Cover Reveal and Q&A: Too Big to Say with Phil Bildner and Mike Curato

Where does the line between illustrated novel and graphic novel lie? What does it mean to release an unapologetically queer title for kids in this particular day and age? These are the kinds of questions that come to mind when I hear about a book like Too Big to Say (out March 2, 2027), written by Phil Bildner and illustrated by Mike Curato. Or, as the publisher would prefer to describe it:

“Perfect for fans of The Trouble with Heroes and Hey, Kiddo, this heartfelt illustrated novel tells the story of two friends who help each other make tough decisions while on a hiking adventure.
 
Two middle schoolers, Jaxson and South, embark on a day-long mission to climb the fire tower at the top of Mount Hope. Until now, the two have been mostly long-distance friends, but after months of planning for and dreaming about this day, they’re finally together in-person.

As they hike up the mountain, Jaxson is distracted by flashbacks—vivid thoughts about his mom’s deteriorating mental health and his worsening homelife. Meanwhile, South is trying to face their fear of heights, while worrying about disappointing their hyper critical dad. The two are so busy grappling with their inner struggles that they nearly jeopardize their friendship (and developing crush)…until it becomes clear they each have to make a tough decision. But are some things too big to say?

Moving, authentic, and hopefully told through prose and illustrated flashbacks, this story is for any young person who needs to remember the strength they can always find in their friends and in themselves.”

Today, we’re going to reveal the cover of this “moving, authentic” book, but before we do that? We just gotta talk to the creators first:

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Betsy Bird: Phil! Congrats a thousand times over the upcoming release of TOO BIG TO SAY! You’ve got everything from crushes to hiking up mountains (metaphorical and otherwise?) here, so give us a bit of background on its creation. Where did this book come from? 

Phil Bildner: Thanks, Betsy!

I have to say, this is super exciting because this is the first opportunity I’m really getting to talk about TOO BIG TO SAY.

The origin story for this novel is a fascinating one. In some ways, it dates all the way back to me seeing the classic Rob Reiner film Stand by Me as a teenager in 1986. And one of the main characters in TOO BIG TO SAY, South, can actually trace their roots back to a book idea I played around with in the early 2000s.

But for the most part, the version of TOO BIG TO SAY that will enter the world next March began to take shape in the second half of 2019. In July of that year, I said goodbye to my dad. Well, I said goodbye to a version of my dad. My dad had dementia, and I knew the next time I saw him, there was a good chance he wouldn’t know who I was, and unfortunately, I never did get to see my dad again.

A few days after that, I went on a hike with my friend, Ernesto. We climbed Mount Beacon in the Hudson Valley (New York), and that hike was transformative for me personally and for this book, which is dedicated in part to my dad.

BB: And Mike! So good to see you here in the middle grade sphere. Tell us a little bit about how you got attached to TOO BIG TO SAY. And what appealed to you about the project?

Mike Curato: Thank you! It’s great to be here in Middlegradeville! Phil called me up one day, excitedly explained the manuscript he was working on, and asked if I’d consider being a part of the pitch. I loved the hybrid format that he envisioned. I would say the characters are what ultimately inspired me to take on the project. I love middle grade books because usually they feature characters who are learning what they’re made of, and surprise themselves when they discover what they can do. I think Jaxson embodies this experience. Meanwhile South is kind of the kid I wish I was—confident, proud, and unashamed. 

BB: Okay, so Phil, tell me about being paired with Mike Curato on this book. Was that always in the cards or was it a happy surprise? 

Phil: Working with Mike Curato on TOO BIG TO SAY is the dream scenario!

Yep, this was the plan all along. When we sent the book out on submission, Mike and I were already paired up. 

It’s been amazing working with Mike. For one thing, I’ll never forget seeing his sketches for the first time and seeing the two main characters of Jaxson and South come to life. I remember saying to myself, “so that’s what you two look like!” I marvel at Mike’s attention to detail and his commitment to the text. I can’t wait for readers to see what he’s created.

BB: And to jump off of that, was the plan always, from the start, to include quite as many visual elements into the title? I mean, this could have potentially just been a straight words-only middle grade. Adding Mike’s art changes all that. Did you know how you wanted this to look from the start or did it morph into its final form along the way? 

Phil: Yes, TOO BIG TO SAY was always going to be a “hybrid” upper middle grade novel. All along, I envisioned it as part novel and part graphic novel. I always felt the visual elements were absolutely essential.

