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WORK TITLE: Return to Sender
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CITY: Melbourne
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COUNTRY: Australia
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Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2024, review of Return to Sender.
Publishers Weekly, June 3, 2024, review of Return to Sender, p. 109.
School Library Journal, August, 2024, Alicia Rogers, review of Return to Sender, p. 97.
ONLINE
Books and Publishing, https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au (April 20, 2022), author interview; April 20, 2022, Alida Galati, review of The Museum of Broken Things.
Nerd Daily, https://thenerddaily.com/ (June 25, 2024), Elise Dumpleton, author interview.
Lauren Draper is the author of The Museum of Broken Things, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Text Prize. Her work has also been longlisted in the 2019 Richell Prize and has appeared in various nonfiction publications. She grew up in Western Australia, mostly on land but often in water. She now lives in Melbourne with one struggling coffee machine, a moderately behaved golden retriever, and her partner.
&A: Lauren Draper, Author of ‘Return To Sender’
Elise Dumpleton·Writers Corner·June 25, 2024·4 min read
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We chat with author Lauren Draper about Return To Sender, which explores found family, first love, and one town’s tragedies, perfect for fans of Melina Marchetta, Kristin Dwyer, and Nina LaCour.
Hi, Lauren! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Sure! I’m a writer living in Melbourne, and I also work in the publishing industry (I like to tell people I chose one hobby and stuck with it). I released my first book, The Museum of Broken Things, in 2022 and Return to Sender is my second book. Writing this book got me through lockdown, so it has a special place in my heart. What else can I tell you? I read a lot, I hate mushrooms, I watch the Twilight movies at least once a year. That’s the short version.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I always loved stories – my Nan used to buy me boxes of second-hand books when I was little. They were full of The Baby-Sitters Club, Teen Power Inc, The Magic Far Away Tree – everything seemed a little bit more exciting and magical in those pages. I started “writing” as a teenager, and am eternally glad we didn’t have acess to the internet, because nobody needs to read those. But then I signed up for the RMIT Professional Writing and Editing course when I started uni, and stuck with it from there.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
The first book you ever remember reading: The Chronicles of Narnia, but I started with The Magician’s Nephew. I was bitterly disappointed when we eventually moved into a townhouse and the attic did not lead anywhere magical.
The one that made you want to become an author: Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I can’t even articulate what it was about that book – there was just a beat to it that sucked you in, a plot-twist that my teenaged brain didn’t see coming, and characters that felt alive and urgent. I sat down on the couch, read it until the sun came up, and thought: maybe I could do this. (Author’s note: I should be so lucky to write anything half as good. I still love that book).
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta – I read it in high school, and it’s actually partly an inspiration for Return to Sender. I loved the melding of past and present, the setting that’s both tragic and mundane, and a girl who is so angry at the world but equally desperate to be loved and understood. I was scared to re-read it until very recently, afraid that it wouldn’t quite live up the memory in my head. But of course, it was just as brilliant as it was all those years ago.
Your latest novel, Return to Sender, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Nostalgic, adventure, and second-chances.
What can readers expect?
Return to Sender tells the story of Brodie, who returns home after three years away. She’s angry at the world, angry at herself, and definitely angry at her former-best-friend-turned nemesis, Levi. I like to say the book is part mystery, part love story – but it’s not just the romantic love you think it might be. It’s really about Brodie finding her way home, to a place where she’s at peace, and setting the past right. It’s got adventure, and found-families, and a spooky old house that may or may not be filled with ghosts. Really, it’s got something for everyone.
Where did the inspiration for Return to Sender come from?
This is a fun question because there was such a strong “feeling” about what this book should be before I ever started writing. I had such a clear picture in my mind of three friends in the past, three friends in the present, linked by some chance of fate. I knew I wanted it to feel like a small town, where the rest of the world slipped away – it’s own place, with it’s own rules. I came back to movies like Now and Then, with duel timelines, and books set in cosy literary spaces like Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley. I also started writing just as Taylor Swift released the folklore album, and it felt almost as though that was the official soundtrack to the book – the woods and the history, twisted rumours and broken hearts.
