The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma | Talks at Google

TL;DR

"The Walls Around Us" is a young adult novel that delves into the experiences of teenage girls in a supernatural setting, exploring themes of identity and the consequences of one's actions.

Transcript

[APPLAUSE] NOVA REN SUMA: Thank you so much for that great intro, [? Sunny. ?] So I'm Nova, and I am here to talk about "The Walls Around Us," which just came out this spring from Algonquin. And this is a young adult novel, a YA novel. And I've said this before outside of this room, but I'll say this here. I write stories about teenagers, most spec... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇼🇫 The novel "The Walls Around Us" explores teenage identity and the consequences of one's actions in a supernatural setting within a juvenile detention center.
• 🍃 The story delves into the intense emotions and experiences of teenagers and their desire to disappear or leave their past behind.
• ✍️ The unique voices of the main characters, Amber and Violet, were developed through specific writing styles and playlists.
• 📔 The theme of disappearing is represented both metaphorically and literally in the book, adding depth to the storytelling.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Nova Ren Suma develop the unique voices of the two main characters, Amber and Violet?

Suma separated the book into two sections and gave each character a specific writing style. She also created playlists for each character to help get into their mindset and used specific writing rules for each character's voice.

Q: What inspired Suma to set the story in a juvenile detention center?

Suma's interest in prisons and her love for ghost stories inspired her to set the story in a juvenile detention center. She wanted to create a sense of place and explore the intense emotions and experiences of teenagers in a confined setting.

Q: How does the theme of disappearing play a role in "The Walls Around Us"?

The theme of disappearing is present both metaphorically and literally in the book. The girls in the detention center feel like their old lives have disappeared, while supernatural elements add an additional layer of disappearance. The consequences of one's actions and the desire to leave one's past behind are also explored.

Q: How did the Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop influence Suma's writing and her portrayal of science in her books?

The workshop provided Suma with a deeper understanding of astronomy and scientific concepts that she wanted to incorporate into her writing. It also allowed her to connect with other writers and further develop her storytelling skills.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Nova Ren Suma discusses her novel "The Walls Around Us," a young adult story set in a juvenile detention center with supernatural elements.

• The story follows two main characters, Amber and Violet, as they navigate their experiences in the detention center and the ballet world respectively.

• The novel explores themes of teenage identity, the consequences of one's actions, and the desire to disappear or leave one's past behind.