The Rule of Three: An Author Interview with Heather Murphy Capps
In The Rule of Three, seventh grader Wyatt has a three-part plan: play travel baseball, letter on the varsity team, and play college ball at a Division One school. But when travel team tryouts get tense, mysterious wisps of smoke surround him. As Wyatt tries to figure out what’s causing this mysterious smoke and how to control it, he discovers it’s connected to a painful family history.
Today author Heather Murphy Capps joins us to share the important themes behind this middle grade story and her research process behind the book’s historic events. Read on to download the free teaching guide!
What are the main themes in The Rule of Three?
The Rule of Three is about baseball, family, and friendship. It’s the story of Wyatt, a talented pitcher with such a passion for baseball that it is the foundation for his Plan for Life. But then he suddenly starts spewing smoke every time he gets stressed out. He’s watched his father grapple with this same strange stress reaction his whole life; Wyatt just never thought he’d inherit the trait. At his mostly white school, where his biracial identity makes him stand out, he’s constantly battling thinly veiled racial insults—and his best friends aren’t exactly defending him. As Wyatt struggles to make sense of everything that’s happening, he goes vigilante and uses his smoke as a superpower against bullies. But eventually, he realizes he must explore the painful family history behind his and his father’s smoke. Together, they work to heal their legacy of pain, which gives them a chance to build and strengthen their bond and repair Wyatt’s ruptured friendships. Wyatt, his family, and his friends ultimately come out stronger than ever, still connected through their love of baseball.
Would you say mental health is also a theme in your book?
Yes, absolutely. Wyatt is wrestling with big emotions that have deep and complex roots. He and his father see a therapist to help them learn how to cope and heal. It was important to me for readers to see that this is a very healthy and empowering choice. I wanted to normalize the idea of using therapy to support the journey through difficult life periods. Fortunately, attitudes toward mental health care are more accepting than they’ve ever been, but I think there can still be a stigma attached, and I’m committed to dismantling that stigma.
What was your inspiration for writing The Rule of Three?
I had two main ideas I wanted to explore. The first was the way families can pass on a legacy of pain, genetically as well as emotionally. Sustained trauma in one generation creates mental and physical health conditions that can actually affect your DNA—and these genetic changes can be passed down from generation to generation. While experts debate aspects of this science, a lot of credible, peer-reviewed research supports the theory that unique responses to stress and pain can be inherited.
The second theme I wanted to explore was the MOVE bombing of 1985, when city leaders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, destroyed an entire neighborhood in a standoff with a Black-led communal organization. Police dropped a bomb on a rowhouse, and the resulting fire burned down an entire block of homes. I chose to write about this after I’d been talking to some friends and referenced this tragedy—and no one knew what I was talking about. In fact, they were skeptical that I was remembering correctly because it didn’t seem plausible to them that a city would bomb one of its own neighborhoods. Because I’d actually lived in a Philadelphia suburb that summer, I remembered it vividly, but despite that personal connection, my friends’ understandable skepticism caused me to doubt my own recollection. Later that day, I checked online to see if I’d somehow misremembered the whole thing, and I had not. I started noodling on ways to write about it because I felt strongly that it’s an important story to tell. It’s an upsetting story but also one of hope and resilience. I’ve done my best to be respectful of the real events while exploring them through my fictional characters.
How did you research the story?
As usual, I did a lot of reading and found as many primary resources as I could. I read deeply across newspaper coverage, particularly from the Philadelphia Inquirer, and transcripts of the city’s MOVE Commission hearings and portions of its final report, which included testimony from survivors of the attack, city leaders who ordered it, and police officers who carried out those orders—all resources that are available online from the Temple University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center. I also learned a lot from the books Let It Burn: MOVE, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Confrontation that Changed a City by Michael and Randi Boyette and Liveshot: Journalistic Heroism in Philadelphia by Tom Kranz, a journalist who actually embedded himself in one of the affected homes during the siege. (NOTE: Mike Africa, Jr., one of the surviving MOVE members, has a new book called On a Move: Philadelphia’s Notorious Bombing and a Native Son’s Lifelong Battle for Justice. It releases on August 6, the same day as The Rule of Three.) I also read many articles on epigenetics, trauma, and generational trauma, and I studied the Long Hot Summer of 1967, which plays a part on Dominic Cash’s early years.
Why did you choose to use an element of magical realism in the form of smoke?
Magical realism is a literary technique used by writers of many marginalized backgrounds, including African and African American heritage, to express real-world experiences of oppression and trauma by layering in otherworldly magical elements. What’s unique about magical realism is that the magical influence in the characters’ lives is typically not seen as witchcraft or supernatural—it’s just a part of their lives. I used it with Wyatt’s story because I wanted to make the genetic legacy of trauma visible to readers; in this case, both biracial Wyatt and his Black father manifest smoke when they experience stress. Wyatt’s reaction happens for the first time because of a tipping point he experiences with the daily microaggressions he faces. Magical realism can also make tough subjects more accessible and tolerable, which was important to me to do for my middle-grade readers. While I trust this age group to handle complex stories and themes, it’s also important to create unique opportunities for connection, relatability, hope, and empowerment. I believe magical realism accomplishes all of this in a special way.
Why did you decide to make Wyatt a baseball player?
My son is a baseball player—a pitcher like Wyatt!—and my daughter plays softball. Over the years, being a parent of ball players, I’ve fallen in love with these sports. I wanted to write about a player who’s as passionate about the game as my family is. It was fun, and it gave me a great opportunity to connect with my son about the art of being a pitcher. He was a big help in making sure I described the experience accurately!
Free Educator Resources
Download the free teaching guide for The Rule of Three to find discussion questions, research projects, and more for your readers.
Praise for The Rule of Three
“Wyatt’s voice is authentic and nuanced; his frustrations will resonate with middle grade readers who see the injustices around them and struggle to control their own emotions. A good SEL angle within a prose novel featuring social justice and sports appeal for readers who enjoy Mike Lupica, Kwame Mbalia, and B.B. Alston.”—Booklist
“Capps incorporates real-life events—as discussed in an author’s note—to tell an illuminating tale that utilizes a physical manifestation of trauma to effectively demonstrate the compounding results of racism across generations.”—Publishers Weekly
“Heather Murphy Capps has written another powerful, well-researched, insightful book, and Wyatt’s authentic voice shines through as a hero you can’t help but cheer on.”—Isi Hendrix, Author of Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans
Connect with the Author
Photo Credit: Jody McKitrick
Heather Murphy Capps writes about history, social justice, science, and magic. She is a mother of two, an Army wife, and an education equity activist. As a biracial author, she’s passionate about creating more diversity in publishing.
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