Penny Reeve's Tania Adventure Series Explores Generosity in Camp Max on This Week's BookWorthy Podcast

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This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity but reflects the full conversation from the BookWorthy Podcast. Grab a cup of coffee, listen, and read along. This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Random Question of the Week

The Inspiration Behind Penny Reeve's Camp Max

The Message Behind Penny Reeve's Camp Max

Penny Reeve's Writing Journey

Penny Reeve's Favorite Book

Future Projects and How to Connect with Penny Reeve

Five Friends of Jesus - Mini Devotional Freebie

Valerie - Welcome to Bookworthy, where we explore the heart behind the books your kids are reading. Today, we're chatting with award-winning author Penny Reeve, who has penned over 25 books for children. Her works include picture books, novels, and nonfiction from the land down under. Penny loves sharing her stories with children and encouraging them to navigate this complex and fascinating world. Welcome to Bookworthy, Penny!

Penny - Thank you, Valerie! I'm thrilled to be here and chat about books with you.

Valerie - I’m excited too! We’ve connected through a few organizations, and it’s great to finally see your face. To kick things off, let’s start with our random question of the week: What was your first job?

Random Question of the Week

Penny - My very first job was babysitting. But my official first job, where I received pay slips, was at a place called Teen Center. You need some context here! Teen Center was a hub for teens in Ocarumpa, Papua New Guinea, where my family lived. I was sent to boarding school there. While in this community of about 800 people, I applied for my first job at Teen Center. It was scary! I had to dress just right for the interview, and I was so excited when I got the job. I earned about three Kina 14 an hour, which was the currency at the time. I learned many important skills, like making hamburgers and floats, which we call spiders here. There were many Americans in Ocarumpa, so I had to learn how to make blueberry floats, Coke floats, hamburgers, and fries. Nobody wanted to be on fries duty because you ended up greasy by the end of your shift!

Valerie - That’s exciting! It must have been interesting to work in a different place while doing something familiar. I can relate; my first job was taking care of dogs at a vet clinic. It’s similar to babysitting, just with fur instead of kids!

Penny - Exactly!

Valerie - Now, tell us a little about your Tanya Abbey adventures in the latest installment, Camp Max.

The Inspiration Behind Penny Reeve's Camp Max

Penny - I started writing this series because I had a big question: How does the average nine- to ten-year-old live out their faith in a realistic way? It’s not just about being a good kid. I remember being nine and feeling a sense of hopelessness when I wanted to help but didn’t know how. I wanted to explore that feeling in my writing.

The series follows Tanya Abbey, a girl living in Australia. In the first book, she wants to raise money to buy a goat from a charity gift catalog. She only has enough money for the back leg of a goat, which is why the book is called The Back Leg of a Goat. Tanya learns about generosity and friendship while trying to raise the money.

In the second book, she wants to join an advocacy march for clean water. Her mom insists she understands the issues before participating. So, I introduced a sewage disaster to help Tanya grasp the importance of clean water.

In Camp Max, Tanya is eager to attend summer camp with her best friend, Emily. However, Emily's parents donate the money meant for her camp ticket to a hospice. Tanya faces an ethical dilemma: she can't be upset with Emily's parents for their generosity, but now her friend can't join her at camp. The girls decide to enter a talent quest, hoping to win tickets to camp. But, as always, things don’t go as planned.

Through this story, I explore themes of generosity, friendship, and forgiveness. It’s a real struggle when faith meets reality, and that’s what I want to convey.

It doesn't matter how old you are; when our faith hits reality, there's sometimes a bit of a wrestle that we have to do.

Valerie - I love that! You tackle complex ideas that nine- and ten-year-olds face. They start to think about the world beyond themselves and often feel helpless. But they have power! Even in the Bible, many children accomplished amazing things through their faith. Your books remind kids that their faith and actions can work together.

Penny - Absolutely!

Valerie - What do you hope to communicate to kids who read Camp Max?

