How Angela Ahn’s “Julia on the Go!” Series Helps Kids Navigate Change

In Julia on the Go! The Big Splash, the second installment in the popular Julia series, Vancouver’s Angela Ahn – a former high school English and social studies teacher –returns  for another heartfelt, high energy story about teamwork, perseverance, friendship and navigating change. This illustrated chapter book is written for young readers ages 7 to 104 and follows Julia and her swim team as they face a new strict coach, rising pool fees and unexpected challenges both in and out of the water. Ahn’s story explores resilience, empathy and the power of community in a way that feels honest, hopeful and relatable for young readers.  Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Vancouver, British Columbia–based Angela Ahn, an acclaimed author of Canadian children’s fiction whose former role as a high school English and social studies teacher brings a unique and thoughtful perspective to her storytelling.

The Julia series is making a true splash with young readers, earning a 2026 Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award nomination for grades 3 and 4 and being named by CBC as one of 20 Canadian children’s books to read.Parents and educators will find Julia on the Go! The Big Splash is especially meaningful for young readers who are learning how to manage disappointment, adapt to change and work through conflict. Julia’s experience encourages kids to consider other perspectives, build confidence and understand the importance of collaboration, even when situations feel frustrating or unfamiliar. The story also touches on real world topics such as financial stress, leadership and problem solving in age appropriate ways. The in-person and online tutoring team at Teachers on Call recommends this book because it sparks meaningful conversations about perseverance, teamwork and emotional growth while keeping readers engaged with humour, heart and relatable characters.

How the Forest of Reading Empowers Young Canadian Readers

The Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program, bringing high quality Canadian literature to students across the country. Led by the Ontario Library Association, the program highlights ten award categories in both English and French, showcasing outstanding authors and illustrators for readers of all ages. What makes the Forest of Reading unique is that students themselves vote for their favourite books, giving young readers an active voice in celebrating the stories that resonate most with them. The program culminates in the Forest of Reading Festival on the waterfront of downtown Toronto at Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), where students have the chance to meet authors and illustrators, participate in engaging activities and celebrate their love of reading together.

About the Author

Angela Ahn is a former teacher and librarian and the author of several acclaimed children’s books, including Swimming Into Trouble (Book #1 of the Julia on the Go! series), The Big Splash, Team Park, Krista Kim Bap, and Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field. She was born in Seoul, Korea, and has lived most of her life in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she currently resides with her family. Ahn previously taught high school English and social studies and worked as an English as a second language instructor in Hong Kong. She later earned a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of British Columbia (6200 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4) and worked in a variety of libraries before focusing on writing. Her storytelling is character driven, thoughtful and deeply rooted in real life experiences.

Read Our Exclusive Interview with Angela Ahn

Julia on the Go! The Big Splash explores teamwork, change and perseverance. What inspired you to return to Julia’s world and tell this particular story about facing challenges both in and out of the pool?

My family doesn't do "team sports." I've wondered about the motivations kids and parents have for sticking with those soccer or hockey teams for years and years, despite the taxing practice and game schedules. I don't think everybody genuinely has NHL or NBA dreams. So what is it that keeps people playing? I can't help but think it's the camaraderie that comes from the sport. I wanted to explore themes about bringing people together, bonding and facing adversity, because I believe these are the reasons that compel continued participation in the first place. Also, these themes are not just for kids who "do" sports, but quite universal as well.

Julia struggles at first with the arrival of Coach Nathan, especially after losing a coach she admired. What message do you hope young readers take away about adapting to change and giving people a fair chance?

I think most kids have been through this sort of change — losing a beloved teacher mid year for one reason or another, or getting a new teacher at the start of the year that you instantly don't connect with. While I do not believe that we can all harmoniously get along all the time (wouldn't that be nice, though?), I do believe that we should give people a shot before we make knee jerk assumptions about them. I was just hoping to encourage readers to give everybody time to show who they really are before making quick judgments about others. I think adults (including myself) could do this with this reminder, too.

Julia and Olivia start as rivals, but their relationship grows in surprising ways. How did you approach writing their dynamic, and what do you hope readers learn about empathy, understanding and seeing beyond first impressions?

Much like Julia's relationship with Coach Nathan, sometimes relationships need time to nurture. Sometimes people can surprise you. Julia just needed an opportunity to see Olivia in a different light.

As a former teacher and librarian, you have a deep understanding of how kids connect with stories. How can parents or educators use Julia’s experiences to spark conversations about perseverance, teamwork and problem solving?

