I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory by Annika Klanderud Is a Delightfully Entertaining Middle School Novel with a Moral--A Chat with the Author
- Book Nerd
- Dec 8
- 6 min read
Booknerdia chats with author Annika Klanderud about her latest juvenile fiction novel, I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory, a book that will make even adults laugh out loud while appreciating the virtuous undertones of this fun story aimed at middle schoolers.
What Is I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory About?
According to eighth grader Ray Larkin, middle school consists of three groups--the Perfect Kids, the Bad Kids, and the boring Regular Kids. He fits in with the latter, but when he loses his best friend, Javier, he devises a Big Plan that will attract new friends from every group.
Ray is saving the money he earns watching chickens and dog sitting to finance his Big Plan, but a series of events, starting with taking a bite of Sophia's Pop Tart in class, combined with misguided good intentions lead to trouble.
As Ray's mess snowballs, he resolves to right all his wrongs and brave the consequences while learning valuable lessons along the way.
Booknerdia's Review of I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory by Annika Klanderud
I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory is a fun read for any age. It is completely relatable to middle schoolers who are navigating the challenges of adolescence. Told from an eighth-grader's perspective, tweens and early teens will identify with Ray's thought processes and laugh at his actions and observations (like how hanging out with girls is a lot of work). The story allows adult readers to revisit their middle school years and toggle between understanding the complexities of youth while simultaneously agreeing with adult responses to a variety of situations.
Ray's story arc is very strong. Although he's initially clueless about what caused his rift with Javier, he figures it out and grows from the experience. He realizes his know-it-all little sister has his best interests at heart. He concludes that middle schoolers are all a mix of Bad Kids and Perfect Kids, and he values the peace that results from telling the truth, even if it means being grounded for a month.
From a parental standpoint, I value the wholesomeness of this novel even more than the hilariously entertaining aspect. Juvenile literature is a genre flooded with content that needs to be heavily filtered, and parents should pay close attention to the stories their kids are consuming. Many that are marketed as fantasy are rooted in the occult (yes, like Harry Potter), or are laced with radical left-wing ideology, like climate activism and LGBTQ storylines. I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory integrates the morals and virtues stemming from a Christian worldview without sounding preachy so that readers will be encouraged and inspired whether they are people of faith or not.
I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory is a quick read even though it is heavily layered with multiple threads and twists that make the story richer and deeper. Themes include the impact of a strong father figure, the rewards of a hard work ethic, the importance of telling the truth, the value of friendship, seeing the best in others, and that love for family is the heart of it all.
Pick up a copy of I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory by Annika Klanderud for the middle schooler in your life or get one for yourself! The fast-paced action and witty narrative make it a delightfully perfect read!
Interview with Annika Klanderud, Author of I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory
About Annika Klanderud
Annika Klanderud crossed the Pacific Ocean and braved many adventures living in Japan and China for over two years. She earned a degree in Japanese Studies and even won a karaoke contest in Japanese. Now she prefers exploring America with the love of her life-her husband of twenty-five years. Sometimes they even let their twelve children and five grandchildren tag along. Through all her adventures, Annika has included the Bible because it tells us-in God's own words-how He loved us all so much that He gave His own Son for us.
BOOKNERDIA: Of all the genres to write about, what drew you to juvenile fiction?
Annika: Initially it was my writing style, the length of my stories, and feedback from readers that made it obvious KIDLIT was my niche. Then, as time went by, I learned how great the need was for KIDLIT written from a Christian worldview, and that made me even more passionate about writing for young people.
BOOKNERDIA: How does being a Christian author influence your approach to storytelling?
Annika: I believe people come to story because they desperately want to know how a person changes on the inside, for the better. It’s that classic Romans chapter seven struggle. How does a person become more Christlike? So although my writing might be humorous and lighthearted, I take the character transformation aspect of each story very seriously.
BOOKNERDIA: Aside from basic entertainment value, what are some key points you hope readers will take away from I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory?
Annika: As a mother of eight boys, I wanted boys to know it’s okay to want stories with heroes who are boys. I also wanted to bring back strong and wise dads. And sometimes us females need men and boys in our lives to help us have fun and be less stressed out.
BOOKNERDIA: Where did the inspiration come from for this novel?
Annika: The whole idea for the story started with the title. My youngest sons would spend all day watching the Weather Channel if I let them, and I just love how dramatic the forecasters can be sometimes. Many of the elements in this story are based on real events. For example, the Pop-Tart incident actually happened. And when the school called to tell us what my son had done, it was hard to stop laughing long enough to be upset.
BOOKNERDIA: With so many titles clamoring for attention, what makes I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory stand out from the rest as an ideal choice for tween, teen, or even adult readers?
Annika: I do believe it is important for girls to have stories with female leads, but the industry is pushing female leads to the exclusion of male leads. I see it when I query literary agents, and I see it when my sons go to choose books to read. So that’s why this book has a male lead. Also, when this book won the 2024 Cascade Award, judges really praised the middle grade voice. But, in my opinion, the biggest distinguisher is that this book was written from a Christian worldview.
BOOKNERDIA: With 12 children and 5 grandchildren, how do you carve out time for writing?
Annika: I actually started writing to fill all the downtime that comes with being a mom. I would buy notebooks and pens when they were on sale for a quarter during back-to-school season, and I wrote while waiting for my kids at dental appointments and sports practice. I still write each story out on paper, and I still come up with my best ideas while doing laundry or dishes. I just squeeze writing into my life. It’s the only way I know to write.
BOOKNERDIA: After someone reads this book, they are going to be hooked and want more! What’s next for your readers?
Annika: I am currently working on a superhero book that Above the Sun Publishers invited me to write. It is also for middle school aged readers. But most of the novels I have written are for young adult audiences. So, I’m not sure which book I will publish next, but I have really enjoyed publishing with Pear Blossom Press and hope to publish with them again.
Stay in Touch with Author Annika Klanderud!
Once you or your middle schooler reads I Lived Through a Windchill Advisory, you are going to want to follow Author Annika Klanderud so you don't miss out on her upcoming projects!
You can count on Annika Klanderud to create wholesome and wildly entertaining stories that are parent-approved. What your kids read matters!
Comments