The Interview - Karin Jensen

My fascination with diverse cultures began in childhood, when I stumbled upon an old National Geographic magazine featuring the tree houses of Papua New Guinea. I was instantly transfixed by this glimpse into a way of life so different from my own. It sparked an insatiable curiosity about the myriad ways humans adapt to their environments and create meaning.
As I grew older and began to travel, I realized how much richness and wisdom exists in cultures that often go overlooked by the wider world. In Vanuatu, I was moved by the profound connection to nature and community. In Torajaland, I witnessed how art and ritual can bridge the worlds of the living and the dead. And in Mongolia, I saw firsthand the incredible resilience required to thrive in one of Earth's harshest landscapes.
These experiences left me with a deep conviction that we have so much to learn from one another. I believe that by introducing young readers to diverse ways of life, we can foster empathy, expand worldviews, and perhaps even find solutions to global challenges. There's a universality in the human experience, even amidst profound cultural differences.

After visiting over one hundred countries across six continents and building lasting friendships along the way, both the diversity and commonality of human experience was imprinted on me. On the surface, our differences are stark and striking - from cuisine to clothing, rituals to rhythms of daily life. Yet peek beneath the veil of outward customs and you discover universal threads that bind our shared humanity.
Chief among these is the primacy of family, those tight-knit communities we are born into that shape identity. I've traded stories over simmering stews from Mongolia to Togo that reverberate with the same notes of belonging, duty and unconditional love that resonate deeply within me.
Likewise, the glow of wonder igniting a child's eyes sustains its flame across all borders and skin tones. That infectious mix of curiosity and joy persists through cultural complexities. As does the search in those eyes for role models who embody courage, compassion and moral character worthy of emulation.
We each face turning points - where hardship and strife strip context away until the core of one's being is revealed and tested. In those crucibles lie the seeds of growth. I've witnessed the wells of resilience and empathy such transformations unlock in humanity everywhere.
We all share the basic want - to find meaning, to leave our mark, to connect with others through the tales of experience that comprise the fabric of our fleeting lives. I strive to honor those stories and the unbreakable ties that bind us.

The longing for independence and autonomy as youth start asserting their identity apart from family. There's a universal push to discover "who am I?" separate from expectations.
The hunger for adventure and a widening social circle beyond one's local community. Adolescents worldwide crave exploration and bonding with peers who understand them.
Reckoning with first stirrings of romance and the exhilaration/awkwardness of newfound crushes or connections. Young people worldwide experience that dawning self-consciousness in relationships.
Wrestling with fears, pressures or self-doubt as the stakes of impending adulthood loom. Most teens face crises of confidence regarding the looming future.
Grappling with the duties and cultural traditions expected of them. Whether ceremonial rites of passage or family/societal responsibilities, adolescents feel the weight of custom and honor across cultures.
Learning to leverage their voice, skills and passions to contribute meaningfully. Teens yearn for purpose and to shape the world around them for the better.
While outer realities differ hugely, I'm struck by how resonant the inner roads to self-realization travel such parallel courses for youth worldwide. My stories aim to honor those shared secret struggles and sparks that unite us all.

I realized in my years of leading youth through scouting or teaching, that stories have a profound capacity to nurture cultural awareness and compassion in young readers by bridging Worlds -

I believe my Coming of Age stories can shape how children perceive foreign cultures and ethnically different peers in several positive ways:

1. Sparking curiosity - By immersing readers in the vivid sensory details of Mongolian nomadic culture, the story fosters fascination and wonder about unfamiliar ways of life. This curiosity combats xenophobia stemming from ignorance.

2. Emphasizing universality - While customs differ hugely, the themes of family bonds, loyalty, and coming of age struggles resonate despite cultural variation. The shared hopes and values can help kids relate to and humanize those from other backgrounds.

3. Highlighting wisdom - Respectfully showcasing the ecological wisdom and resilience required for nomadic survival helps kids appreciate what ethnic cultures can teach our modern world. They may gain respect for diversity.

4. Modeling friendship - The moving multiethnic connections between characters demonstrates how language and custom differences fade in light of our shared yearning for belonging. Readers learn that cross-cultural friendship is natural and enriching.

At its core of my book "CHASING COURAGE", for instance, I wanted to craft a grand adventure that sweeps readers away to the far reaches of their imagination and immerses them in the stark beauty of the Mongolian landscape. If kids feel like they've lived inside Nergui's world, facing down wolves side-by-side with him, then I've succeeded at sparking wonder. But unlike fantasy tales, this way of life on the steppe battling the elements does still exist in our modern era. I hope through Nergui's eyes, young readers gain appreciation for the ancient wisdom that enables nomadic cultures to thrive in harmony with nature's rhythms - something our rush-rush culture has lost.
Most importantly, by internalizing Nergui's courageous journey of growth, kids may connect more profoundly with the family who grounds them, the friends who support them, the community they're tied to. While details differ, those bonds of love remain unbreakable across all cultures. Recognizing that common humanity while admiring uniqueness is the ultimate takeaway I yearn for readers to find within these pages.

I find it's critically important we foster intercultural connections, dialogue and understanding from a young age. Global integration will only increase, so giving kids early fluency negotiating cultural differences ensures they can collaborate across borders and thrive in our interconnected world.

There are a few key reasons I choose to write cross-cultural adventure stories for young readers rather than travel-oriented adults: Young people's sense of wonder and openness makes this the optimal time to shape global perspectives. Youth yearn for self-discovery and are receptive to life lessons.
Values and attitudes ingrained during the impressionable tween years stick powerfully into adulthood. I hope to seed empathy, curiosity and courage. Preteens face pivotal growth in independence and social roles during the coming-of-age process, so they may deeply relate to those themes.
School curriculum, libraries and gifts make youth books a natural conduit to engage wide readership across backgrounds. I aim to foster inclusion through adventure stories with young protagonists to ignite imagination at a pivotal time when kids begin seeking stimulation beyond school walls. I hope to spur real-world adventuring.
While well-traveled adults model inspiring worldliness, youth represent the vanguard of future generations. If my tales play a small role in nurturing cultural bridges during these formative years for young readers, the positive impact stretches far. That motivates me to capture formative moments with resonance and responsibly.