Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Barbara Dee (Tear This Down)!
Meet the Author: Barbara Dee
Barbara Dee is the award-winning author of fourteen middle grade novels, all published by Simon & Schuster. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, ALA Notable Children’s Books, ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, School Library Journal’s Best Middle Grade Books, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Her books appear on numerous state awards lists as well.
Barbara graduated magna cum laude from Yale with honors in English. She has a MA degree from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English and a JD degree from the University of Chicago Law School, where she was an associate editor of the law review. She has taught high school English and has practiced law. Barbara is one of the founders and a former board member of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, now the largest children’s book festival in the country.
About the Book: Tear This Down
From Barbara Dee, the critically acclaimed author of Maybe He Just Likes You, comes a middle grade novel about a girl who makes the choice to speak out against a problematic historical hometown figure no matter the cost—perfect for readers of Dress Coded.
For as long as Freya can remember, she has loved living in her cozy hometown of Wellstone. Not only is the town itself named for local and historical hero Benjamin Wellstone but everything in it: schools, beaches, and stores. There’s even a giant statue of him to remind everyone of the good things he did.
But while doing research for a big school project, Freya discovers that Benjamin isn’t the big hero everyone has been taught to believe. He had some redeeming qualities, but he also held incredibly problematic views towards women, believing they shouldn’t have the right to vote—or even to exist outside of the home. Disappointed by her revelation, Freya wonders if she could figure out a way to not only show what the hometown hero was really like but replace his statue with one of an unsung hero: local suffragette Octavia Padgett.
Though Freya knows not everyone will agree with her, she is shocked when her efforts cause even bigger issues than she could have imagined. Even her own parents seem uneasy with Freya’s cause. With the help of her beloved Nan, friends new and old, and the coolest librarian she’s ever met, can Freya stand firm and tear down outdated views?
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I live in a town that’s all about its most famous historical figure, Horace Greeley. Everything around here is named after him, including the main street running through downtown, and the local high school; there’s also a big statue of him greeting you as you exit the highway. When I discovered that this prominent American editor and political figure didn’t believe women should vote, it felt shocking to me, even as I tried to put it in historical perspective.
So I started imagining a novel about a seventh grade feminist so outraged when she discovers the truth about her town’s “Horace Greeley” that she wants to tear down his statue from downtown. With everything going on in this country right now, all the discussions around voting rights and women’s rights, I felt like Freya’s story would resonate with many readers.
But TEAR THIS DOWN is not just about how we interact with problematic history. It’s also about a kid finding her voice and her community. Every day I hear from kids who want to make a difference in the world; they inspire me to write, and I think they’ll see themselves in Freya!
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Definitely Freya, the main character, because she’s fierce, curious, and passionate about social justice. She isn’t perfect—she’s loud and impulsive, and she makes many mistakes—but she has a big, generous heart, and she’s a loyal friend. She also grows a lot over the course of the story.
YABC: What type of scene do you love to write the most?
I love to write scenes that start off as calm conversations and gradually become highly charged, emotional arguments. There are a few such scenes between Freya and her parents that sound to me like real life.
YABC: What word do you have trouble overusing?
Really. I really, really need to delete a few.
YABC: What is your favorite writing space?
My cluttered computer desk. Every once in a while I get it organized, but then I panic because I can’t find anything.
YABC: What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?
“Bucket list.” Eww. Having dreams and goals to accomplish before you die is great, but I can’t think of an expression clunkier than that one.
YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?
My favorite holiday is Halloween. I love that there’s no stress, no presents to shop for, and no cooking. It’s just about kids, costumes, and candy, and I’m down with all three!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
NOTHING TO SEE HERE (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, February 2026) is about a group of eighth graders who post fake stories to show how unsubstantiated gossip and rumors spread online, turning their middle school into a toxic environment. For this book I wrote from the POV of four different kids—two girls and two boys. I’ve never written alternating POVs before–it was a challenge, and a lot of fun!
Title: Tear This Down
Author: Barbara Dee
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Publisher: Aladdin/Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Age Range: Ages 9-13
