Conceal, Don't Feel

The stories seem to encourage kids to embrace their feelings, but I wonder what motivated this focus at that age. Did the author have a personal experience that sparked this approach?

It’s interesting how characters choose to feel or hide their feelings, which seems to flip usual hero tropes. Did others see a message about vulnerability being a kind of courage?

The fantastical settings make the lessons feel lighter and more approachable, but I’m curious if that was a deliberate choice to make tough topics easier for young readers.