Why are Orphan Heroes such Compelling Protagonists in Children’s Literature? is a blog post by Susan Moore for the Writers & Artists website.

Susan Moore talks about writing a hero, Nat Walker, who was “an only child living in a nuclear family. Her parents led successful lives, and gave her a warm, happy family environment.”

However, Moore found that Nat “needed orphaning” so that Moore could “test her, pushing her to the limits of her very being…”

Once Moore had Nat outside of a safe family environment, she could be exposed to “alternative influences, both positive and negative.”

Susan Moore concludes:

“It’s been a rollercoaster ride writing the Nat Walker series. From the inception of the idea to where I am now, I've learnt so much along the way. But, by far my most important discovery has been in orphaning Nat from the start of her story. It enabled me to transform the way her story is told, firmly placing her at the epicentre of the plot.”