When Our Worlds Collided: Winner of the YA Book Prize and the Jhalak YA Prize!

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Spying was hard work. You had to blend in, and Usagi wasn’t sure how well he could blend in with a group of seemingly delinquent turtle teens. “How exactly am I getting to them? I mean, it’s not like they’re gonna trust me right away.” When Our Worlds Collided follows what happens to three teenagers from different walks of life after a 14-year-old called Shaq is stabbed outside a busy shopping centre in Manchester. The friendship between the three main protagonists felt as well completely off. « I cannot live without them ». Hmmm okaaaay. You met them like a month ago. While I totally understand that one may bond over a traumatic experience like what happened to Shaq it feels again too forced. Upper-middle class boy falls in love with poor pretty girl, gay new best friend approves of it and everybody goes to college together *yawn* The book, Jawando said, was “so hard to write”. “For a long time, I thought it was really terrible,” she said. “I lost a lot of confidence with this book.” She said she was “really honoured” to win the prize.

Judge Maisie Chan, who won in the children’s and young adult category last year, said Jawando’s book “is one that speaks to many young people today that have been vilified or who go unheard”. Still, Jawando shows us how so many still do their best, living with their heads high, despite the many injustices. It brings to mind Michelle Obama’s statement of “When they go low, we go high.” It still stinks, but I cannot help but be filled with pride, seeing how the three characters in the book take the high road and live their lives the best they can. This books needs to be in schools but not only to be read by the students, but by the teachers aswell. It may give an insight to some of how what they say and how the langue they use has such a massive impact on the young minds around them. I feel I know these issues, but even then, as I read, different things kept on being lit like little flares of SOS or distress.Well, you’ll be getting to know them very soon. They’re currently the only thing in my way from accomplishing my current goal, and I need a means of stopping them. But they’re unpredictable, wild, and always unexpected.” He smiled coldly. “That is where you come in. You will serve as my spy.” All three are at a pivotal educational point, too. About to sit their GCSEs and still figuring out what they want to do with their lives when this horrific stabbing takes place. It would only be for a small amount of time, until I’m able to accomplish a few things. Then, you’ll be free of that responsibility.”

When Our Worlds Collided is a story that will rile you, dismay you but still leave you with the vague sense that there is hope. With regards to this particular upload there are 2 major issues. One the aspect ratio is wrong. When Worlds Collide was filmed,it was in 1.37:1 (also known as 4:3). It was not in widescreen as shown in this upload. Also the sound is bad. This book is one of those stories that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. As you watch the relationship of the three characters develop you see the joy it is bringing them. But then you also see how outside factors in the world are piled against them and you can't help but feel rage. It is especially hard to read this without getting upset because you know that these interactions happen to people every day in real life.Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Simon & Schuster Kids and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy. I loved Danielle Jawando’s books especially when our worlds collided, I thought the message behind all the excitement and suspense, was really inspiring and moving, so seeing her in real life reinforced that and in the process I learnt so much. Danielle is a role model to look up to and her visit to Ardingly college has inspired me to write more and has made me even more eager to read more of her books!’

This threesome of new friendship in Manchester all faced different inequalities whether that was walking down the street, just being in class or trying to live in the care system. Some of the things that happened in this book made me rage. The organisational prejudice was hideous, police and media. Ms Edwards was a complete tool and as an educator myself, I hated her with a passion but I know people like her exist which is, I guess, why I hated her so much. But then we had Gran, Mrs Cohen and Dry Eileen who frankly was a hug in human form; I adored her. Danielle Jawando is an author and screenwriter. Her debut YA novel, And the Stars Were Burning Brightly, won best senior novel in the Great Reads Award and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the YA Book Prize, the Jhalak Children's & YA Prize, the Branford Boase Award and was longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the UKLA Book Awards and the Amazing Book Awards. Her previous publications include the non-fiction children's book Maya Angelou (Little Guides to Great Lives), the short stories Paradise 703 (long-listed for the Finishing Line Press Award) and The Deerstalker (selected as one of six finalists for the We Need Diverse Books short story competition), as well as several short plays performed in Manchester and London.Her second YA novel, When Our Worlds Collided, was published in March 2022. Danielle has also worked on Coronation Street as a storyline writer. IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND VISITS Hard-hitting yet still hopeful, this is an emotional powerhouse of a book’ Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods Usagi waltzed inside, throwing finger guns at Big Mama. “Ayyy, if it isn't Big Mama!” He froze when he caught sight of someone else in the room, sitting across from Big Mama’s desk. “Oh…” I needed to write this book because I want to tell my own narrative rather than let everyone fill in the blanks,” Alabanza said. “And I think when an award like this happens for trans people, it just continues to show that there are more people wanting to celebrate us than not.”This is such a powerful read - and I urge every young person (and even the adults out there) to read this. As one of the characters himself states, there is a perception within the UK that there is no systemic racism, which is a complete nonsense, and this book shows in minute detail the everyday racism that people of colour experience, from microaggressions to overt racism, from all parts of society - school, police, the justice system and the media. The author used her characters to expose and show the flaws in all these elements, even down to the books that pupils are asked to study at GCSE level. These are three very different teens, but they’ve all been exposed to their own trauma or struggles, they’re all at a key moment in their lives as they prepare for their GCSEs, and most importantly, they’ve all been affected by racism. Passing comments, treatment by police, expectations at school and that’s only a few. But things come to ahead following the stabbing. A powerful coming-of-age story about chance encounters, injustice and how the choices that we make can completely change our future. The second YA novel from multi-award-winning Danielle Jawando, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Gayle Foreman, Jennifer Niven and Nikesh Shukla.

Usagi groaned. Fights were exhausting, and Usagi liked to take all his time in between fights to rest. “What does she want?”

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Usagi took the photo, staring at the turtle yokai. Leonardo. Draxum was expecting Usagi to do something that felt rather impossible at the moment. Usagi could lie, cheat, deceive. But it was harder to do when it came to someone’s heart. Playing with the mind was easy, the heart was tougher. But how hard could it be? He slayed yokai of all kinds on the daily, and was one of the best champions Big Mama had. If he could do that, he could accomplish a simple spy mission. “What do I get out of it?” Usagi ventured. If Big Mama had taught him anything, it was that there was also something to be gained. The Draxum guy didn’t look too friendly, but if he was an acquaintance of Big Mama, that meant Usagi would have to deal with him. “Which is?”