'Tallgrass' author Sandra Dallas speaks at Central High School

With dry humor and occasionally surprising honesty, Sandra Dallas talked Thursday to students and community members about her book "Tallgrass" at Central High School in Cape Girardeau. Dallas' book, selected for the citywide reading program United We Read, tells the story of a rural Colorado town divided when a Japanese internment camp opens during World War II.

Quilts, a motif in the book, were draped over couches and chairs, and recipes for Scripture Cake, another book reference, were distributed.

Dallas spoke on topics ranging from the history of internment camps to why writing about sex is difficult.

She started by describing how she came up with the idea for the book: While pheasant hunting in Granada, Colo., a friend showed her the remains of the Amache internment camp. After reading about the topic, she discovered she had taken journalism classes in the former barracks of the camp.

"I was surprised in talking to the Japanese about their lack of bitterness. They simply went on with their lives," she said.

Most of Dallas' books are character-driven, and she noted "the story is not about the camp, it's about the family," and "what happens when human decency triumphs."

Because the book is told through the eyes of 13-year-old Rennie and focuses on themes of fear and prejudice, it has been compared to "To Kill a Mockingbird," last year's United We Read selection.

One reader said she was a "little bothered by the similarity," especially by a scene where Rennie's mother defuses a mob outside the camp, similar to Scout's breaking up of a mob outside a jail in "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Dallas said she did not consciously copy the scene. "Scout just did it; it was a natural thing for her to do. I wanted something that would be difficult for the mother. The mother was to have been the moral force, but then the husband took over," said Dallas, who previously compared the father in "Tallgrass" to her own father.

Often readers associate characters' traits with the author, but in Dallas' case, she said, "People think I am this really nice person because I have characters that are nice. I'm not particularly nice," she said, receiving laughs. "I write about friendship and loyalty, but I'm a solitary person."

Another reader asked what audience Dallas intended to read "Tallgrass." Although the book is told with simple vocabulary and by a teenager, it addresses adult topics like rape and murder. Dallas said she was surprised it has won young adult awards.

Bridging into her personal history, Dallas, a former journalist, related her first experience trying to write a romance novel ("much to my surprise it turned out to be much harder than I expected"), how ideas for books just come to her (the plot, scene and characters of her first published novel struck her while in the hallway of her home), and how writers can't wait for inspiration, but should just get started.

Annabelle Criddle, a junior, asked for permission to skip gym class to attend the talk. "In history we like to gloss over the internment camps. People don't like to think it has happened," she said.

Members of a mystery book club, composed mostly of retired female teachers, also attended.

"It's so much more fun to talk about a book with someone," Betty Copanas said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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