The book is rather complex – both the story and the structure. I know that middle school readers require scaffolding and support, and we need to meet those readers where they are. The graphic novel sequences and the spot illustrations go a long way in doing that. It’s also why we incorporated a second font color (blue), time stamps, and other visual cues throughout the book. It’s mindful of and respectful of how middle schoolers now read texts. 

BB: Okay, so Mike, tell us a little bit about how your art works in the context of the narrative. I know that you’ve contributed something around 40 illustrated pages. Are these interstitial spot art or pages worth of comics or something else entirely?

Mike: While there are a few spot illustrations, most of the illustrated pages are Jaxson’s memories in sequential format. In other words: comic book flashbacks. I think the most powerful flashback is told in pieces throughout the book, and builds up to a shocking reveal. 

BB: You know, often when I see a written work with art inside of it, I am reminded of musicals. Where, in musicals, the songs should support and continue the plot, so too should comics support and continue the storyline in a novel. But what is your attitude towards art as it’s worked into novels like this one? How do you define its role in the course of the narrative? 

Mike: I think what’s unique about this format is that we’re not only time traveling with the art, but we’re pulling the reader further into Jaxson and South’s world, both physically and emotionally. We see the house Jaxson is living in, the clothes he wears, and his mother’s obsession with diet soda. But there’s another layer of intimacy. As you know, an image can be quite compact. Sometimes one can condense several pages of writing into an illustration of two characters exchanging a look. Where you are reminded of musicals, I am often reminded of films, and how much weight a scene can hold without any dialogue or narration. Think about the impact of a camera zoomed in on someone’s face versus a pan out of someone standing in a vast field. Something as simple as that compositional choice can make a large emotional impact. 

BB: Okay, this next one is for the both of you. We’re looking at this book coming out in the dead center of book banning, sponsored bills, and other ways people are finding to prevent kids from seeing any kind of queer content in their reading material. Neither of you are strangers to any of this. When just releasing a middle grade novel into this day and age feels like an act of positive rebellion, I have to ask what the toll is on the creators. What are your thoughts about this release and how do you intend to get the word out about this book?

Phil: Ah, the book banning question!

In the coming months, I know I’m going to be asked about this a lot. Without a doubt, book creators for young people – especially queer ones – are under attack. Earlier this year, School Library Journal ran the story by Marlaina Cockcroft, “Are LGBTQIA+ Voices Being Pushed Out of Kid Lit?” The answer to that question for me – like it is for so many others – is one-word:

Yes.

This is the world in which TOO BIG TO SAY is entering. But make no mistake, I will be relentlessly defending this book. I will be defending its right to exist. I will be defending the right for young people to have access to this book and their right to read this book.

How do I intend to do this? Well, I completely acknowledge it’s going to be an uphill battle getting this book into schools, and because of that, tragically, so many kids will never even know it exists. I intend to reach out to as many librarians and booksellers as possible. I intend to talk about this book in spaces I wouldn’t ordinarily speak about books. And I intend to ask others to do so as well. 

Books really do have the ability to change the trajectory of lives and to save lives. I truly believe this book is going to reach a wide audience and do just that.

Mike: I will echo Phil’s sentiments. I will add that since books about and by queer and BIPOC people are facing so many challenges, it’s important to continue to create work in that space. Book banning and censorship of this nature is about erasure. It’s not only working to prevent certain people from being seen by others as equally made humans, but it’s also a psychological war against the creators themselves to intimidate us from creating new work. 

We make books because we care about our readers. We care about the kids who can relate to Jaxson and South, and we care about the kids who will need to decide if they will be friends with people like Jaxson and South. My hopes and dreams are always in service of friendship. And I’m so grateful to make this book with a friend! 

BB: Finally, what else are you two working on these days? What’s next for you? 

Phil: As for what else I’m working on these days, at the moment, that’s TBD. For now, my focus is on TOO BIG TO SAY.

Mike: Well, my foray into middle grade continues! I just finished illustrating a middle grade graphic novel called Pals, which I co authored with my friend and childhood penpal, Lara Robbins. It features two (familiar) characters, Aiden and Violet, and the friendship they develop over the course of a year via letter writing during sixth grade. 

I also just finished illustrating a picture book I wrote called Hello Halo Halo, which is about my favorite Filipino dessert, as well as Filipino family and culture. It was super fun to create (and constantly made me hungry).

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And here, since you’ve been so good and patient, is the cover itself:

TAH DAH!!

So many thanks to Phil and Mike for taking time to answer my questions today. Thanks too to Hannah Boardman, Tracy van Straaten, and the whole team. Too Big to Say is on shelves everywhere March 2, 2027, so look for it then!

Filed under: Cover Reveal, Interviews