See also
Rob Hart The Warehouse Author Interview
Q&A: Rob Hart, Author of ‘The Warehouse’
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Coming up with the post office that Brodie lives in was so much fun – Dead Letter Offices are a real thing (where letters go when no one is left to claim them), though they’ve been largely forgotten about in the modern world. It was really enjoyable to research them and bring the idea back to life, and then to add some flair to it. The house is like an old friend now, and I love the way it come together almost as it’s own character; a little wonky, sometimes spooky, but mostly just filled with love and history.
What’s next for you?
I really need to paint my study, but the perfect shade of green eludes me. I can’t possible write anything else until I’ve figured that out. (I am writing something, but it’s a bit different from the first two books, so that’s the vague answer you’re stuck with).
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
So much local Australian fiction – we are absolutely stacked with talent here! I loved Wrong Answers Only by Tobias Madden, which was such an incredible depiction of anxiety and the anguish of suddenly confronting “growing up” in that period between high-school and the real world. I read Love, Death and Other Stories by Nova Weetman, who usually writes middle-grade and YA – it’s a stunning memoir, and I highly recommend everyone read it. I’ve also just finished Lili Wilkinson’s Deep is the Fen, and I am thrilled that Australian publishing is embracing fantasy again – it’s so much fun. And I am DESPERATE to get my hands on the new Nina Kenwood rom-com.
Will you be picking up Return To Sender? Tell us in the comments below!
Lauren Draper on ‘The Museum of Broken Things’
Wednesday, 20 April 2022 Books+Publishing
Lauren Draper’s debut YA novel The Museum of Broken Things (Text, June) follows 18-year-old Reece, who finds herself living in a small beachside town. With multiple plotlines, and featuring a cast of strong characters, the novel sees Reece navigate romance, friendship, family and her final year of high school to find her place in the world. Reviewer Alida Galati says Draper’s well-crafted dialogue and intriguing storylines had her immediately hooked; she speaks to the author.
Your book was shortlisted for the 2020 Text Prize—congratulations! What drew you to write a coming-of-age novel for a YA audience?
I think young adult is such a fun readership—there’s more freedom to explore, you can be a bit more flexible with the rules, and there’s a heightened sense of emotion that plays out so well on the page. So many ‘firsts’ or ‘lasts’ happen for this age group, and it’s such a transitional period of change—feeling like you’re just starting to find yourself as high school comes to a close, and then suddenly being thrust out into the world. I’ve always loved character-driven stories, so sitting within this bittersweet moment in time feels like a really natural place for me to be. There was never really a thought that I would write anything else, to be honest, and so when the Text Prize came around in 2020 it seemed like the perfect opportunity to submit and see what happened!
You’ve vividly drawn a full cast of characters and there are many interesting narratives, all exploring a variety of themes. What made you choose Reece as the main character, and to present the story through her first-person point of view?
Everyone in this book is a little bit broken (aren’t we all in 2022?!), but Reece is struggling the most to live with the pieces—she really can’t sit with her grief or confront her own failures. Which is understandable, that’s a hard thing to do! But it does mean that out of all the characters in this book, she’s the most resistant to living her life. I thought that was an interesting and authentic way to narrate the novel—she’s not perfect, she makes a lot of mistakes, she stumbles at almost every hurdle. She is, quite frankly, a bit of a mess. I love so many of the characters in this novel, but I was really drawn to her voice and knew that I wanted to view the town of Hamilton through her eyes.
I was completely invested in all the characters’ journeys and was very satisfied with the hopeful ending. If you were to write a sequel or a companion novel, would you focus on Reece or would you be tempted to switch point of view and concentrate on the path of a different character?
While this story does feel ‘complete’ in my mind, I do often find myself wondering what comes next for Miles. I like to think he finds his way in the world, but I’ve never quite decided what exactly that means for him. Plus, it’s not really my decision anymore! Once a book is published, it really belongs to the readers—I’d love to hear what they think, and some theories of his future antics. Otherwise, everyone’s fan-favourite is Theo, but I don’t know if I want to get into the inner workings of his mind! Some things should just be for teenaged boys to work out on their own …
I am glad that the ending felt satisfying for readers, without being too neat. It’s hard with young adult novels, because you want there to be optimism, and the sense that the world is really just beginning to open up with possibilities—but you’re also balancing the line of what’s realistic, and I wanted to show that it’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned. (That’s so vague but I’m trying to keep this a spoiler-free zone!)
