (ruchiragupta.com) and respond to my Calls to Action.
Title: I Kick and I Fly
Author: Ruchira Gupta
Release Date: April 18, 2023
Publisher: Scholastic Press / Scholastic
ISBN-10: 1338825097
ISBN-13: 9781338825091
Genre:
Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Sexual Abuse
Young Adult Fiction / Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts
Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Poverty & Homelessness
Age Range: Ages 12 And Up
~ Giveaway Details ~
Three (3) winners will receive a copy of I Kick and I Fly (Ruchira Gupta) ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
It seems like an inspiring, empowering read! The book cover design fits the story well!
This book sounds fantastic!
My daughter would love this!
The cover is powerful and this book will be an emotional read.