'Unsinkable Cayenne': New book explores the challenges of wanting to fit in
Jessica Vitalis' new novel is a story for anyone who's ever been an outsider, or felt like one.
"Unsinkable Cayenne" was released Oct. 29. Like Vitalis' other recent novels "Coyote Queen," "The Rabbit's Gift" and "The Wolf's Curse," "Unsinkable Cayenne" is written for middle grade readers, but its message will appeal to adults, too.
Cayenne is 12. She's coping with a transient family, twin baby siblings, a father with post-war Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a free-spirited mother, and a longing for somewhere permanent to call home. Cayenne and her mother birdwatch at every new place the family travels.
When her family settles in a town in Montana, Cayenne wants to fit in at her new school — but is popularity all it's cracked up to be?
"I think this book is about fitting in, and I think that's a universal struggle we all face, regardless of what kind of life you have," Vitalis said. "Every single one of us know what it's like to not fit in, to want to feel normal, to feel like we belong."
"Unsinkable Cayenne" is considered a historical novel because it takes place in 1985. That year, the wreckage of the Titanic was discovered. The tragic ocean liner is woven into Cayenne's story as her social studies class learns about it. Cayenne sees parallels between the social strata of the infamous Titanic and her own life. Will she ever squeeze her way into the popular girls' clique, even though they live in fancy houses and she lives in a tiny, rundown home? Does the rich boy she likes actually like her too? Can Cayenne make room for herself in her new town?
"That was the perfect way to really let me explore the dynamics that Cayenne is facing in terms of feeling poor, not feeling worthy of the popular kids and the rich boys. I did that by exploring the socioeconomics of the Titanic ... so she's learning all sorts of things about the different ways that the people on the Titanic lived and the different ways that they died," Vitalis said.
What's perhaps most unique about Vitalis' latest book is that it's a novel written entirely in free verse poetry. The trend of novels written in poetry has been emerging for roughly the past five years, Vitalis said. That storytelling style is particularly effective for younger, sometimes reluctant, readers who have shorter attention spans.
"It's a nice way to tell a story in a slightly different way. ... Writing in verse for the first time was exciting," Vitalis said. "I really did fall in love with it. It's the experience of moving through an entire novel with a lot fewer words on the page. ... For me, it was really having to be super intentional about how to use each page."
Though Vitalis said the town and people in "Unsinkable Cayenne" are not based on actual places or people, Cayenne's struggles are inspired by Vitalis' life. During Vitalis' transient, non-traditional childhood, her family moved nearly two dozen times before Vitalis was in fourth grade. Books gave Vitalis consistency, comfort and entertainment amid frequent change.
"Because I had a childhood living on the fringes of society, I did not see my types of families in books. My passion is making sure that I write stories for kids who don't usually get to see themselves in literature ... exploring the different ways that socioeconomics impact the middle grade experience. It makes those kids feel seen and it gives them a place to feel safe, and for me, I'm hoping that it gives them hope for their futures," Vitalis said.
Vitalis' family eventually moved to Hill City between Vitalis' freshman and sophomore years of high school.
"That was my first sense of having a permanent home," Vitalis said. "When I think of my childhood memories, a lot of them anchor around my time in Hill City and the Black Hills."
Vitalis left home at 16 and put herself through college, eventually earning an MBA from Columbia Business School. Vitalis now lives with her family in Ontario, Canada. Her mother, Carolyn Stout, has owned Just Dandy boutique in Hill City for more than 30 years. All of Vitalis' books can be purchased at Just Dandy.
Books such as "Unsinkable Cayenne" can help kids safely explore challenges in the world.
"Upper middle grade readers are moving from the innocence of childhood toward an understanding of the larger world," Vitalis said. "Part of the beauty of fiction is that it allows readers of any age to experience hardships within the confines of a safe space, thus preparing them for the challenges that life might eventually throw their way (if it hasn't already)."
Our best Rapid City staff photos and video of October 2024A collection of some of our best photos from October of 2024.
Scenes from the Wednesday, Oct. 2 Freshman Impact simulated drunk driving car crash. Scenes from Wednesday Oct. 2 Freshman Impact simulated drunk driving car crash. Rapid City Central junior running back Brayden Jackson (24) fights past defenders for a chunk of yardage during the first half of the Friday, ... BHSU redshirt senior Doodle Quinones (26) celebrates after recovering a muffed punt during the fourth quarter of the 139th Black Hills Brawl b... Philip senior quarterback Talan Haynes (12) prepares to chuck the football deep during the first half of a Friday, Oct. 4 contest between the ... Left to right: Barb Schuch, Michele Freed, Kimmy Hayes, Dianne Ellwein, Caran Smith, Apryl Ghents, Lisa Ficek, Ruth Patterson, Stephanie Schon... Rapid City Christian junior Joaquin Petrik (5) attempts to block a kick from Belle Fourche freshman defender Brahnson Brink (2) during the fir... Philip junior running back Tyce Gropper (2) collects a pass during the first half of the Friday, Oct. 4 matchup between the Scotties and Hill ... Spearfish junior Adelyn Bouman (3) throws down the hammer past St. Thomas More senior Alexa Scherr during Tuesday's contest between the Sparta... Spearfish junior goalkeeper Ryder Allbright stops a Rapid City Stevens shot on goal during a matchup between the Spartans and Raiders, held th... Joe Guttierez of Pennington County Juvenile Services poses with his white BHSU helmet, a memento of his time as a Yellow Jacket. Bennett County eighth grader Peyson O'Neill goes up for a kill during the Lakota Nation Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Summit Arena at Th... St. Thomas More freshman outside hitter Lauren Poeppel (12) and Philip sophomore Kale Peterson (10) battle at the net during the first set of ... South Dakota Mines fifth-year quarterback Jake Martinelli (12) fires a pass down the field during the first half of the 139th Black Hills Braw... A local climber tackles a route at Wrinkled Rock near Keystone. Bennett County freshman Reagan O'Neill goes airborne before hammering down a kill during the Lakota Nation Invitational, held on Saturday, Oct... A local climber tackles a route at Wrinkled Rock near Keystone. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Copy Editor