The novel creatively intertwines friendship, romance, mystery and Year 12 school stresses. What compelled you to include heavier themes such as grief and depression—and what do you hope readers will take away from the relationships and experiences you’ve described?
I wanted to write a book about grief, but I didn’t want it to be sad—I know that sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but bear with me for a minute! I was so conscious that as a reader, and certainly as a teenager, I read books for the escapism. Layering in romance and mystery gave the book some much-needed levity, and it allowed the heavier themes to breathe. I still wanted people to laugh reading this book, and I hope readers will realise that both things can exist together: you can grieve and you can laugh, and it’s okay to feel both emotions at the same time.
I happened to read your book around the time of International Women’s Day celebrations, so I was delighted to see historical references to women’s contributions to medicine and science in the story. Did a personal connection to such strong women inspire this, or an interest in genealogy perhaps?
This novel came together like a puzzle, with the pieces slotting into place over the course of writing. There’s definitely a strong matriarchy in my family, so I’m sure that seeped in to the story! At first, the key idea was simply to explore Reece’s relationship with her grandmother and that sense of loss she feels following her death—but I knew I wanted something more complex than that, so I kept the idea percolating in the back of my mind. I start writing out snippets, creating a general plan, but it was clear that the story was missing a driving force.
The next piece of the puzzle came about completely by accident. I was working at Melbourne University at the time, and one day on the way to a meeting I happened to take a wrong turn and ended up in their Medical History Museum. It’s such a bizarre and brilliant place, and the pieces just slotted together from there. I’d always been interested in medicine (and during a brief crisis of faith, even switched out of my creative writing major to study biology and genetics), so this felt like the perfect opportunity to take that interest and put it on the page. It was difficult, though, to research historical practices and realise how deeply the field had failed women and marginalised communities. With that knowledge, it then felt natural to incorporate these struggles into the story—weaving clues into the past, leaving Reece to discover the pieces.
I loved the Kostakis family … and I can’t help but wonder: was the name inspired by another Australian YA author?!
Ha! A fair question, since I do have a habit of swinging around in my desk chair to eyeball the bookcase for surnames, but this particular name is a nod to an old friend (who, much like Miles, had a penchant for Greek pastries). We used to go dancing with friends on Saturday nights, but we’d sneak out around midnight to an all-night cafe next door to load up on tea and baklava.
DRAPER, Lauren. Return to Sender. 416p. HarperTeen. Aug. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063340367.
Gr 8 Up--Three years have passed since Brodie McKellon was accused of stealing the Adder Stone, a legendary town relic, and sent away to boarding school. Dubbed the "McKellon Felon" and "Red" (for being caught red-handed) more times than she can count, Brodie returns home to the town of Warwick for senior year. Since Mum died a few years back, and Dad works as a roadie, she lives with her beloved and quirky grandmother. Nan runs the town's Dead Letter Office, where boxes of undeliverable mail await their intended recip'ents. While navigating through rough waters of absent parents, closely held secrets, and young love, Brodie and friends Elliot and Levi remain determined to find the still missing Adder Stone and solve the mystery of the dead letters in box 130, the only box that has never been claimed. The story paints a genuine picture of small-town teen life. Draper incorporates elements of cozy mystery into the novel, including predictability of plot. Readers will find the central characters and the adults in their lives rentable but may question the relevancy of mentioned trends in pop culture. VERDICT A sweet, enjoyable read recommended for young adult collections.--Alicia Rogers
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Rogers, Alicia. "DRAPER, Lauren. Return to Sender." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 8, Aug. 2024, p. 97. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A806586341/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a099b2ee. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Return to Sender
Lauren Draper. HarperTeen, $19.99 (416p)
ISBN 978-0-06-334036-7
