Middle Ground Blog Tour: Interview with Mrs. Freeman + Giveaway

I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour for Middle Ground on behalf of The Readiacs and Katie Kacvinsky!  

For those that are not familiar with Kacvinsky's work, you need to be ASAP. 

Awaken was published last year, and next month its sequel, Middle Ground, will hit the shelves.

Middle Ground Summary (from Goodreads):

In this provocative cautionary tale for teens, the sequel to Awaken, seventeen-year-old Maddie’s rebellion against the digital-only life grows dangerous. Maddie is in Los Angeles, trying to stay out of trouble. But one night, a seemingly small act of defiance lands her in the place she fears the most: a detention center. Here, patients are reprogrammed to accept a digital existence. Maddie is now fighting for her mind, her soul, and her very life. Once again, Katie Kacvinsky paints a disturbing picture of our increasingly technology-based society.

On the blog today:

My interview with Maddie's mother, Mrs. Freeman. 

Welcome to Book 'Em! Mrs. Freeman. I know how busy you are and I appreciate your time.

1.  How did your school experience differ from that of Maddie’s experience with Digital School? 
    
Schools were becoming more dangerous when I was a teenager. They were overcrowded (about sixty or seventy kids in a classroom) and understaffed. I thought Digital School would be a good idea because there would be less distractions so kids could learn easier, and more resources available to them. 

2. How was Maddie as a child?

She was sweet and well behaved.  Her drama years didn’t hit until high school.

3. How was your own childhood different from Maddie’s?

It was drastically different. We didn’t have wallscreens in our rooms, and we played outside most of the time. We only went to school four days out of the week, so we had a lot of time to hang out with friends.

4. With the resistance, are you finding more and more difficult to support your husband in his efforts to hold on to Digital School?

I support my husband and I respect what he’s trying to do.

5.  What are your feelings on Maddie and Justin’s “relationship”?

*Sigh* I think it’s inevitable.  I doubt any mother wishes her daughter to date a rebel leader. I understand why Maddie cares about him, but if he could tone down his lifestyle a little bit, I’d be happy.

6.  Do you support your son’s decision to turn Maddie over to the LADC?

Joe is like his father.  He thinks logically.  He was trying to do what was right—he was trying to help Maddie. I don’t support what he did, but I also don’t blame him.

7.  How difficult do you find it to keep on a brave face knowing your daughter is in a DC?

I was worried sick every single day. My husband kept reminding me that the DC’s were safe, but I reminded him he had never actually visited one. I was the one that pushed him to go to the LADC.

8.  Do you support Maddie’s fight for humans need to step from behind the screen and have more human-to-human interaction?

I understand Maddie’s side.  I raised her to spend time off-line and socialize face-to-face.  I just didn’t expect her to take it to this extreme. 

The one thing that strikes me about Mrs. Freeman is that she seems to have a larger role behind the scenes, we just have not been exposed to it just yet. She is complacent in her home, but when it comes to Maddie, well...that's a bit of a different matter. Her answers above really give a feel for her - she wants to do what is right by both her husband and her daughter Maddie, but it seems as if there is no resolution. At least, not yet.

And now it is giveaway time - woot! Who doesn't love a giveaway?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All giveaway entries across the blog tour will be entered to win a grand prize: One (1) signed copy of Middle Ground and Maddie's Journal (US only).  Seriously guys, this is awesome. I will contain my jealousy - GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

And check back next week when I review Middle Ground. Can I include a "squee" in here because I loved it?!

Happy Reading!