New Jersey author explores mental health, LGBTQ topics for young readers: 'Very much kid issues as well'

Nicole Melleby knows how tough New Jersey kids can be.

The author of the upcoming "How to Become a Planet," Melleby reflects the tenacity of the Jersey Shore in her books for middle grade readers, reports the Asbury Park Press, which is a part of the USA TODAY Network.

“I think it was an Asbury Park Press quote that I read in high school, that was something about how ‘beach kids feel no pain,’ and it was a whole thing about that," Melleby said. "And growing up as a Bayshore beach kid, that always is something that had kind of stayed in my mind — that beach kids feel no pain.

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"And obviously we do, and obviously (in) these stories I tell — this is my third book and I’ve set all of them in the same area — they’re clearly struggling and they’re going through all this, but it’s the resilience, I think, that lands true. The beach kids feel no pain because at the end of the day, they persevere.”

"How to Become a Planet" releases Tuesday, May 25, via Algonquin Books.

The novel finds teen Pluto Timoney in the summer after seventh grade, helping out at her mother's boardwalk pizzeria and struggling with mental health issues after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. There's also the matter of Pluto's evolving connection with her friend Fallon, who is exploring gender identity.

“People often ask, ‘Are these the books that you needed when you were younger?’ And of course, the answer is yes," said Melleby, now 32. "But ... once I started doing school visits and talking to more and more students, I had to almost re-shape that because ... they’re way more knowledgeable than I ever was at that age. ... So after speaking to those kids, it became less of writing the books that I needed and more re-framing it to realizing that I needed to write what they need now."

Writing with her modern, young readership in mind meant discussing topics of mental health, sexuality and gender honestly.

"You need to face those things head-on for the audiences today," she said. "Especially with the pandemic and everything, more and more kids are facing these mental health issues.

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“And when you’re talking about for the adults in these kids’ lives having access to these books as well, I think it’s important just to kind of keep in mind that metal health and sexuality and gender, they’re not (just) adult issues. They’re very much kid issues as well, and it’s very important ... to keep that in the forefront of everyone’s mind.”

Another factor that goes along with meeting readers on their terms these days is Melleby's book tour in support of "How to Become a Planet." Like so many other types of human interaction lately, it's happening online.

The five-date virtual tour starts Tuesday, with Melleby in conversation with author A.J. Sass via The Curious Reader in Glen Rock, New Jersey.

Tickets for the book launch event, $25, include a signed copy of "How to Become a Planet." Part of the proceeds will support the Essex LGBT RAIN Foundation's work helping homeless LGBTQ youth.

“If I can’t go to a book store and be face-to-face with the readers," said Melleby, "I’m glad that this is something that we’re able to do."

"How to Become a Planet" by Nicole Melleby releases Tuesday, May 25, via Algonquin Books.

For more on the book and Melleby's virtual tour in support of its release, visit nicolemelleby.com.

Alex Biese has been writing about art, entertainment, culture and news on a local and national level for more than 15 years.