After three miserable years attending boarding school, 17-year-old Brodie McKellon is back in her small town of Warwick, where she's known as the McKellon Felon for being a "wild child with a bad rep." She's thrilled to reunite with her beloved grandmother and childhood neighbor Elliot; she's less thrilled to see Levi, her infuriatingly handsome former friend and current enemy. Now that she's returned, she can focus on figuring out who stole the supposedly magical Adder Stone from the local museum and clear her name of the crime that led to her and Levi's falling out. She's also eager to investigate the identities of the three teenagers who lived in the town 20 years ago whose letters she acquired from her family's Mail Redistribution Center. As Brodie learns more about Warwick and the people who inhabit it--and as secrets past and present intersect--she must navigate conflicting feelings about Levi. A lack of geographic and cultural specificity regarding Warwick and the surrounding locale somewhat dampen the emotional impact brought about by Brodie's inquiry into its history, making for a meandering tale by Australian author Draper (Museum of Broken Things). Main characters read as white. Ages 13--up. Agent; Annabel Barker, Annabel Barker Agency, (Aug.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
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"Return to Sender." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 22, 3 June 2024, p. 109. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A800536315/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8958c163. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Draper, Lauren RETURN TO SENDER HarperTeen (Teen None) $19.99 8, 13 ISBN: 9780063340367
An Australian teen returns home to an unexpected welcome--and a still-perplexing mystery she thought she'd left behind.
Brodie arrives back at her loving grandmother's character-filled house--which is also the town of Warwick's dead letter office--after being expelled from her cold, unwelcoming boarding school. Because her reputation for mischief led townspeople to believe she'd stolen the Adder Stone, a powerful, magical artifact famous in town lore, just before she was sent away, Brodie expects a chilly reception from everyone, including her friend Levi, whose parents are Warwick's mayor and a police detective. Naturally, Nan is delighted to see her, and Brodie quickly falls back in with close friend Elliot. The resulting mystery involves the Adder Stone, old dead letters she's long puzzled over, and the secrets of many of Warwick's adults. The story unfolds slowly, allowing space for Levi and Brodie's relationship to sweetly bloom, with pranks and sarcastic banter thrown into the mix. While the reveal of the letter mystery may not come entirely as a surprise to readers, they'll find the time with the funny and vulnerable characters who populate this quirky town to be well spent. The central characters present white.
Thoughtfully weaves a mystery into a poignant tale about a young woman finding home. (Fiction. 13-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Draper, Lauren: RETURN TO SENDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797463264/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3a8bfb3d. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
The Museum of Broken Things (Lauren Draper, Text)
Wednesday, 20 April 2022 Unlocked content from the archive. Books+Publishing
The concise opening of Lauren Draper’s debut YA novel immediately had me hooked: a new town, a mysterious statue and a curse all make for intriguing storylines. In The Museum of Broken Things we meet 18-year-old Reece, in her final year of high school and living four hours from her home town. The reasons for this become clear as the story unfolds: suffice to say that death, grief and depression have all played a part in her family’s relocation. The link to Reece’s new, smaller beachside town is her grandmother—a formidable force in the medical field and a champion of women’s rights up until her passing. Just one of the novel’s many plot threads involves Reece solving the mystery behind an old apothecary curio bequeathed to her by her grandmother, and the author deftly weaves in historical references that also generate some nice suspense. Draper’s strength is her characters—from Reece’s hormonal jock younger brother to a cranky bookshop owner—which are fantastically drawn without any stereotyping, and all highly credible. I was thoroughly invested in each of their journeys, and older teenage readers will definitely make personal connections on many levels. The well-crafted dialogue is filled with humour and emotion, while romance, friendship, family—and everything in between—help build our heroine’s confidence and self-worth. Fans of Nina Kenwood’s It Sounded Better in My Head and Lisa Walker’s smart and sassy character Olivia Grace will not be disappointed by Draper’s highly detailed coming-of-age mystery.
Freelance reviewer Alida Galati is a secondary school librarian and reading enthusiast. Read her interview with Lauren Draper about The Museum of Broken Things here.