Far be it from me to give instruction to practicing teachers (a job with a skill set that needs constant practice, and I am very rusty) about how to use a story in their own classroom, but I am sure that there is enough material in the story to ask students to connect any of their own personal experiences to what Julia goes through in the book.

Julia on the Go! The Big Splash is nominated for the 2026 Silver Birch Express Award. What does this recognition mean to you, and what do you hope young readers across Canada will connect with most as they discover the book through the Forest of Reading program?

Sadly, books are expensive. Finding the right book for the right reader takes time and expertise. A lot of families are simply too busy to spend time on this task. As a result, many readers may think that the world of books just revolves around the same old franchises and series that everybody knows. While those books certainly have their place in encouraging reading, The Forest of Reading program highlights what else is out there for children to read. Getting selected is a huge thrill because of the exposure to Canadian books that don't necessarily have the marketing behind them.

Many young readers will relate to the stress of rising costs or losing access to activities they care about. How did you balance writing about this real world issue in a way that feels honest but still hopeful for children?

I grew up in a decidedly working class family. I remember there were weeks and sometimes months when my father's plywood mill would go on strike or shut down because of slow markets. I know about families struggling with tight budgets because that is exactly how I grew up. I always had some awareness that there were certain things that my family simply would never be able to afford. Vacations? Forget about it. I didn't get on an airplane until I was almost 19 years old. But I also knew that if it was something important to me, my parents always tried to make it work. I didn't understand as a child what kind of sacrifices were made to make my wants or needs happen, and I don't think children necessarily need to know all those details. Because, based on my experiences, a child does understand when there is financial stress in the house, even if they don't know all the particulars. But children still need a childhood, and they definitely need to believe that what they want can be achievable. It is my sincere hope that I got this tricky balance right in the story.

You grew up in Vancouver and remain closely tied to the community. Is there a favourite place in Vancouver where you like to write, reflect or find your creative spark?

I don't have a single favourite place to do any of those things. I've tried the whole "write in a coffee shop" thing and it doesn't work for me. I've done 95% of my writing at my home office desk. My inspiration comes in very unpredictable ways. But for this particular series, the Hillcrest Community Centre (4575 Clancy Loranger Way, Vancouver, BC V5Y 2M4) was definitely a huge inspiration. Other favourite places in general — every time I go for walks along Jericho Beach I wonder, "Why don't I come here more often?" My other favourite place is Iona Beach Park (900 Ferguson Rd, Richmond, BC V7B 1W7). There is a four kilometre long jetty out to the sea near the airport, and while it is a sewage treatment centre and the pipe is sending treated water back out to sea (sounds gross, I know), it is actually a truly lovely spot. I've had a bald eagle drifting next to me as I walked this jetty. Airplanes are coming and going and, on a clear day, you can see Vancouver Island (at least I think it's Vancouver Island). Pure magic.

You have written a wonderful range of books, from Krista Kim Bap to Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field to Team Park. How has your writing evolved across these stories, and what continues to inspire you to write for young readers?

I have to admit that I don't want to reread my debut, Krista Kim Bap. I can't help but anticipate a wave of regret washing over me if I do. I know I would probably write it so differently now than I did way back in 2016 or 2017 when I was writing it. That was my first attempt at writing for children, but it somehow got published ... a fact that I still can't quite believe. Of course, I have grown as a writer — a little practice always does a person good! I write "quiet" stories. My characters don't save the world from impending doom. I don't hope to ever write blockbusters. I just want to continue to write compelling character driven stories that are hopefully a little bit amusing and provide readers with some themes for them to consider and situations and problems that they relate to. That's it. I am continually baffled by the fact that I continue to have ideas, and that I somehow continually get those ideas published! It's wild!

What is next for Angela Ahn?

I do have few other projects hitting shelves in the next two years. One of them is the third book for the Julia on the Go! series! It's called The MVP and will be out in the spring of 2027. The other two I can't talk about yet because publishing loves to keep a lid on things, but please be aware that I'm not done with books yet! I'm very excited about each and every one of these upcoming projects.

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Julia on the Go! The Big Splash is a warm, encouraging and engaging read that reminds young readers that challenges can become opportunities for growth, connection and confidence. Angela Ahn’s thoughtful storytelling brings meaningful lessons to life through humour, heart and authentic emotion, making this book a standout choice for classrooms, families and independent readers alike. As a Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award nominee, it represents the very best of Canadian children’s literature, and we are thrilled to highlight it as part of our Hooked on Books series. Stay tuned for more interviews coming with more 2026 Forest of Reading nominees.