YA Book Prize shortlist: Danielle Jawando in conversation about When Our Worlds Collided

How would you describe your book to someone who hasn’t read it?  

When Our Worlds Collided is a coming-of-age novel about chance encounters, injustice and found family. It follows three teenagers from different backgrounds who are brought together in the aftermath of a stabbing. This event has a knock-on effect in each of their lives and makes them question the deep-rooted prejudice and racism that exists everywhere they’re meant to feel safe.  

What inspired the story?  

For a long time, I’ve been wanting to write a book that examines the way that so many institutions – the justice system, the care system, the education system and the police – fail and inflict harm upon young people of colour. I spent many years working in an further education college and this was something that I saw happening time and time again. The young people that I worked with often inspire the stories that I tell and so many of the characters that I write. I knew that I wanted to write something that looks at the issues that Black teenagers face on a daily basis. At the same time, I also wanted to explore the deeply racist gang narrative that you often see constructed when it comes to young Black boys, as well as the constant policing and criminalisation that happens in many forms – whether that’s through stop and search, or the way that teenagers are policed and punished in schools. I had these various themes floating around for a while, but I think it all sort of came together, when I read this heart-breaking news story about a young boy who had been stabbed and had been asking for help. No one helped him and it really made me think about the reasons why and if someone did stop, the type of person that they might be.

From that, the characters and the story took off and Chantelle, Jackson and Marc were born. When I sat down to write When Our Worlds Collided though, I knew that it was really important for me to set the book in Moss Side, in Manchester, which is where I was born and grew up, before later moving to Wythenshawe.

Just as the novel challenges the gang narrative that’s constructed when it comes to young Black boys, I also wanted to challenge the way that areas like Moss Side are often talked about and depicted. I really wanted to show an authentic representation of what being from Moss Side is like and the sense of love, community and coming together, that often happens [but] you very rarely see shown or spoken about.

Although, the book tackles some heavy themes, I still wanted it to be hopeful, so there’s the thread of found family and the strength that comes from finding your people, running throughout.  

Which character in the book is your favourite, and why?  

This is a really tough one (and it was a very close call between Chantelle and Marc), but I’d have to say Chantelle. She’s human and makes mistakes, but she knows her own mind, has a clear sense of right and wrong and is fiercely loyal and determined. She also doesn’t think twice about going to help Shaq (the boy who has been stabbed), although she doesn’t quite know what to do and is afraid.