When Brie was youthful, her mama used to shock her with treasure hunts round their island city. After she died three years in the past, these grew to become Brie’s most cherished reminiscences.
Now, on her twelfth birthday, her mama has one other shock: a collection of letters main Brie on one final treasure hunt.
The primary letter guides Brie to a particular place.
The subsequent urges her to unlock a secret.
And the final letter will change her life ceaselessly.
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU MANGOES was one in all my favorite books of final yr, so I jumped on the probability to learn IF YOU READ THIS. At all times a fear, studying the follow-up to one thing good, however I wasn’t upset and was very happy to ask the writer, Kereen Getten, a number of questions!
What a part of ‘If You Learn This’ got here to you first – the letters or the character of Brie?
I actually preferred the concept of a treasure hunt, and the character occurring a journey of self discovery. The thought was very obscure and so I began to consider Brie, who she was and why she would go on a treasure hunt so though the concept of the letters got here first, Brie needed to be developed earlier than the letters have been explored.
I really like the Caribbean settings of each your novels, actually evocative, are any of the scenes primarily based on explicit areas you already know properly?
Once I was eleven years previous, we returned to Jamaica for eighteen months. We moved right into a gated group known as Silver Sands and that’s the place I loosely primarily based the place Brie lived. Additionally, Brim’s city can be loosely primarily based on a small seaside city, on the western tip of Jamaica. The rugged, twisty street to Brim’s home relies on the precise street that leads right into a rocky panorama overlooking the ocean.
Have you considered writing a narrative set within the UK?
I’ve! I really wrote a brief story for Completely happy Right here anthology set within the UK it was known as HOME. My historic novel Two Sisters relies in Jamaica and the UK and I’m positively trying to do extra UK primarily based tales sooner or later. [CF: Oh, of course, I read and loved TWO SISTERS, a brilliant historical novel in the Scholastic VOICES series]
What sort of occasions do you love to do with readers?
As a pandemic writer, I actually am simply starting to do in particular person occasions, however I’ve loved many digital occasions the place I’ve spoken to a number of colleges on the identical time. Nothing beats assembly readers head to head although, and a few of my favorite moments are speaking to readers about my books.
Have you ever had a lot suggestions from younger readers?
Sure! Generally I get social media messages from them or their dad and mom after they’ve learn my ebook, or after an occasion. With Mangoes there have been a whole lot of conversations across the twist! Which I liked.
What are you studying in the meanwhile and who would you advocate it to?
I’ve simply completed Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. A beautiful ebook a few younger woman’s journey to mending her relationship along with her mom whereas chasing a fox’s journey throughout the arctic. I’d advocate it to readers who love visible descriptions, tales about relationships, immigration and nature
What are you engaged on now?
I’m at present modifying a brief fantasy ebook out subsequent yr titled Ada Rue and the Banished a few younger woman who strikes to a city the place magical persons are banished from society. I’m additionally modifying a detective collection the place a bunch of mates within the Caribbean kind a detective company to unravel mysteries however they’re horrible at it!
Thanks to Kereen for answering my questions, and Pushkin Press for sending me a evaluate copy and organising the q&a. IF YOU READ THIS is out on 1st September 2022!
