Chain Blog Tour: Character Interview

As apart of the {Teen} Book Scene tour, I am pleased to share a character interview with Hastin. I hope you enjoy!

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1.     What's your favorite thing about Nandita?

She does something every day to make me laugh. Somehow she seems to know she's funny, too. Like when she sprays me with water, I swear it seems like she's laughing. When she does that she reminds me of the happy elephant she was when I first saw her in the wild.

2.     What do you miss most about home?

I miss everything about home. I think about my mother and sister all the time and wonder how they're doing. If I had to pick one thing, I'd say what I miss most is dinner time in the courtyard, with my family and all my neighbors around me.

3.     How has Ne Min helped you?

I wouldn't be able to take care of Nandita without him. No one else here cares about her like he does. I care about her, but I'd have no idea what to do with an elephant if he were not here. I'm not sure how he knows so much about elephants. It seems like he knows everything about them, but he doesn't like to talk about it.

4.     What have you learned in your time away from home?

I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought I was. I don't mean that I always feel strong. Some nights I cry myself to sleep in the stable, and I want more than anything to go home. I think it'll always be that way, no matter how old I am or how long I live here. But I've been through a lot and I'm still standing, and in some ways I'm getting stronger every day.

5.     If you could talk to your family back home, what would you tell them?

I'd tell them how much I miss them. I think they'll worry about me if I'm not home when I'm supposed to be, so I'd also tell them that I'm all right and that I'm trying to get out of here so I can get home to them.