Article contributed by Isabella Haberstock
Suzanne Young is an author that does not shy away from writing about subjects like mental health and oppression in our modern society, and Girls With Sharp Sticks is no exception. This book demands attention and is absolutely riveting, and the author herself has graciously agreed to reveal the motivations and meaning of Girls With Sharp Sticks.
Girls With Sharp Sticks is described as Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale and it is start to a thrilling, subversive near future series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young about a girls-only private high school that is far more than it appears to be.
What inspired you to be a writer, and how did you develop your writing style?
I’ve always been a writer, but I never thought I’d be an author. It took the right idea, the right timing, and the right amount of patience for my first book to get published. I’d say a lot of my growth since then has come from working with talented editors and reading exciting stories. I’ve also published 16 books in the last ten years, so I think writing helps writing.
What was the whole process like to think of this plot and actually bring it to life in a book?
This book was originally a story about a private school with a secret, but as court cases about abuse filled the news cycle, it started to change my story. I can’t say writing it wasn’t painful – there were days that got pretty dark. There was tears and rage-writing, but eventually, I had to sit down and get it all on the page. I’m one of those writers who outlines after starting a book. It helps me stay on task. And while writing this book, I had to keep reminding myself of the payoff: Girls fighting back.
Girls With Sharp Sticks deals with sex-based oppression in a very direct and honest way. Why did you make the decision to be straightforward about society’s treatment of girls and women instead of taking the more common route of using metaphors and comparisons to get your point across?
Between the abuse of the girls of the USA Olympic gymnastics team to the actresses assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, there wasn’t much room for subtly. Our news cycle is devastating. Every day there is something new and horrible to digest. For the girls of Innovations Academy to fight back, we have to see what they’re really up against. The scariest monsters are the ones we know are real.
The concept of “protecting yourself” with perfect behaviour and manners from men who want to hurt you regardless is one that most girls have been lectured on in their lives. Why do you think so many adults tell this to young girls to this day?
I think some of the bad advice given to girls is based on power (or fear of losing it), or generational teachings that get passed down from ignorance. To be honest, I don’t know why people still tell girls to behave, when clearly, it has spared us nothing. I think we need to be louder and demand better. I think each new generation will free us a little bit more from the backwards thinking of the past, or at least… that’s what I hope. But for now, we need to be loud enough for all the girls to hear until they speak for themselves.
Do you think that sexist words and actions are more detrimental coming from another woman (like Leandra) or coming from the men at the academy and why?
I think they’re both harmful and I won’t put more blame on women. Of course there is internalised misogyny, and that may feel like a betrayal, but ultimately, it’s the entire system that hurts people. It’s all detrimental, especially impacting young girls. As a society, we need to work harder to protect them.
The message for any girls and women that read this book is pretty clear, but what did you want this book to say to any boys or men that read it?
I wanted young girls to feel seen, and so maybe what I want is for the boys to see the girls too. Really see them. This isn’t a book about men, not individually. It’s about a system that treats teenage girls as commodity. What I hope boys/men will get after reading this is that they don’t have to part of that system anymore. I want them to take down the beliefs that also harm them.
In your opinion, why is empowering other women important, and why should we be standing together instead of standing alone?
As we’ve seen over and over, girls are easily discredited by society. From “what she said” to “what she wore,” there will always be a way to victim-blame. But together, girls and women can reject that thinking. We can demand better. Fight harder. Change the world. Society needs to hear us shout until we can’t be ignored anymore, and for that, we need to use our voices together.
What can we expect from future books in this series following Girls With Sharp Sticks?
The next book is called GIRLS WITH RAZOR HEARTS. It’s exciting, terrifying, sad, and cathartic. I think fans of the first book will be horrified and delighted. Although I can’t say much without giving away the ending of SHARP STICKS, we’ll get to see that the controlling behaviour of men in power isn’t limited to a prestigious academy. This series isn’t about changing one school. It’s about changing society.
Girls With Sharp Sticks is available March 19th from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
who would you not recommeened this book to?