Author Alex Travis, who burst into the scene with The only black girl in the room, He is contributing something fresh to the thriller space for young adults: a story that not only maintains readers on the edge of their seats, but also challenges the power structures that make up the lives of their characters. Her Last novel, The girls of returnIt mixes the drama of high school, romance and a mystery of life or death on a quick, gender walk.
In the heart of the story there are three black girls in a predominantly white private school, Robin, Bria and Meghan, who have two things in common: all of Daien with the same boy and all have become suspects in his assassination attempt. As they struggle to erase their names, the old searches and hidden secrets come to light, which makes it impossible to know who to trust. Travis recently talked to Blavity about his inspiration, the importance of focusing on disorderly and complicated black girls on Ya fiction, and what readers can expect from his thriller debut.
The novel has been described as John Tucker has to die meetings One of us is to lie. What do you do about it and what otherwise would you describe the influences of this story?
The story was definitely inspired John Tucker has to dieWith the idea that comes, what if the girls really made Kill -it? Then, from there, the idea of all of them are suspected and asks who is reliable within that narrative he connected it One of us lies. I also inspired the dynamics of how girls often sink against each other, especially when there is a boy involved and how to aggravate even more when you are one of the few black girls in a predominantly white space.
Why did you choose to establish the novel in a private majority white school and how does this configuration affect the characters?
The configuration adds another layer, because, like the few black girls, their peers have different inclined or skewed perspectives that also bleed as they look and one another. They are then forced to face these biases and the way they have been considered enemies, victims or conspirators and what this means for the way they see in the world they are in.
Meghan, Bria and Robin are complex, defective and layer characters. How did you develop your voices and perspectives?
I always loved writing about strong and complex women. One of my first topics of interest was Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. I took part of this interest and weaved what could be some of their voices and perspectives in these characters. Robin is Catherine of Aragon, the first wife, who was the longest queen and had a specific contingent of support behind, as well as those who wanted to demolish her. Bria is Anne Boleyn, who entered and interrupted long-term collaboration, and rubbed the wrong way to do so. Meghan is Jane Seymour, who at first appears Meek and Subervant, but still became more likely between the racks. From there I built what might seem in a high school environment and for three black girls of different family and socio -economic origins.
Your book deals with topics of power structures and implicit biases. How did you approach these topics in a thriller?
Writing on implicit biases is something that penetrates my work so far, and the power structures that reinforce these biases are those that I try to challenge. The drama between these characters could not exist without a structure of power that will make them feel as if they have to be the only one in the room to survive their environment. And, as the book continues, the characters begin to go back to that structure of power and those biases, and in this they discover new layers themselves and one another.
As a black woman in the academic field and psychology, how has your background influenced in your story?
Academic field and psychology are fields that are predominantly white and, as I have sailed them, I have had experiences as a black woman who have forced me to take into account the power structures that have made me feel as if they do not always belong. Especially with my first book, The only black girl in the roomI was trying to make sense of my first real experiences of work and racism. Going to space for young adults, I also want to explore these dynamics, how can the psyche of young black girls affect the psyche and may help to break down some of the barriers that, as black women and girls, feel in spaces that were not designed for us.
The girls of return It will be published on April 1.
