Off the Shelves – Our Recommended Reads For February
Our pick of six recently published reads for you and your students – which this month include a guide to teaching the Prevent duty, a treatise on girl bullies and survival advice for NQTs. We begin by chatting to the author of a new YA novel that deals with the fallout from an unexpected teen […]
- by Helen Mulley
Our pick of six recently published reads for you and your students – which this month include a guide to teaching the Prevent duty, a treatise on girl bullies and survival advice for NQTs.
We begin by chatting to the author of a new YA novel that deals with the fallout from an unexpected teen pregnancy…
Meet the Author – Lisa Drakeford
How far did your own experiences influence your writing for The Baby? I had a ball as a teenager, so the good times are definitely fond memories. As an adult, I have witnessed through the young people who I have taught and from my own teenage children, that adolescence can be pressured.
I have known many children who are like [the novel’s main protagonist] Alice. They seek refuge from an isolated life – but if they are lucky enough to find soulmates, they can flourish and fly into happiness.
The characters of Ben and Olivia are standard teenagers I see in everyday life, with their messy relationships and battles at friendship. Jonty is damaged; he’s had a difficult time. but I’ve known boys like him who, when push comes to shove, suddenly step up and blossom. He was always my most interesting character. I have a soft spot for rough diamonds, and I wanted to give him some hope.
As a teacher, I have taught several pregnant teenagers. I’ve witnessed the isolation and discrimination which they have to overcome. Their bravery and love for their newborns has been heart warming – I have nothing but admiration for these young, strong mums, and I hope that I give Nicola some of this determination and devotion.
Of the five characters featured in the book, did you find any of them easier or harder than the others to write? I love that Ben is so assured. He was a joy to write about because he’s so nice, and I enjoyed Jonty’s character transformation – but in terms of writing, it was Alice who was the easiest. I have a tendency to overwrite detail and get obsessed with trivia. Her personality lent itself perfectly to my style. Even my editors couldn’t argue with Alice’s quirkiness – it was the ideal opportunity to give vent to the hidden eccentricity which I’m convinced is inside us all.
Is fiction is a good way to explore such a serious topic as teen pregnancy? YA fiction is packed with really good stories about meaty subjects at the moment. It’s as if we’re finally acknowledging that uncomfortable things do happen in our teenage years, and that young people can have a good go at dealing with them.
I’ve always thought fiction is the perfect way to explore serious and uncomfortable topics. We can pick and choose our subjects, our moments to read about them and whether or not to turn the page. Novels are about other people in other lives, and when you are young and don’t have the opportunities to investigate for real, reading about them from the comfort of your own bed, sofa or back lawn is safe and reassuring.
You can follow Lisa Drakeford at @LisaDrakeford
This month’s book reviews
