"So, what are you writing these days?" they ask.
"A book for 8 to 12 year-olds about revolutions," I answer.
"STILL?!?!?" they reply.
Yup, it took a while. But now, after all this time, it's finally here.
I was introduced to non-fiction writing for this age group a few years back when I co-wrote two books with Joan Haig: Talking History (150 Years of Speakers and Speeches) pub. 2022, and Great Minds (2500 Years of Thinkers and Philosophy) pub. 2023.
I was smitten. Revolution! followed. (Eventually.)
Here's a bit of a blurb:
What does it take to change the world?Sometimes it’s toppling systems and finding new ways to govern that give people a better chance.
Sometimes it’s challenging long-held beliefs and finding the courage to think differently.
Sometimes it’s coming up with ingenious inventions that transform our everyday lives.
The world we know today has been shaped by exceptional events, ideas and inventions. Revolution! tells the stories of ordinary people who made the extraordinary happen.
One of the things I love about this kind of non-fiction writing is getting to be a sort of serial monogamist. Each chapter looks at a different revolution, so with each chapter, I'd plunge in head-first, have a blast splashing about, send a tidal wave over the paper. This is FASCINATING! I'd like to write a whole book about this! Did you know...? But of course I only have four pages + illustrations + leaving enough space for translations. Oh well.
Cutting words. Cutting words. Cutting words...
And then, I got to do it all over again with a completely different chapter and a completely different revolution. Yahoo! Sploosh! WOW! I could spend a lifetime studying this!
Twelve chapters, looking at three different sorts of revolution. That's twelve times I got to immerse myself, not counting twelve more in the Other Revolutions pages (a kind of 'if you liked those, how about these?' spread for each section).
One of the parts I particularly enjoyed writing were the slightly sideways questions at the end of each chapter. Questions like:
What use is music in a revolution?
Computers are here to stay. As long as mine works, why think about it?
Might India, Pakistan and Bangladesh reunite some day?
What makes something truly green?
I would try to answer in a way that might lead the reader to think again, and to ask MORE questions.
And that was always the take home message.
Revolution! written by Joan Lennon, illustrated by Teo Georgiev, published by Templar Books, due out 27 August 2026.
Joan Lennon website
Joan Lennon Instagram
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