Eze Amos
When we featured local author Alix E. Harrow on our August 19 cover, we never thought it would follow her to her kids’ bus stop. On August 25, Harrow posted on Bluesky: “one thing i didn’t anticipate about being on the cover of my local paper is that a 5th grader might show up at the bus stop and start loudly, mercilessly reading excerpts to the neighborhood kids. we should, collectively, be more frightened of children.” “i told them i’d do the same thing to them when they were in the paper,” Harrow continued, “and they looked me dead in the eye and said ‘no you won’t.’” With permission from their parents, we interviewed Riley Goodall, 10, about what they dubbed their “master plan.”
How long have you known Alix Harrow?
Wait, that’s her name?
Yep.
Well, one of her kids is in fourth grade. One of her kids is my friend, and they’re my neighbors. They live down the street.
When you saw Ms. Harrow on the cover of C-VILLE, what did you think?
My dad actually pointed it out when we were walking through Wegmans. He said. “Oh, is that our neighbor?” And then I said, “Oh yeah.” And he said, “Let’s get one.” And then we got one.
And then we came up with our master plan to—oh yeah, this was all on Friday—to come and show off the paper and be like, “Oh, just reading the paper.”
We waited Sunday and Saturday. On Monday, she didn’t come, and we’re like, “I think she’s dodging us.” And then on Tuesday, we have our paper in [our] hands. It’s like, “Let’s go,” and then we walk in, and then we’re like, “Oh, just reading the paper, papery, papery, paper,” with the cover. Show it to the rest of the bus stop. Then we flip it over, and then I’m like, “Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!” pointing the cover in her face.
And then she laughs, and then she says, “I’m gonna do this when you get in the paper.”
Have you read any of her books?
Nope.
What are some of your favorite books and authors?
I just go on the recommendations from the library. I like books about Pride. And romcom series. I just finished Meet Me at Sunset, and that’s really good. And I’m about to get the other one by that same author [Lee Heart], called Playing for Keeps.
If we were doing a two-person book club like I did with Ms. Harrow, what book would you pick for me to read and discuss?
Oh, good question. Okay, I’d have you read Cinder [by Marissa Meyer]. It’s like Cinderella, but with cyborgs, and it’s based in the future. It’s so cool.
That sounds like an awesome book. Who wrote it?
I don’t know.
On Bluesky, Ms. Harrow said that “we should, collectively, be more frightened of children.” Do you think she’s right? Why?
100 percent. This generation is getting way better test scores. I’m just saying. I think we’re improving.
Ms. Harrow told you she’d do the same thing if you were in the paper, and you looked her dead in the eye and said, “No you won’t.” Well, you’re going to be in the paper now. Do you think she’ll do it? How would you react if she did?
Planning to laugh. Comically.
I wrote that article you teased Ms. Harrow about, so I’m giving you a free shot here—hit me with your sickest burn.
Okay. Let me think. Okay. The FBI dressed up as you—wait, no. The FBI hired their first ugly person dressed up as you, and nobody noticed. Ohh! My best one.
