Spotlight on Joy McCullough

Joy McCullough writes books and plays from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is the author of the middle grade novels Across the Pond, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Not Starring Zadie Louise, and Code Red and the picture books Harriet’s Ruffled Feathers, Champ and Major: First Dogs, and The Story of a Book. Her debut novel Blood Water Paint was longlisted for the National Book Award and was a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist.

Q: Code Red comes at a time where menstrual literature is becoming more in demand. How did you decide that Eden’s story needed to be told?

My wonderful editor, Reka Simonsen, actually came to me with the seed of the idea. She told me about Days for Girls International, which is an organization that involves American volunteers sewing cloth pads that are then distributed in developing countries to women who need them. She knew that my work skews feminist, and that I like to sew, and thought there might be some sort of story there. I didn't want to write white savior story about a girl sewing for needy people in other countries, but as I started to research period poverty, I learned how much of an issue it is here in the United States. Eden's story grew from there.

Q: What kind of research did you need to do for Code Red? Was there anything you came across that was new information to learn?

I read several great books about period poverty and menstrual equity, most notably Period Power by Nadya Okamoto, who was a teen when she began her menstrual equity activism. I spoke with some menstrual equity activists, and that was when I learned that while a number of states do have laws requiring free menstrual products in schools, those laws don't provide the schools with the funding they need to comply with the laws. That gave Eden and her friends something to fight for. 

Q: After reading, what do you hope for kids to take away from Code Red?

The main thing I'm hoping for is to help normalize menstruation. Half the population experiences it; it shouldn't be taboo. I think kids are already heading that direction. A school teacher friend of mine told me she keeps menstrual products in a particular drawer in her desk, and whenever a student needs one, they openly walk up to the desk and take the pad or tampon, often announcing to the class, "Shark week!" I loved hearing that. I grew up in the hide-the-tampon-up-your-sleeve generation.

Q: Out of all the books you have published so far, which one is your favorite and why?

Oh now, that's not fair! Honestly, I don't have a favorite. I am always most excited about and invested in whatever I'm currently working on, so right now that means a young adult novel that will come out about two years from now.