Read Clean YA with CJ
Episode Forty-Five
Welcome to another episode of Read Clean YA with CJ, where we explore clean, engaging books for teens and young adults. In this compelling episode, bestselling author Bradley Caffee discusses his groundbreaking new science fiction novel Captive and how speculative fiction can tackle deep societal issues in unique ways.
Episode Show Notes Below
Links to Things Discussed in this Episode:
Breaking Barriers Through Story: Bradley Caffee on Prejudice, Healing, and Captive
Episode Show Notes:
Meet Bradley Caffee
Bradley Caffee brings a unique perspective to young adult fiction, drawing from his background in ministry and his natural gift for storytelling. A graduate of both Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary, Caffee spent 12 years as a pastor before turning his talents to crafting compelling stories for young readers.
The Genesis of Captive
“One of the popular genres right now is alien invaders and big epic alien versus human kind of battles. I thought, what if we come up with something a little bit different? What if the aliens are not what we expect?”
Caffee’s latest novel emerged from a desire to explore common sci-fi tropes from a fresh angle. Rather than following the typical “hostile aliens” narrative, Captive delves deeper into themes of prejudice, hatred, and the possibility of understanding across seemingly insurmountable barriers.
A Story of Transformation
The novel follows Ted, a young man whose father died in what everyone calls “the cataclysm” – a devastating event blamed on alien visitors. Driven by grief and rage, Ted captures one of these aliens, determined to extract answers about his father’s death.
“He’s the ultimate victim. His world has literally been destroyed. His father was taken from him. He’s lost his entire family… But it’s when he takes that breath and says, maybe there’s more to the story.”
Breaking Down Barriers Through Speculative Fiction
One of the most powerful aspects of Captive is how it uses science fiction to address real-world issues:
- Prejudice and Racism: Through the lens of human-alien relations
- Trauma and Healing: Exploring how past hurt shapes present actions
- Communication: The journey from monologue to genuine dialogue
“It really is an extrapolation of something we deal with every day. And that is how do you relate to other people who are very different from you?”
The Power of Listening
A central theme in Captive is the transformation that occurs when people truly listen to each other. As Caffee explains:
“At the outset of the book, there’s a lot of talking, everyone’s talking, no one’s listening… It’s not until circumstances force them to listen that they begin to see the other person as a person.”
Beyond Victim Mentality
Captive challenges readers to look beyond their pain and prejudices. The title itself carries a double meaning:
“Not only has he taken captive, literally a prisoner of war, so to speak, but he’s captive to his own prejudices, his own hatred, his own hurt.”
Why Speculative Fiction Matters
Caffee discusses how speculative fiction allows writers to address sensitive topics in unique ways:
“One of the beauties of speculative fiction is that it lets you take the topic and remove it from real life… It allows you to be a little raw about the topic without having to worry about any insensitivity to anybody.”
Where to Find Captive
Readers can find Captive on all major platforms, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Connect with Bradley Caffee through:
- Website: BradleyCaffee.com
- Instagram: @BradleyCaffeeAuthor
- Newsletter signup available on his website
C.J. Milacci’s Endorsement
“With a villain who will leave you looking over your shoulder, unexpected twists that challenge what you thought you knew, and endearing characters who grow and change in profound ways, Captive is a pulse-pounding adventure that looks at prejudices, hatred, and what it means to be truly human.”
Captive is recommended for young adult readers who enjoy thought-provoking science fiction. While it contains some intense action sequences and life-or-death situations that might be challenging for younger or sensitive readers, it maintains clean content throughout.
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Bradley Caffee
Author
Bradley Caffee was born in Richmond, Virginia. He spent most of his childhood years in Massachusetts and his teen years back in Virginia. He trained for vocational ministry through the Moody Bible Institute (class of 2000) and Dallas Theological Seminary (class of 2003) before spending 12 years in the pastorate.
It was in the pulpit that Bradley learned his love of story-telling. In April 2013, he began the work of transforming an idea into his first novel, The Chase, published in July of 2016. He now lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.
About Your Host
Award-winning author CJ Milacci writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As the podcast host for Read Clean YA with CJ, she loves talking about books and the deeper themes woven into the pages of each novel. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She chats about writing, her faith, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.
CJ Milacci is the award-winning author of The Talionis Series, and she writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As a referee, she’s always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
Recruit of Talionis, Book 1
A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis?
Fugitive of Talionis, Book 2
They kidnapped her. Trained her. And now they’re hunting her.
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