Mansfield Patch's Whiz Kids of the Week: Alaina Brown and Michael O'Neil

Two Jordan/Jackson third graders had their first taste of the life of a journalist last February when they interviewed a local children’s author for Hutch Magazine.

Rayna Freedman, the teacher of the year, emailed Michael O’Neil and Alaina Brown’s families with an opportunity they could not pass up: the chance to interview author Tony Savageau. A Mansfield resident, Savageau has written numerous children’s mystery stories, including The Mystery of the Golden Skate and The Mud House Mystery.

O’Neil and Brown’s interview is to appear in the newest edition of Hutch, to be released on June 17.

The two young newshounds prepared for the interview together.

“We had to make the questions before we interviewed him,” said O’Neil.

Brown’s mother, Brigid Brown, went above and beyond to help her daughter prepare for the exciting day. They attended Savageau’s book signing to meet him prior to the interview and to receive an autographed book. They also read some of his books before the interview, including "The Mystery of the Golden Skate."

O’Neil and Brown’s combined brainpower produced some outstanding questions for their much older interviewee. They asked what it is like to be an author and what he would be if he was not.

The young journalists interviewed Savageau at school during their lunch, a thrilling treat for both. They sat in Freedman’s room, which transformed from their classroom into a newsroom. They got down to the nitty-gritty and asked their interviewee all of the questions they had prepared.

After they sat down with Savageau, Brown and O’Neil had to transcribe the interview, which is what will appear in Hutch.

Though they interviewed an adult, neither student showed any sign of nerves, according to their parents.

“I think she was excited more than anything,” said Brigid Brown of her daughter.

Both students had fun interviewing Savageau and would take pleasure in conducting interviews in the future if the opportunity presented itself. O’Neil said his dream interview would be a famous athlete. His favorite sport is basketball, but Brown, on the other hand, said she would love to interview one of her favorite artists, Taylor Swift.

O’Neil’s mother, Kiera O’Neil said she sees this experience as a benefit to the students involved.

“It’s exciting. I like that he’s interested in those types of things,” she said.

O’Neil has also done some artwork that he hopes to get published in the magazine. He said that he enjoys drawing and is partial to drawing things he sees around him. This one interview seemed to launch a desire within him to work at the things he enjoys and to contribute as much as he can to the children’s magazine.

Brown’s mother agrees that this experience benefit’s the kids greatly and attributes her daughter’s participation to encouragement from Freedman.

“It’s been great, an overall wonderful experience,” said Brigid Brown. “It was nice because her teacher actually encouraged them to do it. That was nice because I think normally it wouldn’t have been a project she would have taken on.”

Both families will be celebrating Friday at a publishing party at the Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham. They will also attend the next Mansfield School Committee meeting where they will be recognized with their other classmates for their accomplishments.