The Message Behind Penny Reeve's Camp Max

Penny - Each book has a central question. For Camp Max, it’s about the cost of generosity. Kids often seem selfish, but they, like adults, must weigh their decisions. Tanya must consider her relationship with Emily. Is camp more important than their friendship? They work hard toward their goal, but the ending is unexpected. Throughout this journey, Tanya learns about God’s love, which is central to the story.

Valerie - I appreciate that! Many books for this age group wrap up neatly, but life doesn’t always work that way. It’s important for kids to learn that unexpected outcomes can still be positive. In today’s world, where negativity is prevalent, it’s vital to help kids see the bright side.

Penny - Yes! When we walk in faith, unexpected things happen. We need to trust God for the good things in our lives.

Valerie - I enjoy reading middle-grade books for this podcast. I often think, “I wish I had this book when I was ten!”

Penny - Exactly! I write for kids because I want to provide role models. Growing up, I faced challenges due to my faith and lacked Christian friends. I turned to Christian children's fiction for guidance. Those characters inspired me, and I want to do the same for today’s kids.

Valerie - That’s so important! I often remind my kids that life isn’t fair. They look at me like, “Why are you happy about this, Mom?” I tell them I know who wins in the end, so I don’t worry.

Penny - That’s a great perspective!

Valerie - When did your writing journey begin?

Penny Reeve's Writing Journey

Penny - My writing journey began for publication when my daughter was a baby. People generously gifted me books, but some didn’t resonate with me. I felt some Christian books belittled God or made Biblical stories too fanciful. I thought, “Maybe I can do better.” I had written on and off since childhood but never believed I could be an author.

My first books were simple, teaching solid truths about God.

Valerie - I love that concept! It’s perfect for little kids who are just starting to understand their own size and abilities. Did you always want to be an author?

Penny - I liked the idea but thought it was impossible. I grew up moving around due to my parents' missionary work. I remember writing my first book in year three. Our teacher encouraged us to create a book for younger kids, and I felt the weight of that responsibility. I loved it!

But I never thought I could actually become an author. I wrote romantic poetry in high school, which I’ve since burned. I wrote short stories and beginnings of novels, but I did it for fun, not because I thought it would lead anywhere. I’m grateful to have my stories published and to receive emails from readers who have been impacted by my work.

Valerie - That’s a great reminder! Sometimes we just need to reach one person.

Penny - Exactly! God brings those one people at just the right time.

Valerie - What’s your favorite book?

Penny Reeve's Favorite Book

Penny - That’s a tough question! There are so many amazing books. I love The Hunger Games. I often return to that series. It critiques the world around us, which resonates with me. I also appreciate how it addresses mental health, as I’ve faced my own struggles with depression.

I’ve also enjoyed Beauty Chasers by Timothy Willard, which encourages us to think about beauty’s impact on our faith. Recently, I discovered Sensible Shoes, which I found very insightful.

As for children’s books, I adore Sad the Dog by Sandy Fussell. It’s about a little dog named Sad who finds new owners and gets a new name. It’s beautiful! Another favorite is Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbot.

Valerie - I haven’t heard of those! I’ll add them to my list. I love asking about favorite books because it opens up new recommendations.

Penny - Absolutely!

Valerie - What can we expect next from you?

Future Projects and How to Connect with Penny Reeve

Penny - I’m always writing! Currently, I’m working on my PhD, focusing on spiritual questions in young adult literature. I’m also collaborating under the pen name Ella Shine for the Pest City books. We’re launching a literature unit for homeschool students later this year.

Next year, I have a picture book coming out about child labor in the cotton industry. It’s been a long wait, but I’m excited to share it!

Valerie - That sounds exciting! Your stories encourage kids to ask tough questions and take action. Where can people find out more about you and your books?

Penny - My website is the best place to find information about my books. You can visit www.pennyreeve.com. There’s also a free mini devotional called Five Friends of Jesus available for kids.

Five Friends of Jesus - Mini Devotional Freebie

Valerie - I enjoyed that devotional with my kids! It’s fun to explore those unexpected characters and their perspectives on Jesus. Thank you for joining me today, Penny!

Penny - Thanks for having me, Valerie! It’s been a blast!

Valerie - Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links we discussed. Let us know in the comments what your first job was. Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review to discover more great books together.

Happy reading!