b'saysWiggins. Local AuthorTheresalong andwinding roadaheadof Honored inyou, but you al-wayswindup back in the same place.Itfitthat 2020 Indie Bookthemeespecial-lyinthetimes weareinnow. Awards Theresponse wasoverwhelm-T he Journey of an Acorn byingly positive, ifEloise Wendt shared on Instagram her cover of James Taylorsof notalittlebit-tersweet.ItsFire and Rain and was thrilled when he shared it to his own feed.Maplewood resident Co- very fitting they rey Wolff has been namedchose that song, says Murphy, and itsongtookonadditionalmeaning by the Independent Bookturned out very beautiful. because of the shutdown. Once it was PublishingProfessionalsWithout concerts or recitals, Mur- sharedonsocialmedia,Taylorhim-Group as one of the bestphy encouraged his students to createself took notice, sharing it to his own indie books of 2020.videos of their performances. Colton- Instagram feed. WolffsbookisafinalistintheMax recorded the jazz standard Some- Murphy believes the abundance young adult category in the 2020 Nextday My Prince Will Come, which hetime to practice and the ability to share GenerationIndieBookAwards,thearrangedforothermusicianstocol- widely is the best of both worlds: jam-worldslargestbookawardsprogramlaborate on, recording and mixing theming in the basement like the old days, forindependentpublishersandself- entire jazz ensemble remotely. Wendtyet with access to technology to connect published authors.workedonacoverofJames Taylorswith others. Someone in high school in According to Wolff, the book is about an acorn that wants to separateFireandRain,admittingthatthethe 1980s never would have had access from an oak tree. But the tree will not let the acorn go. Rather than nurtur- to that, Murphy says. She had ing the acorn, the oak tree exploits its vulnerability, using it to satisfy its ownthe alone time to prep it, and then needs. Although the acorn eventually breaks free of the trees hold, it facesthe recognition that comes from many challenges from the trauma it experienced in early life. Nonetheless, itsharing it in todays day and age.manages to persevere and to take responsibility for its own growth, helpingUsing an app called Acapella, itself and guiding its own acorns on their journey into the unknown. Frederickexploredlayeringdif-Inspired to write the book after reading The Giving Tree by Shel Sil- ferent parts of songs. She shared verstein, Wolff was amazed that such a profound idea about love coulda cover of Kasey Musgraves song be written in such a simple story. This led him to think about featuringRainbow, calling the song com-an acorn as a main character in order to address complicated issues likeforting, with a message encourag-mental health and abuse in the family and make them accessible, especiallying people to look on the bright to children. side. I think that really applies, Wolff says, "So many people are walking around broken from abuseespecially now during this global or neglect in their childhood, and this cycle is perpetuated through eachpandemic. Her cover was shared generation. It is an epidemic and a serious public health issue." onInstagram,whereitstrucka Asked why someone should read Thenerve with many visitors.Journey of an Acorn, Wolff says, "I wantCallingmusicasafeplace, mybooktobeginadialogue,tohaveFrederickencouragesothersto children ask questions about how adultsseetherainbowthroughthe should be treating them, so they can askdarkcloud.Forher,thatrain-for help if they need it. It is difficult forbowisherlessons.Itssome-someone outside of the family to know ifthing I look forward to everyday, a child is experiencing emotional abuse.even when things are not com-Often, a child doesnt know that they arepletely normal.being mistreated. He or she may thinkTohearthestudentsperfor-that is what love is supposed to look like.mances,followMarkMurphys I want this book to empower children.Music School on Instagram. But I also want adults to reflect on theSaraCourtneycomestoMaple-natureoftheirrelationshipwiththeirRafi Colton-Max arranged, recorded andwood by way of Seattle, where she children.mixed "Someday My Prince Will Come," in col- spent her youth obsessed with the laboration with other musicians remotely. grunge scene.32/ matters magazine / school 2020'