Don Aker Inspires Readers Through Powerful And Compassionate Storytelling
Photo: Don Aker, celebrated author and former teacher, crafting powerful narratives that resonate deeply with young adult readers.
On Writing, Young Adults, and the Power of Storytelling
Through decades of teaching and writing compelling works like The First Stone, Don Aker creates authentic, impactful stories that explore the struggles, resilience, and hope of young adults.
D on Aker’s works have cemented his reputation as a master storyteller who delves deep into the complexities of adolescence. A former teacher turned acclaimed writer, Aker’s novels—such as The First Stone, The Fifth Rule, Running on Empty, Delusion Road, and others—remarkably capture the turbulence, personal struggles, and moral dilemmas of youth. Readers are drawn to his raw and honest portrayals, where even flawed characters are infused with empathy and humanity.
Aker’s ability to create stories that resonate with young adults stems from his years of teaching. He explains that the classroom provided a wealth of insight into the challenges, emotions, and resilience exhibited by young people. This foundation is evident in the authenticity that permeates his books, which explore themes such as grief, justice, identity, and hope. Through his work, Aker reaffirms his conviction that stories hold immense power—they have the ability to reflect, challenge, and heal.
Don Aker masterfully crafts honest, thought-provoking stories, empowering young readers with relatable characters and inspiring glimpses of hope.
On Tackling Challenging Themes in Young Adult Fiction
Don Aker does not shy away from tackling tough, and sometimes uncomfortable, themes in his books. Take Delusion Road, for example, where he deftly explores trauma and justice through the perspective of young characters. Aker shares that the tumultuous phase of adolescence itself draws him as a writer. “At no other time in their lives will [young adults] undergo more challenges in such a brief period, and often when they’re ill-equipped to handle them,” he explains. His inspiration also comes from the experiences of marginalized youth he witnessed during his teaching career, which compelled him to shine a light on the societal and personal struggles young people face.
“What draws me to write about young adults is this unique period in their lives characterized by incredible upheaval, rapid change, deep feeling, and the search for identity.” – Don Aker
Real-life events have also played a significant role in shaping his writing. For instance, The First Stone emerged from a tragedy that deeply affected Aker and led to the creation of Reef, a teen grappling with the consequences of a terrible mistake. The novel is driven by Aker’s exploration of the external and internal influences that shape a person’s choices, for better or worse. His extensive research—observing at a rehabilitation center and speaking with law enforcement—added layers of depth to Reef’s journey, making his story one of redemption and understanding.
Leaving Stories Open-Ended: The Case of Connor in The Space Between
For Aker, realism often means leaving some storylines unresolved, such as Connor’s in The Space Between. Some readers have questioned Connor’s ultimate fate, but Aker emphasizes that fiction should reflect the uncertainties of real life. “As human beings, we don’t always learn the answers to all of our questions,” he points out. In Connor’s case, his role in Jace’s journey to self-discovery had been fulfilled, and Aker left it up to readers to imagine what happens next. This open-ended approach is a hallmark of Aker’s writing, creating narratives that invite introspection.
Immersing in Authenticity: Writing Flawed, Complex Characters
One of Aker’s strengths is his ability to portray flawed characters whose struggles feel authentic and relatable. He credits his years as a teacher for making him a keen observer of human nature. By interacting with students regularly—and even “shamelessly eavesdropping” on their conversations—he gained an intimate understanding of young people’s lives. Aker jokingly reveals that he owns a T-shirt reading, “Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel,” which perfectly encapsulates how his encounters with real-life individuals inspire his characters.
This realism also stems from the understanding that stories aren’t just about events—they are about characters and how they are affected by what happens to them. Aker observes the world around him, using those real-life moments as seeds for his stories.
From Teacher to Author: The Impact of Education on Writing
Aker’s 33 years as a classroom teacher have profoundly influenced his storytelling. His time in education taught him the unique ways young people process information and deal with challenges, which ultimately helps him craft better narratives. “My background as a teacher gave me insight into the various processes—visualization being only one of these—that people bring to bear when they attempt to make meaning of a text,” Aker reflects. This understanding allows him to structure his stories in ways that engage even reluctant readers.
From Novels to Short Stories: Exploring New Challenges
Aker’s foray into short fiction, as seen in Scars and Other Stories, offered new creative challenges. Surprisingly, his tendency to overwrite (a common struggle when crafting novels) did not carry over to writing short stories. The brevity of short fiction, Aker believes, is tied to its origin: “The genesis of a novel is invariably an issue while the seed of a short story is always a moment.” For Aker, moments that resonate deeply—something glimpsed, heard, or experienced—offer the perfect foundation for short stories.
In fact, this ability to bring a fleeting moment into vivid focus is reminiscent of British author Victor Pritchett’s observation that a short story captures “what you see when you look out of the corner of your eye.” With this in mind, Aker’s short stories are as poignant and memorable as his longer works.
The Role of Difficult Topics: Hope in the Darkness
Aker consistently explores weighty issues, from abuse to identity, with the goal of fostering understanding and hope. While not all his stories end happily, he ensures that his characters’ journeys feel honest and realistic. Aker believes the ending’s “happiness” is secondary to its ability to reflect a character’s growth and decisions. The hope he seeks to impart lies in showing readers that, even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of a brighter future.
Advice for Aspiring Writers
For those dreaming of writing for young adults, Aker offers three pieces of advice:
- Read extensively. Study the techniques of successful writers and integrate those techniques into your writing. Reading widely develops an instinct for storytelling.
- Focus on characters. Aker emphasizes that stories are fundamentally about people and their personal experiences, no matter the genre. Observation is key—pay attention to the world and personalities around you and draw from real-life experiences to create authenticity.
- There’s no such thing as writer’s block. Aker dismisses the idea of writer’s block, suggesting that writers simply lack the knowledge they need to move forward. When stuck, he recommends taking a step back and seeking out the missing information. For example, during the creation of The Space Between, Aker struggled to write a pivotal scene until he met someone who had survived the 9/11 terrorist attack, whose shared experience finally helped him complete the emotional moment.
With his mix of practical advice and unwavering focus on human truth, Don Aker continues to inspire both readers and aspiring authors. Above all, he champions the power of storytelling to connect, challenge, and heal—a message that speaks to anyone seeking meaning through fiction.
