On the surface, the main characters in Kelly Yang’s new novel, “The Take,” have little in common.

Ingrid Parker is a rich, white, female movie producer who has paid her dues and scrapped her way to position of power in Hollywood.

Maggie Wang is a young, broke, Asian American writer who is desperately looking for approval and a break.

But what they share is an an awareness of time: Ingrid doesn’t have enough. Maggie is impatient for it to move faster.

When a medical experiment ties the two together, their individual assumptions about ambition and aging and mentorship and power are challenged. How much are they each willing to sacrifice in the quest to succeed?

Yang, who is mostly known for her middle-grade books, including the wildly successful “Front Desk” series, says she wrote her first adult novel because she needed to process what she experienced firsthand in Hollywood. She talks about that and much more with Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas.

Guest:

• Kelly Yang is a New York Times bestselling author of over 15 books for kids and teens, including the “Front Desk” series. “The Take” is her debut adult novel.

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